That Guy’s Bistro has 3 locations, one of which is in Redmond. It started as a food truck in 2018 and now has a brick and mortar location, where we ate, in addition to the 2 food trucks. They serve salads, pizzas, burger and Philly sandwiches – which are offered with a variety of fillings. In addition to the large menu they also have a variety of liquors. It was a medium sized place in a shopping center that felt to me a little like a “bubba bar”. Several large TV screens were on each of the walls, mercifully silent, playing a variety of sports and a life guard show that seemed to focus on bikini clad women. It got a good crowd of working men. The counter people were very friendly. We wanted to try the basic TG Burger which was a 1/4 pound beef patty with American cheese, onions, tomato, lettuce, pickle and TG sauce on a grilled brioche bun. The burger comes with fries or mac salad. We chose fries and they were a fun curled variety that were dusted with seasoning and nicely crisped. The burger was cooked to ‘pink’ and loaded with other ingredients. The bun was nicely toasted and tasty but too big for the patty. They gave you extra sauce which did have a nice spice to it. A fine burger, but next time I’ll try one of the Philly options. Continue reading →
Ariana was in an older Craftsman bungalow and run by Chefs Andres and Ariana Fernandez. Their regionally inspired cuisine was offered as a seasonal chef 6-course tasting that changes weekly as well as an a la carte menu on Wed through Sat evenings. In 2004 Ariana’s Italian parents were excited about the culinary marriage she had with Colombia native Andres and offered the start up money for a restaurant of their own. It turned out that they both attended the Cascade Culinary Institute and her father had experience in the wine industry so he started as their beverage manager. With Ariana’s mother helping work the front of the house, the family restaurant was born. I’d call it medium sized with some seating available on the porch area and a couple seats in front of the bar. The main room had lots of windows, bench seating along one wall, lowered lighting, art on the walls and a unused fireplace. It is the “special occasion” restaurant in Bend. Both of the Fernandez still cook but she will also work any position in the front of the house, even tend bar, when needed. We went with their tasting to get the best representation of their cooking but in retrospect I’d suggest ordering a la carte. It was a good place but the tasting went downward toward the end. Continue reading →
exterior – 41 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris, France
Le Sergent Recruteur has been under the direction of Chef Alain Pégouret since 2019, who brings with him years of experience with chefs like Joël Robuchon. From an average restaurant Pégouret has evolved it into fine cuisine, earning the place one Michelin star. The prior atmosphere was dark and medieval which has been transformed into contemporary space with stone walls, music in the background, polished wood tables, mirrors and art on the walls and windows to the street in one of which the suit of armor still stands. It’s a long space with the kichen in the rear where you can see chef and others making great food for the guests. At lunch they offered tasting menus with optional pairings from a menu printed with your name and the date. From the menu you could also pick a la carte selections which we chose to do. Either way you go, do plan to go as the food and ambiance are wonderful. Continue reading →
Bardea Food and Drink was opened over 5 years ago by Scott Stein and Chef Antimo DiMeo in the historic section of downtown. It has an Italian base but the menu is all over the place. The large place was not to be confused with the Bardea Steak next door or the new concept across the street, but they all are under the same ownership. Chef DiMeo was a semifinalist for the Best Chef Mid-Atlantic James Beard Award in 2019 and featured on the Today Show and Vogue magazine. The large place was hopping on Friday night but died out by 8:30. You enter into a large bar area where people were also eating. The main dining room next to it had tightly packed tables, so tight that we had to wait for another table as the first one had chairs that couldn’t move away from the table to allow seating due to crowded conditions. The 2-tops seemed to ring around the edge of the room with 4-tops in the middle. Music was in the background but the crowd already provided plenty of background noise. An open kitchen was opposite the wall of windows looking out onto the street. Fun art was on the walls and there was some wonderful little tilework on the floors. Service was friendly but very slow with long periods of absence – possibly too many people and too few workers – that made it less than a wonderful evening. Some of the food was good while others plates stayed in the average range. The timing was so slow that we were happy to skip dessert just to get out of the place. It was popular but I would avoid it on a weekend night. Continue reading →
exterior – 1601 Concord Pike Suite 77-79, Wilmington, DE 19803
Snuff Mill Restaurant, opened in July 2021, was a small place tucked into a large U-shaped shopping center. They advertised themselves as “farm-to-table” and they did reference where each of the meats were locally sourced. Butchering was done on-site and a counter at the entrance did have items for sale. Many other ingredients are also locally sourced. The small tables were closely packed and had paper on top of the cloth. Along one wall were raised tables with bench seating and there were about 4 seats at the counter in front of the bar where people also ate. Even on a Wed. night they were doing a brisk business and when you make the reservation you are told you have the table for no more than 2 hours. Faint music was in the background and art was on the walls. Service was good, friendly and fairly quick. There were a number of specials in addition to the menu. We had a wonderful meal and I would easily recommend going there but check their website to see who becomes the next driving culinary voice. Chef/partner Robert Lhulier parted with co-owner Bill Irvin and left the place the day after we were there. Continue reading →
event space across from The Barn – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886
This evening we didn’t have to wait in the bar and again were seated in the windowed room, not in the main barn. It was brighter and quieter but more sterile. It was a chilly night so we had the car pick us up and drop us at The Barn. They alert the driver when you are served dessert so they are ready when you depart. On the menu only the soup changed all else was the same and the dessert menu was exactly as it was yesterday. It seemed to me that since they require you to stay at least 3 days they should change more of the items, particularly since some of them repeat even more days. Service tonight was a little quicker and that did help but the look in the wine cellar was not offered again and Chef Cassidee Dabney did not make contact with any of the guests that I saw but she was in the kitchen every night She’s the one at the front wearing glasses. All the servers were friendly and happy. This place has been responsible for many fine chefs who move on to their own restaurants, J C Holdway comes to mind but no photos of their past chefs were on the wall nor mention of them anywhere seemed odd. It is a beautiful setting and the food is way superior in the Barn than the Dogwood but it’s a food-filled vacation. Continue reading →
The Barn – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886
Do be aware that Blackberry Mountain is owned by the same company but a different location and dining at The Barn is only for people staying the the Farm. The Barn was a large place with lowered lighting. There was a reception/check-in room where they take your coats and take you to the bar to wait for your table. On the way you pass by the open dessert kitchen and then the large open main kitchen and finally the bar. If those seats are taken there’s another room with what looked like a demonstration kitchen (due to the long counter and screens mounted above) with tables, couches and a large fireplace. In the main seating area there are both booths and tables of various sizes and then on the other side of the non-functioning fireplace are more tables in what appeared to be a converted porch. The walls here were all windows as opposed to the old wood and high ceiling of the main room. Carpet ran throughout and there was music in the background. White cloths cover and tables which are also set with an exquisite napkin elaborately embroidered with “BF”. One large chandelier hangs in the barn with small lamps and other fixtures adding a bit more light. Servers are everywhere and all anxious to make sure you enjoy your meal. The menu changes many items every other day. Continue reading →
main house – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886
When you stay at Blackberry Farm 3 meals a day are included in your room charge. Dinner can be at The Barn with reservations otherwise meals are served at The Dogwood restaurant in the Main House. Room service or carry out meals are also available for a fee. At the Dogwood you just show up between the hours given you at check-in and they will take you to a table in one of several room. First you pass through the bar area then there is a large dining room, another smaller dining room beyond and outdoor tables. The tables are various sizes and some have banquettes as part of the setup. There are no table clothes but plenty of extra pillows it you need them. Art was on the walls and no music was in the background. Lots of windows to the outside made everywhere a brightly lit table. Each table was always set with salt and pepper grinders and at breakfast butter and dark jam. Flatware was in the napkin at lunch and on the tabletop at breakfast. A large fireplace was at one end of the room that was also open in the room on the other side. At breakfast the Chef’s Selection, griddle cakes and sweet roll change daily but otherwise it stays the same. On weekends they offer different items. At lunch there were some repeats but lots of new items each day. We didn’t have dinner but a separate dessert menu is available at lunch and dinner. The bar is also available for drinks and both meals we had had separate drink menus. Continue reading →
The Barn – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886
Blackberry Farm covers 4200 acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee. For over 80 years it has been the resort offering “decadent cuisine and pleasurable pastimes.” When Florida and Dave Lasier discovered the setting for their dream home, she snagged her stocking on a blackberry bush and thus the name of the Farm. In 1976 Kreis and Sandy Beall set about protecting and preserving the land with three other local families. The Beall family wanted to share the area and opened a 6 room country inn which their son Sam took to another level in 2000, greatly expanding the footprint. He expanded the wine cellar and opened The Barn and Dogwood restaurants for culinary experiences. The Barn has become renowned for food, much of it grown on the property, and the only way to experience it is to stay in one of the many rooms or cottages. I understood that some of the people who own property nearby are allowed to dine there, so maybe that would be your preferred choice, either way you have to have a reservation. The menu changes every other day and there are vegetarian options. A huge wine list is available, but many of the selections date back several years, and a full bar is in the barn. The menu is 4 courses, including dessert and there are at least 4 choices for each course. The Barn is a huge red building that is too far to walk to so they provide car service or you can drive yourself in a golf cart. Continue reading →
Mike McRae opened McRae’s American Bistro in August 2023 in his hometown of Dallas. He has been in the hospitality business for 50 years and he wanted to create a welcoming place for folks to dine, drink and relax and he found the perfect spot close to where he grew up. Inside you’ll find a long bar opposite tables and bench seating. Another room off the end was slightly elevated but filled with happy people. The walls were covered with an eclectic mix of memorabilia, the lights (many chandeliers) are dampened and music was in the background. It was a small menu and no specials were offered but there was a full bar and limited wine list. They are open daily for dinner and add brunch on Sat and Sun. It’s the type of establishment needed in the area – a place where you can get good food and drink at a reasonable price but don’t need to wear “all the jewelry you own”. The bill came in on old Golden Book, which brought me right back to my childhood. I very much enjoyed our first visit and look forward to trying more on the menu. Hope you will give it a try to when you’re in Dallas. Continue reading →
building – 1 Auf dem Eichelfeld, 54518 Dreis, Germany
Waldhotel Sonnora opened in 1978 under Chef Helmut Thieltges who achieved 3 Michelin stars for the restaurant. Clemens Rambichler joined the kitchen in 2011 and worked for years with Thieltges as sous chef. When Thieltges died in 2017 it was a natural progression for Magdalena and Clemens Rambichler to take over and now run the place with she managing the front of the house and he manning the kitchen. They have retained their 3 Michelin star rating as well as renovated the hotel it is in, to be a delightful place to stay while enjoying a fabulous meal there. Less than an hour’s drive to Luxembourg it was easily our favorite dining experience, including the breakfast that came with the room. The classic French restaurant offers a 7-8 course tasting menu or a la carte service. They offered wine pairings as well as one possible supplement. We declined supplements and chose our own wine. The dining room had well spaced large tables with windows overlooking the small town of Dreis. Music was in the background, lots of flowers graced the various rooms, and art and mirrors decorated the walls. Service was truly exceptional and pacing and portion control were first rate. It was a fabulous experience and I hope that all will find a way to get there and try it. You won’t be sorry. Continue reading →
Green Point Seafood and Oyster Bar opened in the fall of 2023. It was named for a South African beachside neighborhood with familial ties to owners, brothers Greg and Nik Katz. Greg was also the force behind Beverley’s in Dallas. Nik had most recently been the general manager of food and beverage at the Adolphus hotel in Dallas. They wanted to work together for a long time and now have this place which is open daily for lunch and dinner. It’s a large space with a U-shaped bar dividing the rows of booths and tables. Art was on the walls and lots of large flower arrangements give it an elegant yet comfortable feel. It’s in a crowded area but they do have complimentary valet parking at the end of the block. Be sure to get your ticket validated when you’re in but there are lots of free spots just a lot of cars competing for them. Service was first-rate and super friendly and the food was quite good. I was meeting a friend for lunch so we didn’t try nearly enough things but I bet I’ll be back to try more. It was good. Continue reading →
building – 777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA
Kato offered only a tasting menu focused on seasonality and innovation in the main dining room and a collection of classic dishes in the Bar Tasting Menu. Chef Jon Yao, who won Food and Wine’s Best New Chef in 2018, was at the helm. His Taiwanese menu earned a one Michelin Star rating at the reopening of the place in Feb 2022. It previously was at a strip mall. The L-shaped place was in some converted warehouse buildings with a large open kitchen. Blond wood tables were under an open ceiling with wood beams, metal supports and some acoustic tiles. Windows made up 2 walls, the lights were lowered and music was in the background. The tasting menu has optional wine pairings and as part of the Lunar New Year celebration they were offering a pairing of cocktails made by some bartenders from the area. They also had a supplemental course you could add that was Japanese A5 Waygu beef and then you could also add a supplemental wine to go with it. We opted for a bottle of champagne to go with dinner and a half bottle of red for the meat course. The food was good but the service pacing was way too slow. It was 30 minutes before we got our bottle or food started being served. As the meal progressed more time elapsed between courses until those that arrived an hour after us caught up to our course. Other service issues were our wine glasses were constantly empty and servers had to be reminded to pour and they picked up the napkin when you went to the bathroom but failed to replace it, but this was later in the meal but still un-Michelin. It’s a restaurant worth eating at because the food is good but go relaxed and prepared to spend 3-4 hours. Continue reading →
entrance – 905 E 2nd St #109, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Baroo, which opened in Sept 2023, was the result of a collaboration between Chef Kwang Uh and his wife Mina Park. The pair had previous small places starting in 2018 and after much evolution opened this concept featuring a Korean fusion. Presently they serve only one tasting menu but hope to offer vegetarian options in the future. Their price point is on the low end of tasting menus in LA at $110 and they also offer wine pairings. They offer Korean beverage pairings but they were not available that night. After hearing about the options we ordered our own bottle of wine and a glass of red for the meat course, which is the only course you have a choice on. The menu offered pork collar but beef short rib could be substituted for $12. We opted to have one of each. It was a medium-sized place with small bare wood tables and low lighting. The fairly spartan interior goes well with the re-developed warehouse district it was in. The Uber driver drove right past it and dropped us off at the end of the building but it was not hard to find from there. The friendly staff were willing to answer questions and the pacing of the meal was pretty rapid with no long pauses, almost feeling rushed at times. However, the food was wonderful and full of flavor. I understand their earlier ventures were even better but this one is plenty good enough to add to your go-to list. If you want to read another blogger’s fine accounting of their meal here, check out melhuang1972. Continue reading →
exterior – 46 Lexington St, London W1F 0LP, United Kingdom
Andrew Edmunds Restaurant was established in 1985 in ‘old Soho.’ In an 18th century townhouse they offer a relaxed seasonal menu for lunch and dinner. Unfortunately in 2022 art dealer and restaurateur Andrew Edmunds passed away at the age of 79 after a short illness. The restaurant had developed a following of journalists and bohemians in this romantic dining place. Known for high quality and simple, seasonal food, his wife Bryony pledged to keep the place running. The very small place was packed with paper covered tiny tables and had a handwritten copied menu. The wine list was amazing for a place this size. The lights are lowered, no music was in the background but conversations filled the air. The service was friendly and efficient and it did have a wonderful atmosphere. The food was good but not remarkable – it was homestyle and reasonably priced. Having heard about it for years, I’m glad we chose to spend one evening here. Continue reading →
building – 8 Patriot Square, London E2 9NF, United Kingdom
Da Terra means of the Earth and is a sleek modern restaurant under Chef Rafael Cagali in the Town Hall Hotel building in Bethnal Green. Two rooms have large round tables covered with elasticated tablecloths with art on the walls. Music was in the background, sound panels are on the ceiling and a finishing kitchen is on the end of one room (main kitchen downstairs). Decorations vary but you’ll see lots of Mutant Ninja Turtle characters, one of which shares a name with the chef. According to our server chef was teased about his chubby cheeks as a child in São Paulo and nicknamed ‘turtle’. Then the Turtle characters came out and a friend sent him a Rafael and it took off from there. He opened Da Terra in 2019 and within 8 months it had its first Michelin star. They were awarded the Second Star in 2021. The restaurant offers a blind tasting for which you will receive a menu at the end. At lunch, they offer a slightly shorter tasting and we chose that avenue. It was a lovely meal with fantastic, welcoming service and very artful beautiful food. Chef Cagali was there and brought out several courses, explaining the culinary connections to his upbringing in Brazil adapted for Britain. Continue reading →
exterior –54 Frith St, London W1D 4SJ, United Kingdom
Humble Chicken is a 18-seat tasting counter with a changing menu from Angelo Sato and John Paul. Chef Angelo Sato is inspired by his Japanese and European roots. He moved to London at 17 and 10 years later in 2021 he opened a Yakitori bar. It was so popular that in 2023 he elevated the concept to a tasting menu only and named it the Humble Chicken. Well paired is Aidan Monk, Restaurant and Beverage Manager, who runs the counter operations and selects the pairings. While young Chef Sato is personable, Monk made the evening a special event. Seatings are staggered at 6, 7:30 and 8:45 and the timing didn’t lag to make everyone finish together. Instead people were coming and going at the L-shaped granite counter while music pulsed in the background and soft globe lights illuminated the food nicely. The front of the place is all windows to the street which I’m sure attracts some visitors. The menu was on the counter but you do receive a clean copy with a tea bag at the end of the meal. This place had good food, some great, and shows much potential in the composition so I’d recommend you try it. Relax on the comfy seats and you’ll have a wonderful evening. They have one Michelin star. (Note – they were awarded two Michelin Stars in the 2025 guide)Continue reading →
building – 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA, United Kingdom
Ikoyi combines spices of the sub-Saharan West Africa and British beef, fish and produce. The very modern dining room has about 9 round tables and one separate party room for up to 6 guests. Overhead are metal blinds that curve down the side of the room opposite the open kitchen. The rich woods and soft lighting are what you’d expect from this 2 Michelin star restaurant. Soft music was in the background as the show in the kitchen took place. One thing you’ll notice is that the heat lamps are missing – food is made and delivered quickly to the table. Service was impeccable in the very comfortable room. They serve only a tasting menu and usually at lunch it’s a shorter menu but on Friday everyone gets the full dinner tasting. It’s a surprise with a menu given to you at the end of the meal. It was a fantastic tasting but be ready to be there several hours and it is on the pricey side. If you can swing it, put this one on your list. Continue reading →
exterior – 92-94 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3EA, United Kingdom
The Quality Chop House celebrated 150 years in 2019 and now also have a butcher shop next door. Long been a ‘meaty’ restaurant they have worked to make the menu contemporary while using the best suppliers in the British Isles they can find. The room you enter has the famous booths with their straight backs that are reminiscent of church pews and the second room has conventional small tables. The dark wood and happily talking guests made it feel very pub-like. An old linoleum floor sits below the high-painted tin ceiling. Windows to the street add a little to the low lighting as do candles on the tables and mirrors on the walls. The second floor must be where the private dining room is. Service was super friendly and the menu changes with availability. It was a great evening and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants very good food prepared simply and traditionally. One snafu we had were some scent sticks located directly behind our table but they were happy to move them. Continue reading →
exterior – 70 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1DE, United Kingdom
A. Wong, short for Andrew Wong, is named for the chef/anthropologist. With a 2 Michelin star rating, they serve dim sum at lunch Wed. – Sat and “Taste of China” dinner Tues. – Sat. According to their website, it is the first and only Chinese restaurant outside of Asia with 2 stars. The place is spread around an L-shaped counter with tables on either end and some outside tables available when weather permits. The large wood tables are well spaced and we were the recipient of their one table that is embossed with 2 Michelin stars. This is a real source of pride to them as you’ll find Michelin men statues placed around, even in the bathrooms. There are tons of people working here but the service felt hovering. The dim sum menu is on the table when you sit down and they ask you to submit your whole order, although you can add later so that was strange. The items are charged per piece, except the Peking Duck which was to be shared. Overall the food was very decorative but not special enough to merit the pricing. I thought they would have more individual sauces to go with items but instead, you have the container of hot sauce and some mild fish sauce which you can use on everything. The Char fun did come with a sauce that we elected to keep and use on other items. It was a disappointment in that I thought it might be more unique. Continue reading →
exterior – 28 Rupert St, London W1D 6DJ, United Kingdom
Evelyn’s Table is in the former beer cellar (or basement) of a 3 story building. The street level is the Blue Posts pub and the top level is a wine bar with snacks. Evelyn’s does 2 seatings for a tasting menu every night but Sunday and you have priority seating, with reservation, at the wine bar before or after your tasting. We got a spot an hour before our late tasting and the bar supplied us with nuts and olives to eat with drinks. The staircase is narrow leading down to the 12 seat counter, led by Chef James Goodyear. Chef’s French training is integrated into British produce and Japanese techniques in the evolving menu. They have a one Michelin star rating and provide you with a menu for the evening. I found the seating uncomfortable and the diners were a wild mix. Yes, we were the seniors there but one member of a young couple never removed their hoodie and the unaccompanied woman next to me kept her phone close to her face all night. The 3 chefs gave nice explanations to the food but the rest of the interaction was with the girls who cleared and served. While the food was not bad I would not call it great either. I hope the weirdness of the evening didn’t affect my impression but I can’t really recommend this place. Continue reading →
exterior – 49 Dean St, London W1D 5BG, United Kingdom
The French House was a restaurant on the second level above the pub with the same name. It has a long history dating to 1891 when it was opened as “York Minster” and has always been popular with artists and writers, like Francis Bacon and Dylan Thomas, to name a couple. In 1984 the name was changed to “The French House” and today it only has about 7 tables and 2 seats at the counter. Reservations are a must and the handwritten menu changes daily and there were a few chalkboard specials that are limited in number. The small room was fairly bright with windows that overlooked the street below. The walls are covered with photos and the tiny tables are set with white clothes and napkins, The staff were super friendly and the food was outstanding. I’d put this place on your list to visit. Continue reading →
hotel – 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9BR, United Kingdom
The Ritz Restaurant was located in the Ritz Hotel which dates to 1906 and was built to be the most luxurious hotel in the land. No expense was spared on its opulent interiors and furnishings and royalty and celebrities have dined there. You can read more about their history if you want, it’s star-studded. The elegant dining room was under Executive Chef John Williams who loves to highlight seasonal British ingredients. The floor-to-ceiling windows shine light on the marble columns and widely spaced, floor-draped large tables while the formally dressed staff meticulously attend to the diners. At lunch they offer a 3, 5 or 7 course tasting with wine pairing available and you specify your preference when you make the reservation. We opted for the longest and were happy with our choice but know that it will take 3.5 – 4 hours. Also beware that they have a rigid dress code that is enforced. We had read the fine print, so knew about the rules but this place really takes it seriously. The doorman at the front didn’t even want to let some people in due to their attire. They do not allow jeans or tennis shoes and require ties and jackets for men. It’s the sort of requirement I’ve seen from other places and then you get there and you see plenty of jeans and sneakers. This place takes formality to heart so know that before you go and you won’t get hassled. We had a lovely afternoon and the staff were all super friendly; it didn’t feel stuffy or pretentious. Most importantly the food was fabulous and beautiful. They do have a one Michelin star rating. (Note – they were awarded two Michelin Stars in the 2025 guide)Continue reading →
exterior – 2 Greek St, London W1D 4NB, United Kingdom
Noble Rot was a restaurant by the people behind the wine magazine of the same name. There are 3 different locations all serving slightly different food. We went to the one in Soho which serves modern European food and wines and opened in 2020. We were on the first floor but there is a second level about half its small size and a private dining room on the third level. It was fairly dark lit by ball globe lights on the walls and had no music in the background. Art was on one wall of the long space and the opposite one had mirrors. A series of bench seats are along the wall with small marble-topped tables matching them. The ceiling was low and carpet was on the floor which kept the noise level pretty good considering it was packed and turning tables on a Monday night. We were there to try their roast chicken and the server pointed out that it takes about an hour to prepare so we ordered that immediately and then settled in to pick some starters to fill the gap. It was a fabulous evening of seriously good food served in a cozy environment. Continue reading →
Exterior – 58 Brewer St, London W1F 9TL, United Kingdom
Kiln was a medium size place serving spicy Thai dishes cooked over coals. As you enter there was a long counter, the first part of it faces the bar and the second part looks at the cooking area. Downstairs were additional tables and the bathrooms. If you go with 2 or fewer people, sit at the bar as downstairs was rather spartan. However, conversation for 4 is tough at a counter. Diners line up to await the opening and it is popular. The coals were heated to red hot and then placed in various-sized metal containers and the cooking pot/pan was placed on top. It was a fun show but also fairly warm, which was nice for a cool London day. Music was in the background and the place was pretty bright at lunch. Staff were friendly and helpful but the stools were close together and it’s not the most comfortable place to sit. The food came out quickly and your counter space is limited so you can expect a quick lunch if you want. It seemed like more of a beer place than wine or cocktails but they have full bar available. The food was spicy, the server can advise you on which dishes will suit your palate. They used as many products from Britain as they can source. We ordered more than we could eat but wanted to try a good sampling of their dishes. While I loved the full flavor of the dishes this place will not be for everyone. Continue reading →
entrance – 2130 Commerce St 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75201
We visited Brass Ram in Dec. 2022 after they’d just opened. Since then they’ve resolved many of the issues I had with the place. First and foremost the noise level was much better and the valet parkers knew the way into the building. Small things, but it sets a tone. There were several specials off the menu and I appreciate the way the servers tell you the prices after they describe the dish (this is a habit in all the Nick Badovinus restaurants we’ve been to). Service is first class here – they are attentive but not intrusive and make you feel welcome. Know that it’s a meat-heavy menu, but they do offer seafood, for those not wanting beef. We were back to try their prime rib again, as it’s become a quest in our search of supper clubs in northern Wisc. They serve it every night and offer a Wagyu reserve on Fri and Sat. It is a place I’ll look forward to going back to. Continue reading →
Irma’s Place opened in Oct. 2023. The owners are two sisters, Stacy and Sasha Rondeau who named the place after their grandmother Irma. They serve breakfast and lunch Tues through Sunday. The day we were there, several groups were eating together at the medium-sized place. Exposed duct work, wood walls, high ceilings, and a combination of booths and tables made up the building that was decorated with memorabilia on a high shelf and art for sale on the main walls. It’s right on the highway so a perfect stop on our way to our house up north. It’s simple food but I’ll be back to try some of the breakfast options and maybe more of their freshly made baked goods. The friendly server was also efficient and explained the darkened parts of the menu were the most popular. Continue reading →
building – 127 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
Zasu is the creation of chef/owner Sue Zemanick, who knew early on that she wanted to be a chef. After graduating at the top of her class for the Culinary Institute of America in NY she moved to New Orleans and in 2005 was named Executive Chef at Gautreau’s where she won the Best Chef South by the James Beard Foundation in 2013. In addition to other awards she has served as a judge on several seasons of Top Chef Masters. It’s a small-medium size place in an older home with a few outdoor tables in addition to 2 rows of small bare wood tables running the length of the place and a row of booths on the other side. Three large paintings cover much of the walls and are the same hue as the walls. According to our server they are art as well as sound dampening in function. Interesting plant-like chandeliers hang from the sound-paneled ceiling opposite the wide plank wood floors. It’s comfortable but minimal environment with wonderful intensely flavored food. I highly recommend it.
Set- Up
interiorFrankie exploredmenucocktail menudessert menuwine frontwine backFrankie found some art
Food
We enjoyed a sazerac cocktail while waiting for our food. It feels like a New Orleans requirement to have at least one of these when you visit.
Frankie enjoyed a sazarac cocktail
We split the wild mushroom and mascarpone agnolotti. It was seasoned with cherry wood bacon, mustard greens and marsala. The tender pastas had a strong mushroom flavor and were rolled thin enough that the sides didn’t get tough from being too thick. The filling was a bit runny and so it bled into the broth. The bacon was nicely crisp and very good.
wild mushroom and mascarpone agnolotti (half order)closer
We also split the Korean Chile Glazed pork cheeks that were on bibb lettuce with pickled carrot, turnip, radish, cilantro and puffed rice. The pork was very tender and fried to a crisp exterior and blended great with the pickled carrot. The puffed rice added a fun crunch. There was a sweet sticky sauce and a hint of pepper in the mix. You were to wrap up the ingredients in the lettuce and eat. Delicious with tons of flavor.
Korean Chile Glazed pork cheeks (half order)
Braised beef short ribs were with baby spinach, pickled shallot, crispy fingerling potatoes, herb butter and demi-glace. These were very tender and well browned. The potatoes were nearly perfect in their preparation with a good crisp to the edge. This was a great plate of food and not too rich.
Braised beef short ribs (full order)closer
Tonight they offered peppermint ice cream and this version was delicious. Some chewy crisp pieces of peppermint punctuated the creamy ice cream. Excellent.
peppermint ice cream
Brown butter cardamom pear cake was with whipped mascarpone with spiced pear sticky toffee. The sweet pears were wonderful and worked into a rich caramel-like cake. Plenty but not too much sweet rates this as excellent also.
Brown butter cardamom pear cakeFrankie checked for extra caramel
Galatoire’s has been a regular stop for us on trips to New Orleans. Earlier this year as well as 2021 and many others if you search this site. The holidays are a particularly fun time to go as people get dressed up and really get into the party atmosphere. It get very noisy and service slows down but it’s fun. Now that they take reservations for downstairs as well as upstairs it’s way more civilized than standing in line to get a place. Located in the heart of the Quarter, it’s a New Orleans standard with wonderful seafood and endless customizing of your order is readily available. We wanted to split a number of things and have them in separate courses, which the kitchen is willing to do for you at no charge or many things are also available in a smaller size. It’s a must go when you visit the city but remember, no shorts anytime and coats are required in the evening.
Set-Up
interiorinteriorFrankie needed to restwine
Food
While you’re still contemplating the menu they deliver hot bread and individual butters to the table. It is so good.
bread and butter
Crabmeat Maison is made up of Louisiana jumbo lump crab, green onions, capers and creole mustard aioli. We split an order and it was wonderful. The very fresh sweet crab meat is deliciously mixed with the light dressing that accents, not hides, the fabulous flavor and texture. This is a winner.
crabmeat maison
Crabmeat sardou is made with a fresh artichoke heart on creamed spinach topped with Louisiana jumbo lump crab and hollandaise. We split an order so this is half. This is incredible. It all blends into a divine melding of flavors and textures. It is rich and decadent and so irresistable.
crabmeat sardouinside
It was taking a bit longer to get the food out than normal and so they gifted us some garlic bread. My understanding is that the serving of this is at the discretion of the staff but I’ve never had them turn me down if I ask. It’s one of their loaves cut in half and coated with an enormous amount of garlic and butter and then toasted. Bliss.
garlic bread
Shrimp au vin was made with Louisiana shirmp, white wine, mushrooms, green onions and rice. This was the first time we’ve ordered this dish and while the shrimp were cooked perfectly and the flavor was good, the sauce was too thick. This was the weakest dish of the visit.
shrimp au vin
Your server can tell you which fish are fresh and available that day and to each you can pick a sauce and garnish. We chose the fried trout with meuniére amandine. This was half an order. The coating on the fish was perfect, crisp and light, with wonderful moist fish inside. The brown butter in the sauce goes perfectly with fish and almonds. This is a killer combo. Normally we’d add crab meat to the top but we went ‘light’ this time. Another favorite.
trout amandine
As we decompressed and loosened our belts we finished with a cup of coffee. Excellent meal.
building – 5831 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Bistro Daisy was in Uptown and named for the daughter of owners Anton and Diane Schulte. It opened in the summer of 2007 and features fresh, seasonal and local ingredients in American bistro style. Housed in a little yellow house inside you’ll find white cloth-covered tables spread over a couple of rooms, lowered lighting, music in the background, dark ceiling, non-functioning fireplaces, and walls decorated with mirrors. The small menu was supplemented by several nightly specials. Friendly service, low noise level and great ambiance made this a winner for us. It’s small so reservations are suggested, but there were empty tables the night we went. Continue reading →
exterior – 6100 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Parkway Bakery and Tavern opened over 100 years ago and became a part of the ‘poor boy’ sandwich movement. There was a strike of streetcar drivers and motormen in the 1920s and The Martin Brothers Coffee Stand and Restaurant developed a sandwich of french fries topped with a little beef gravy on French bread. The owners would call out “Here comes another poor boy” when one of the strikers approached and they would get a free sandwich. Parkway began selling these sandwiches to the nearby American Can Company workers and added the free sandwich for striking workers. The Great Depression made the workers lose this strike but the invention of the “poor boy” won these places lots of loyal customers. This sandwich was more like the oyster loaves, also seen in San Francisco, than the Italian sub sandwich. A need arose to develop a bread that was squared off at the end to maximize the filling-to-bread ratio. The sandwiches could be filled with any number of things and the name morphed into several variations like po-boy, that we see today. This large place has a bakery as well as offering daily special fillings. Adapting to the Covid pandemic they set up outside tents to eat in which have stayed on. As you enter you can either go through the bar area where you order drinks and food or just the food line where non-alcoholic beverages are available. There is seating inside in addition to music in the background and walls covered with photos and memorabilia. A separate pick-up window looks into part of one kitchen. Sandwiches are small(5 inches) or large(10 inches) size and the small was generous for 2. We tried several smalls and had to feed the trash a lot of leftovers.
Set-Up
menu on the outsideFrankie found some info on the fencedirectionstent seatingdrink sideinteriorkitcheninteriorinteriorinteriormenu
Food
order comes out like
Sandwiches come wrapped in paper. You order them “dressed” if you want lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo included. The oyster po’boy is made with fried Gulf Oysters and only available on Wed and Thurs. These oysters are harvested locally and flash-fried to order. They were excellent oysters both in flavor and in frying preparation. There were so many that they spilled out of the bread as soon as you unwrapped it. It was delicious.
Oyster Po’boy smallopened
The shrimp po’boy also uses wild-caught Gulf shrimp that are flash-fried. Like the oysters, their preparation was superb and they were also spilling out of the bread here. I would have enjoyed a basket of these alone without all the bread and dressing. These are always available.
Shrimp po’boy smallopened
One of the place’s specialties is the beef po’boy made with roast beef and gravy. This uses a slow-roasted beef that is soaked in a savory gravy. While it was tender and well cooked it paled in comparison to the shellfish sandwiches. I found the beef dull and dry, but it didn’t help to be full and have the other 2 options so perfectly done. They are really proud of this product so it may speak to you more if you don’t visit New Orleans for seafood.
beef po’boy smallFrankie pointed out the condiments
exterior – 6100 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70118
We were last at Clancy’s in 2021 and before that in 2017, if you want to compare, but know it remains a favorite spot of ours. On this trip we had to sit in the room behind the bar probably due to all the holiday reservations. We always ask for the downstairs main dining room, but everybody can’t sit there. It was fine for a change. The room had a window to the bar where you could watch some folks eating but mostly drinking. This room was much smaller too, so the noise level was better. In the evening they have a handwritten menu that has some standards but also a few daily options. I haven’t had anything bad there but their seafood is a star. They make good drinks too and have excellent service. It’s on the “old-school” side of things, so expect dressed-up people, but more importantly expect fresh, excellent seafood. After our heavy lunch, we decided to skip appetizers but if you want one, the fried eggplant is good.
Set -Up
back roommenudessert menufun serverFrankie watched the bar
Food
After ordering they brought some warm New Orleans-style bread and butter to your table. It makes a mess with the crust flying everywhere but it is so good. We enjoyed an excellent martini with it.
bread and buttermartini
Clancy’s Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Salad came with a Mandeville sour cream and horseradish dressing. The giant pile of crab meat was on top of lettuce, radish, carrots, hearts of palm, tomatoes and a deviled egg. They rotate the dressing on this salad and this one was great. It was filled with lots of lovely ingredients but mostly it was about all that sweet crabmeat. It’s big but wonderful.
Clancy’s Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Saladturned
Fried rabbit livers came with a rice-grit cake and a Worcestershire bordelaise sauce. If you like chicken livers you’d like this one. They were lightly battered and fried, leaving the livers creamy inside. They were wonderful, but I do like liver. I don’t remember and didn’t write down anything about the other parts, just that the liver was lovely with the sauce and coating.
Fried rabbit livers
Tonight the Fried Gulf Fish with jumbo lump crab and meuniere sauce featured drum fish. It came with haricot verte, Brabant potatoes and cauliflower. The potatoes are a regular style in New Orleans where the diced potatoes are blanched and then fried in butter sauce. These were larger dice than I’ve had and didn’t get the great crispy edge I expected but they had a nice flavor. The fish was perfectly prepared and excellent mixed with the butter sauce and exquisite crab meat. It was an excellent plate.
Fried Gulf Drum Fish with jumbo lump crab
Daily Seafood special was sautéed speckled trout with shrimp, crab and Mirliton dressing in a beurre blanc sauce with cauliflower. It was another excellent plate according to my husband and I affirm from the bite I had.
Speckled trout with shrimp, crab and Mirliton dressing
Bananas Foster bread pudding came with Bananas Foster ice cream and Bananas Foster rum caramel sauce. The pudding was not as moist as some I’ve had but the sauce and ice cream way made up for it. Delicious and sweet.
Bananas Foster bread pudding
Coconut cream pie was dusted with toasted coconut on a graham cracker crust. It was nice but the bread pudding smoked it.
building – 2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
Dooky Chase opened as a restaurant in 1941 and before that, it was a sandwich and lottery ticket store. Founded by Emily and Dooky Chase Sr, whose pictures are in the entry room, it remains family-owned and run. Their son Edgar became a musician and activist for the civil rights movement and helped organize and host strategic sessions along with dialogue that included giants like Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King Jr. In 1946 Edgar married Leah Lange who grew the sandwich shop to a sit-down restaurant. Leah Chase became known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine and was shepherded in as one of the first African American fine dining restaurants in America. Continuously running since, except for a 2-year hiatus due to Hurricane Katrina, these 2 are now gone but their son, a retired lawyer, was there to greet and welcome guests. The large number of dining rooms have fed many dignitaries such as Beyoncé, Barack Obama and George W Bush, to name just a few. The large corner location has rooms on two floors with art on the walls and no music in the background. There were a couple of large parties meeting there during the lunch we visited and that may have been the cause of very slow service. We arrived a bit before our reservation but would not be seated until just after our appointed time even though there were many empty tables. Then it took 15-20 minutes before we got a menu, yet drink orders were still not ready to be taken. Don’t know if it was our server or general overload. Parts of the meal were excellent and others average but it’s such a historic place it feels like a place you should visit. Continue reading →
building – 2001 W Morehead St D, Charlotte, NC 28208
Counter- was a “full sensory experience featuring themed tasting menus” created by Chef/Owner Sam Hart. He used music, flavor and presentation to tell a story about the theme, which was ‘Time’ the night we were there. The Time theme worked to present an experience of the stages of aging. The tasting menu also offers wine and non-alcoholic pairings, as well as a list of bottles for purchase and they had a truffle upgrade available. The theme changes every 3 months and no dishes or themes are repeated for the 18 guests at the U-shaped counter. Chef Hart, who was a semifinalist for the 2023 James Beard Best Chef: Southwest award, says that Counter will only run for 12 years with six planned evolutions. Opening in 2020, it is currently on its second iteration. At present the meal starts with a few bites served in the lobby of the building then moves to the counter dining room. After the main courses you have a walk through the kitchen and then final bites are at large communal tables at the other end of the original room. At the end of the meal, we were given a copy of the menu and a roll to take with us. My one criticism would be the noise level, mostly the music. I know chef wanted to immerse us in the mood but I’m more in the “time” when I like to be able to speak with other diners without yelling. For the food portion, I’ve started the description with the course’s name. The entire experience takes about 3 hours and one you should put on your list to try. Continue reading →
Haberdish was a southern kitchen with a craft cocktail bar. The name was a combination of haberdashery with dish meant to bring the “mill town’s history to life through food.” The owners, Jeff Tonidandel and wife Jamie Brown own several other restaurants in town. It was a large place with an equally spacious covered patio on the side. Brick walls, an open ceiling with ductwork, music in the background, and lots of hanging plants surrounded a long wall of bench seating, and dozens of tables and seats at the long bar counter. The table tops were made with wood from the rafters of their building with bar taps being made from reused spindles from a mill. We were there for lunch and it was fairly bright but windows were on the street wall and also to the patio. The food was heavy, but that’s southern, and lacked nuance of flavor. That being said it was reasonably good if it’s the type of food you’re looking for. I’ve been to places that serve southern, heavy food that makes you want to come back again like Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room in Savannah and not sure this place falls in that category. Continue reading →
entrance – 202 Gideon Ridge Rd. Blowing Rock, NC, 28605
On our second night at Gideon Ridge we were seated in a more interior room where we had much better light. We also found out that it was not frowned on to just order two courses for each person. Our server the second night had worked there longer and seemed to be much more laid back. The Chef was on site and did inquire about our meal as we left which was a nice touch. We left with a much better impression of the kitchen tonight but the pea shoots were still crashing most parties. It is rated as a place worth a visit. Continue reading →
exterior – 202 Gideon Ridge Rd. Blowing Rock, NC, 28605
The Gideon Ridge Restaurant was in the inn of the same name in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The inn has about 10 rooms which have priority in getting restaurant reservations. The menu changes with the season and a couple courses changed over the 2 nights we were there. It took 2 (1939-1941) years to construct the personal home that later became the Inn in 1982. The Milner family purchased the place and restored the building which also created 10 guest rooms and the restaurant. Originally the restaurant just served the guests but later it opened to the community. A really pretty spot with lots of fireplaces and a full bar, both of which are great for the cooler weather. Great views are from all the windows that surround the dining room but the sun goes down early in winter so we snapped photos in the daytime. The slate floor and stone walls made me think it was probably a porch area at some time. A nice living room area was where the bar was if you wanted to wait in there or have drinks before or after dinner. Music was in the background and the lighting was well lowered. Service was friendly but not worldly. If you want a break from whatever, this is a place I would recommend. The menu is a la carte so it makes it easy to spend a couple nights and vary the menu, which we did. Our server pushed us to order from all 3 sections of the menu, saying the chef scales the portions. Three was too much, especially if you wanted dessert. Continue reading →
Webb Custom Kitchen was in the space previously occupied by the Webb Movie Theatre. Opening in 2016 after a year of renovation, it’s a large space with the second story still intact and movies still playing above the open kitchen. Decorations are old projectors and movie equipment as well as walls covered with names of those who joined the Porterhouse Club by finishing their 40 oz. charbroiled steak. The center of the big downstairs room is a large bar that also has seating. Benches are used for wall seating and tables are in the middle. Parking is available in public lots nearby as it is in the heart of downtown. Music was in the background and the lighting was fairly bright, but we were there at lunch. The dinner menu offered more options to choose from but our lunch was good enough to make me want to go back to try more things. Service was friendly and they were happy to share some of the history of the building with us, even offering to let us walk around upstairs afterwards. Thumbs, or should I say paws, up on this one. Continue reading →
exterior – 71 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris, France
Geosmine Restaurant was in a small townhouse and designed by Chef Maxime Bouttier. The name comes from a chemical compound that gives the characteristic smell to freshly plowed earth. It was a 2-story place with American music playing in the background. We were lucky to get a first floor table (the bathroom is on that level) where there was a glass section that looked down into the wine cellar. The walls were exposed brick which also was on some of the ceilings. Rough wood tables were nicely spaced and set with large beige napkins. Overall it was an attractive interior. They offer 2 tasting menu options or 8 or 11 courses. They opened in April of 2023 and would appear to be on track to receive Michelin noting, so get there now while the price is still good. Service was outstanding, friendly and welcoming as well as happy to answer my endless questions. The food was great. Continue reading →
exterior –44 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris, France
FIEF was a small place with 8 seats at the counter where you get only the 10 course tasting menu. The other 30 other places are 4-course menus. The name stands for “Made Here In France”. There was no printed menu and the promised email menu never arrived. In 2022 they received a one Michelin star rating. The long concrete counter and stools became less comfortable as the evening wore on and the purse hooks are so far under the counter the server had to put it there. While you are seated right across from the people making your meal there is little to no interaction. They really pushed cocktails rather than wine which I thought odd. There was a chaos in the kitchen which I found distracting and unpleasant. You didn’t feel stuffed since there was little richness in the food but you didn’t leave hungry. It was a weird vibe and probably my least favorite meal of our trip. Continue reading →
Pantagruel was named for a gluttonous giant and Chef Jason Gouzy tries to honor gastronomy at his restaurant which received one Michelin Star after just 8 months of being open. Opening in 2020 the menu was done in chapters, each with 3 parts. That is, with each course or chapter the ingredients are presented in 3 different ways, so the diner can experience the food in several forms and textures. The menu was composed of 6 chapters with optional wine pairings offered. There was an optional cheese course, at an additional charge and an upgrade on one of the chapters. We declined the cheese but chose the lobster upgrade over the fish. It was an “L” shaped space with only about 9 tables, most clad with white clothes and set with fresh flowers. Some semi-circle booths were on one end and smaller square tables were toward the back. A larger irregularly shaped table was in front, lower lighting was supplemented with hanging fixtures and windows to the street in the front, and faint music was in the background. It was a pleasant space. Continue reading →
exterior – 28 Rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris, France
Mallory Gabsi was the restaurant of a semi-finalist in French TV’s Top Chef 2020, Belgian Chef Mallory Gabsi. The very small place was furnished with small marble top tables, stuffed chairs, with music in the background, lots of beautiful light polished wood and mirrors on the wall to make it bigger. The entry room had 2 larger communal dining tables across from the kitchen opening. The menu at lunch offered a la carte options as well as tasting menus of 4 or 7 courses and a special 3-course lunch menu. While they offered wine pairings we opted to order wines by the glass. One problem with the place was the saucing. They seemed to like to present the plate and sauce at the table but often the sauce was not with the server and so there was a lag between served and ready to try. Places were set with a decorative spoon which stayed throughout the meal. It was pretty but I didn’t find any sauces I wanted to use it for. While this place has one Michelin star, it didn’t do it for me, the food was as brown as the decor. It looked elegant but was all eye candy with little flavor. Maybe we hit it on an off-day, so I hope someone else tries it and can report a better meal. Continue reading →
Granite was in the space where Daniel Rose’s Spring Restaurant used to be. Two years ago Chef Tom Meyer started Granite which highlights local French products. Meyer is only 30 years old but already has earned one Michelin Star for this restaurant. On the street level was the open kitchen and some 2-top tables. Downstairs there are more tables, which we visited under its past restaurant but didn’t go down this trip. Ask to sit on the main floor so you can watch the huge number of people it takes to turn out your meal. The place had a Scandinavian modern look of cut-out wooden paneling and gorgeous radial cut round wood tables. Around this was a lowered ceiling, carpet, no music, windows to the street and excellent service. I liked that the menu named the various people who worked there, rather than just the chef. At lunch, they offered a special 3-course menu but also longer tasting of 5, 7, and 8-course tasting menus all with the option of adding a cheese course. We chose the 7-course with a couple of glasses of wine. I freely admit I didn’t get all the ingredients down in my notes and cannot read many of the notes I scribbled but trust me you won’t care either – the flavors are that good. In addition, the presentations were beautiful and felt simple rather than fussy. A great meal. Continue reading →
Perception Restaurant has been in business for about 2 years. It was the result of a collaboration of Chef Sukwon Yong and Barnabé Lahaye to bring a fusion of the cuisine of Korea (where the chef is from) with French gastronomy. It was a small long place with lowered lighting but spots that helped illuminate many of the tables. Some of the stone/brick walls had bench seating to pair with the small bare wood tables and hung with many mirrors. The kitchen was at the back of the place opposite windows to the street on the other end. They offer an al la carté menu as well as 6 and 8-course tasting menus. Both tasting menus had optional wine pairings. Their website did not list what was on the menus but they were explained on the menus on the table. We chose the 8-course menu with the pairings. The pairings were a small pour but the cost was low so that could be expected. It was interesting that they didn’t change out the wine glasses but did change out the flatware between courses. Overall, I’d call this one a mixed meal. Continue reading →
Origines Restaurant was opened four years ago by Chef Julien Boscus, who earned a Michelin star as chef of Les Climats and now tries to highlight seasonal and local ingredients at his own place. Chef did come out to visit with his guests at the end of the service. His menu offers a la carte options as well as a 4 or 6-course tasting with an optional cheese course and/or wine pairings. You pick your courses from the menu with the 4 composed of a starter, fish, meat and dessert and you add 2 more starters for the 6, which was the option we chose. We also took the wine pairings which were exceptionally well done in that they truly enhanced the food. The small place had bare wood tables fitted with well-stuffed seating. The lowered lighting, music in the background and large plank wood floors gave it a cozy feel. There was a window to the kitchen so you could see some action but it was not open so noise was not a factor. We had a wonderful meal here with friendly service and I very much recommend you go if you have a chance. Continue reading →
Parcelles was a little place serving traditional dishes that were well done. The older building held small white cloth-covered tables surrounded by stone walls, a terrazzo floor, a gold ceiling and lowered lighting supplemented by window light at lunch. Great placement of several big mirrors made it feel bigger and wine bottles were used as decorations as well as art while music played in the background. Service was friendly and efficient. This can be a hard reservation to get but it is well worth the effort. Continue reading →
Bobbie’s Airway Grill opened last summer in a Preston Hollow shopping center where a huge compounding pharmacy had been for years. The name combined the owner Robert Quick’s mother’s name (Bobbie) with part of the pharmacy (Airway) and ‘grill’ for the kitchen. The large space is quite modern and sleek with a large open kitchen in back of the huge bar which runs the length of the room. The couple levels of the rest of the space are fitted with cozy booths and white cloth covered tables. They do have the annoying custom of covering the nice cloth with a sheet of paper – maybe they take those off at night cause the place is definitely going for upscale. Art was on the walls and carpet on the floor to hopefully help with noise when its full. At lunch the noise was fine for conversation. The menu bills itself as serving American classics and it’s worth a visit if you are in the area. We met some friends there for lunch but I would bet we’ll be back to try their dinner where they have a few more choices, but either way it’s a pretty place with good food, just a tad pricey. Continue reading →
Gama calls itself a coastal Izakaya, which is a type of Japanese pub where small plates are served with alcoholic beverages. They have a large sake list as well as beer. The good sized space was divided into two rooms by a short light wood divider. One side has the bar seating and the other has tables. Music was in the background and lots of windows brought in even more light than the already bright house lights. Service tried to be helpful but our server hadn’t worked there long enough to know a lot about the food. I was surprised that they bill themselves as highlighting local products but only one locally caught fish was on the menu. The pair that were behind the opening were seasoned restaurant people with a desire to bring Japanese flavors to the area. I’m not sure if it was having a server new to the place without good experience to guide us or that Japanese cuisine is mild in flavor, but this felt like an off night. I think the place has much more potential than what we saw. Continue reading →
Circus Circus was a huge casino not on the main strip and The Steak House was inside. The feel was of a classic steakhouse – dark wood, lowered lighting, meat aging room on display, mesquite charcoal broiler in the center of the room, Frank Sinatra music in the background, red leather upholstery, low ceiling, and formally dressed staff. A full bar was available and they made a decent martini. The place has been there for 40 years this June and was previously a “spa” for VIPs. The service was excellent but somehow I felt I needed a cigarette holder and a beehive hairdo. It’s a vibe you need to be ready for. The steaks are sold as a dinner including breads, vegetable and your choice of black bean soup or house salad. For an extra $9 you could substitute French onion soup or one of the specialty salads. We both chose that option. The food was fine and if you find yourself in Las Vegas this is a nice escape from the hectic strip but just try not to touch anything while you walk through Circus Circus casino to get there. Continue reading →
Campione was a small place that resulted from the partnership of Joshua Adams, Jeffrey Galli and Anthony Sferra and opened in August 2020. It’s in an historic building that was first used to house a mercantile business – groceries and clothing. Later it was filled with a variety of eateries. The space is small with at least half taken up with the counter seating that goes around the kitchen. These stools are available for walk-ins, for which they suggest getting there right when they open as there’s most always a line. We were fortunate to get a reservation, probably because of cancellations due to a threatening snow storm. It’s a stylish place with a high tin ceiling, tile floor, tiny wood tables, music in the background and friendly servers. In addition to the small menu they had a number of specials and we ordered a lot of them. It’s worth checking out if you get to this part of the country. Continue reading →
Los Pinos is operated by Cristian Ramirez and his nephew Brian. It’s pretty non-descript and right next to a casino in an old Travel Lodge building, so you might easily pass it by. Inside it’s a medium-sized place with booths, large tables, a long bar, music in the background and windows to the outside that remind you of where you are but inside it’s nice. You also wouldn’t expect to find good Mexican food in Montana but you can find it here. They don’t show it online but they also offer a lunch menu with a lot of the dinner options at a cheaper price. Service was friendly and efficient, as validated by the number of regulars who stopped in for quick and filling lunch. It was a tasty lunch but not as spicy as I’m used to but a good lunch of well-made Mexican food. Continue reading →
Feast Raw Bar and Bistro was the result of a collaboration of longtime chef/restauranteurs Steve Kuntz and Caroline Doern. Unfortunately Caroline is no longer on the team but Executive Chef Nikki Dupre does a very fine job. They stress using local ingredients and produce, meat and fish that are harvested in a sustainable manner. The medium sized place, hidden in a shopping center has lowered lighting, music in the background, lots of interesting light fixtures, some windows to the outside (screened for sunlight), bookcases to divide the small tables and an L-shaped bar that sells only beer and wine. This one I would definitely put on your list to visit. Continue reading →
exterior – 27 E Main St STE B, Bozeman, MT 59715menu
J. W. Heist Steakhouse was named for the great-grandfather of co-founder Brett Evje, who was a cattle rancher. The other co-founder, Michael Ochsner is a sommelier, who maintains the wine list. Opening Jan. 3, 2023, the place is all about wood fire cooking under Chef John Thayer. It was a fairly large classic steakhouse interior with very low lighting, jazz music in the background, white tableclothes and candles, lots of dark wood, red leather upholstery, brick walls decorated with paintings and animal head mounts. A large U-shaped bar took up much of one room where you could eat and/or drink. Interestingly the 2 animal mounts near us were not native Montana breeds. Service was first rate and the food was pretty good, especially if you’re in a beefy mood. Continue reading →
Amano is owned by Chef Salvador Alamilla who was inspired to cook from watching his mother. He started as a dishwasher and worked his way up to Executive Chef quickly and also spent time as house manager for several restaurants in Boise. In 2019 he opened Amano in downtown Caldwell, a 30 minute drive from Boise. Since then he has been nominated twice for a James Beard Award. It shows in the popularity of the large place. The room was divided into sections set with small tables and various seating options. The very high “plaster” ceiling was actually made of wood to look like plaster and music was in the background. There was dining on the second floor also and a full bar with seats downstairs. Our server stated that the bar squeezed their own juices so we did try one cocktail. Service was friendly but not particularly efficient. Overall the food was acceptable but not as inspiring as I’d hoped it would be. Continue reading →
sign outside – 999 W Main St Suite P101, Boise, ID 83702
KIN was a five course tasting with an optional beverage pairing or drinks from the full bar. Each menu runs about 5 weeks and is unique and changes with the seasons along with being designed to reflect the art on display. This season the art was by Esther Oppenheimer, another Boise resident. The communal seating was at a long line of adjacent 2-top tables and the menu. Due to the set-up they do not accept odd number party reservations. Chef Kris Komori is a fan of the farm-to-table movement and works with the growing seasons of Idaho along with being active in his community. His abilities won him the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain Region in 2023 after being a semi-finalist five times. Next to the dining room was a lounge and a cocktail bar. Various members of the kitchen staff introduced each course including Chef Komori who also came out to greet the diners after the meal. Another member of the staff closed the evening with an acapello song. It was a lovely evening and one you should reserve if you are in Boise. One note was that the beverage pairings were very small pours so you might want to allow time for a drink in the bar first and the noise level made it hard to talk to your partner across the table. Continue reading →
Via Triozzi was opened a couple of months ago on lower Greenville by Chef Leigh Hutchinson. It’s named for a street in the small town near Florence where she lived and got inspired by the food and culture. It helped that her grandmother added some Sicilian into her heritage and memories of all-day Sunday dinners at her house. It’s a fairly large place with an upstairs that I understand will someday house a rooftop bar. The beautiful high ceiling is opposite a terrazzo-like floor and surrounded by distressed brick walls and paintings. You can’t help but notice the pasta-making room that first greets you when you enter. Fresh pasta drys in there, but the semi-open kitchen is in the back of the room. A full bar takes up another portion of the room and bench seating lines the long walls. It’s quite stylish and attractive and even with music in the background the noise level was good but I could see where it could get out of hand. It’s pretty new so still finding its stride, but already quite popular. I hope there will be seasonal specials added to the menu. Continue reading →
exterior – 919 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Grove was a medium-sized place that offered a number of dining options. A Tasting for 2 ($125) included bread, 5 courses of your choosing and dessert and is available on Fri. and Sat, A Taste of Grove ($50) was 3 courses and available Tues thru Thursday, and the Grove Experience ($300) serves the table the entire menu. The prices are per table on the first and last option and per person on the middle. The portions are not scaled, though, so the last option is better if you have 4 or more people. We chose the 5 course but were hard pressed to pick the courses, every server had a different opionion. It was a comfortable, modern looking place with larger natural wood tables nicely spaced on wood and tile flooring with a lowered ceiling and lighting. Music was in the background but the designer had made a successful effort to keep the noise level amenable to conversations. A full bar with counter seating took up a portion of the room and there were lots of plants on the walls and placed around. It opened around Feb. 2022 after the Covid shutdown as a new concept with a rennovated interior. Service was friendly and helpful, especially in directing the meal plan. He brought each dish separately so we could enjoy it rather than filling the table with too much at once. It is recommended if you find yourself in GrandRapids. Continue reading →
exterior – 1601 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI
Cafe Mamo is a small place where the menu changes every week based on what they get from local farmers. The couple that opened it in July 2021 are Chef Michael Goessman and Sommelier Summer Knoop. On a corner lot, the building looks like a drive-through cleaners from the outside but inside is new and cozy. Inside are seats for about 32 people at natural wood tables and chairs with a few seats at the kitchen counter and they added the patio that can house 16 more guests outside. They named the cafe for Goessman’s garden-loving grandmother. Windows look out to the street and patio while music plays indoors. There was a full bar, nice wine selection and the Chef was in the house and managed to speak with all the guests at one time or another. Service was helpful and enthusiastic which made for a delightful experience. If you find yourself in this part of Michigan I would encourage you to try and have a meal here – the food is good and innovative and the menu changes regularly.
Set-Up
interiorinteriorinteriorFrankie checked out the patiomenuwine storage / displaywine frontwine back
Food
We ordered Rolls and butter to go with the Tomato Pumpkin Soup. The rolls, two to an order, are a regular on the menu and served with good butter. They are soft and doughy and presented with softened butter. If you’re looking for crusty bread these won’t fill the bill but if you want a yeasty dough fix this is it. The soup was thick and needed a touch of salt to clarify the flavor. The pumpkin worked fairly well with the tomato but it needed a bit more seasoning to give it zest and depth. It would rate okay.
Tomato pumpkin soup and rollsinside rollscloser soup
Spaghetti was dressed with midnight roma pomodoro and pecorino. It was a flat cut spaghetti that was cooked nicely al dente in a good sauce. Some browned breadcrumbs added a nice crunch and the sauce adhered well to the pasta. A tasty pecorino cheese added flavor. My objection to the plate was a price of $25 for what felt like a appetizer portion of food. If I had ordered this as my entree I would have left hungry but as an appetizer it was good and tasty but seemed overpriced.
spaghetticloser
Half Chicken was served with garlic and baguette. This plate was said to be a regular on their menu and it truly is a star. It reminded me a lot of the Zuni Cafe’s chicken in San Francisco. The skin was perfectly crisped and underneath the chicken was the baguette that had been soaked in the chicken juices. It also absorbed some of the wonderful thicked jus that was plated with the chicken. This was a plate of food to swoon over. It had terrific flavors and textures and made you want to lick up every bit of it.
Half chickenturned
Porchetta Rosmarino came with a hearty salad and lemon, according to the menu. It was thin slices of pork belly that were well seasoned with rosemary. It was full of flavor and very tender with a tiny crispy layer on the edge. The “hearty” salad was a mix of incredibly fresh greens that were dressed with oil. The lemon on the side was great with them. The plate was one with lots of flavors for the eater to savor.
Porchettacloser
Dessert was brown sugar Ice Cream with chocolate chunks topped with olive oil. It came in 3 small scoops. It was not a heavy creamy ice cream but still easy to eat and well flavored. The olive oil topping was new to me and turned out to be a nice one.
brown sugar ice creamcloserFrankie posed with some wine
exterior – 438 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Butcher’s Union is a large gastropub that does not take reservations, it’s strictly first come, first served. They do have an online waitlist that turns on when they are full. When you can add your name to it they will give you an approximate wait time and then text when your table is ready. They are open 7 days a week but close a little earlier on Sunday. They offer a meat heavy menu and a large selection of alcoholic beverages. They try and source their products locally. There are plenty of seating options with the large and long bar, the first thing you see. There was another dining room off to the side and patio tables somewhere outside but we were ushered to a roomy booth across from the bar. The music was loud as was the packed crowd. TVs were hung around the bar but their sound was muted. Parking is as you can find it but there was a public lot across the street which was convenient. Service was helpful and efficient and the food was fine but the noise level would make me not want to visit often. Continue reading →
Tony Packo’s is a huge place that’s been in business since 1932. Tony and his wife got a $100 loan during the Depression to open a sandwich shop where he created his signature “Hungarian Hot Dog.” They gradually grew the shop to the size and fame of what it is today. Burt Reynolds was the first to sign a hot dog bun in 1972 and that started a trend that would go for generations. Today, however, the famous put their autograph on a foam replica of the original bun. The walls were lined with cases of these signed buns including the only few original real buns that remain. There are now a number of locations in Ohio but this was the orginal and although the food is average it’s worth going to, to see all these buns. Service was available in the bar area otherwise grab a cafeteria tray at the order counter and pay, and by then your food is ready. A drink station is in the center of the room for self-service. They only offer Steudel or cookies for dessert. Continue reading →
Olive and Gourmando is open daily from 9 to 5 for dine in or take out. They are a bakery and a restaurant with breakfast available all day but lunch items only after 11. It’s hugely popular with benches outside for waiting. Inside the medium sized place is a wood floor, exposed ducts, decorated chalkboards on the walls, and small tightly packed wood tables. The music in the background is almost drowned out by the hum of conversation. Some counter seating is available by the windows and the baked goods are in a display case by the register/sign-in area. Lots of plants and decorations finish out the decor. If you’re in need of breakfast or lunch I’d go get in line when you’re in town. Continue reading →
entrance – 1025 Ontario St E, Montreal, Quebec H2L 1P8, Canada
Le Mousso is a 30-seat restaurant offering a tasting menu and optional pairings 3 nights a week. They dropped to #41 on the Canada’s 100 Best List. Two backlit murals by Jean-Paul Mousseau decorate the room. He was not only a prominent Quebec artist but also the grandfather of the chef and founder Antonin Mousseau-Rivard. The whole room starts at the same time and there’s one seating that lasts about 3 hours. The chef presents a description of the dish, as each is served, in both English and French. Then another person presented a description for each wine pairing and mercifully it was only in French. The descriptions went on way too long with French taking twice the amount of time as English. I found the setup tedious maybe because the food deteriorated as the evening wore on. So much thought was given to the preparation, that the end result was lost. The color palate was too bland, it was over-priced and the flavor profile was lacking. I applaud what they are doing but I can’t give this one a recommendation. Continue reading →
exterior – 1025 Rue Lenoir, Montréal, QC H4C 2Z6, Canada
Gia Vin and Grill opened in December and is known for their grilled meats, which unfortunately are only available at night. It’s tucked away below the highway and in the shadow of the adjacent Home Depot. However, once you get inside you’ll forget the location, except when you see the cars going by out the window. Lots of light wood, marble, green tile, exposed ductwork and 60s and 70s music in the background. A long bar also has seating in addition to the small tables. As the name would imply they do have a lot of wines and the helpful servers (Tatianna was great) will guide your selection to go with the dishes you choose. We enjoyed our lunch but I suspect evening offers a better selection of dishes. They ranked #36 on the Best of Canada list. Continue reading →
Mastard is owned and run by Chef Simon Mathys and his wife Viki Brisson-Sylvestre. They offer a 5-course tasting menu of local and seasonal items with an array of cocktails and natural wines. Opening in Jan. 2021, it feels like a neighborhood restaurant but can accommodate 54 people. They made #55 on the 100 Best of Canada list. Windows look out onto the street and the lights are lowered. The tin ceiling was opposite the very wide plank wood floor. The bar, which makes many of its own fruit infusions was set with 5 chairs and the long wall opposite had bench seating that was a higher level than the chairs on the opposite side of the marble table. Two of the walls had paintings on the wall and otherwise, the decorations were plants. Chef Mathys was in the house and brought food out to some but not all the tables. Optional pairings are available with the tasting but we chose our own bottle of wine and started with a cocktail. The food was mixed but the service was first-rate. Continue reading →
exterior – 406 Rue Saint-Jacques, Montréal, QC H2Y 1S1, Canada
Monarque was a large place in the business district and was really three restaurants in one. The front of the place had a more casual menu and feel and the back was modern and elegant with a set lunch menu. The long bar had 20 stools for lounge dining. Rock music was in the background, the wall had lots of mirrors and a striking tile pattern ran the entire length of the place. An open kitchen was in the middle of the long room. In the back were white clothes and napkins and some semi-circular booths to make up the stylish interior. On Canada’s 100 best list it came in at #16. At lunch there was a 2 course menu with the main plate determining the price or there was the option of ordering beef. With the beef option, the first course is sold separately. Continue reading →
Mon Lapin was created by Marc-Olivier Frappier and Vanya Filipovic, a chef and sommelier husband and wife team. Joining the team were Jessica Québécois (chef), Alex Landry (sommelier) and Marc-Antoine Gélinas (front) to move the restaurant to #1 on Canada’s 2023’s 100 Best list. Opening in 2018 in the area called Little Italy, they present an ever-changing menu of seasonal and local ingredients accompanied by natural wines. It started quite tiny but they were able to expand after a couple of years and now have room to accommodate a few walk-ins. The beautiful tile floor is set with small tables of wood or marble under lowered lighting and fairly loud upbeat music. The vibe is energetic and the service is outstanding. The servers know about the food and wines and will help you make a meal plan that works together. For example, after we selected our shared plates the server brought out several wines at different price points, described them and then we chose one. It was a fabulous evening and I would recommend it to anyone who can get there. Continue reading →
We last ate at Geronimo in 2019 and as usual, had a fine meal in this 1756 adobe home built by Geronimo Lopez. The menu doesn’t change much here but you can expect an elegant atmosphere, lowered lighting, music in the background, art on the walls, white tableclothes, valet parking and friendly professional service. Everytime I visit I seem to get the foie gras and Elk steak so tonight I went off script and ordered differently as did my husband. It ended up nice but not as satisfying as my usual order. Either way, it’s still a very fine meal and one I’d recommend if you can get there. Continue reading →
exterior sign – 113 1/2 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
The Shed is an institution in Santa Fe. Its sister restaurant La Choza (opened in 1983) is frequented more by locals whereas The Shed is on the main Square and has been there since 1953. There are nine rooms within and a patio on the outside. They are known for their blue corn options and red chile as well as margaritas. Very popular, they do take reservations for dinner and otherwise be prepared to wait. The bare wood tables are in rooms filled with paintings, not for sale, and plants. The bar has a large selection of tequila and mescal as well as some wines. Chips are not included in your meal but can be ordered separately. If you get to Santa Fe you must eat here, it’s a great starting point for your journey through New Mexican food. Continue reading →
Tomasita’s serves New Mexican food in Santa Fe as well as Albuquerque. Named for Tomasita Leyba, the original cook at the place and whose recipes are still served 40 years later. It started as a small café on Hickox Street in 1974 when Georgia Maryol took over the dying restaurant. Together they built a customer base that outgrew the space and in 1979 it moved to the 100-year old red brick building in the Santa Fe Railyard. Georgia’s son now owns the restaurant and opened a branch in Albuquerque in 2017. The railyard location was a large place with rooms scattered around set with bare wooden tables and chairs and a patio. Music was in the background, there was a large adjacent parking lot, art decorated the walls and statues were on the patio. Chips and salsa are not included in the meal. The service was super friendly and efficient but the food was mixed. Continue reading →
bar with cooking behind it – 4422 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX., 75246
Cry Wolf has been on this site many times, most recently from our July visit, but each time it’s a little different and I wanted to share photos. (If you search my site you will find numerous write-ups with more info and photos). So this time with little commentary I’ve just got the menu and photos of the food. You need to put this one on your list whenever you are in Dallas. It’s a favorite of ours! Everything was wonderful yet very different. Continue reading →
building – 1839 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas, TX., 75206
Louie’s has been written up here before but it was time for an update. It’s one of our favorite spots, we probably go weekly. The ambiance is dark and friendly and the martinis are first rate. All the staff know us and that probably helps but the food is good, although there have been some changes since Covid came through. They are now closed Monday and Tuesday as well as most major holidays. You must be over 21 to enter and parties cannot be larger than 6. The school building nearby has remodeled their parking lot but for now seems to be a regular spot where you can still park, as street spots are limited. The pork chop is totally different from before and not as juicy and the baked potato is off the menu. Menus are by icon/link to be viewed on a smartphone rather than printed. They are still fairly busy but now often have a waiting list at the door which helps. We generally eat sandwiches there rather than the pizza and if we eat pizza we ask for it to not be heavily browned on the edge. It’s hard for me to judge how it would seem to a stranger but for newbies or singletons, I’d recommend sitting at the bar. Casey, one of the bartenders will help guide your journey and he’s suggested many new options for us to try, food-wise. All the table servers are friendly and helpful too if you go as a couple. It’s not a great wine spot but they have it. I encourage you to go for the martinis and strike up a conversation with whoever is sitting next to you. I hope you like it as much as I clearly do. Continue reading →
Saltwater Fish House and Oyster Bar was opened in July 2017 by Jenn and Sieb Jurriaans, who also operate the nearby Prima Bistro restaurant. They try and source their seafood from Coupeville’s Penn Cove Shellfish except for the lobster which comes from Maine. It’s a fairly small place and they take no reservations so people start lining up before the doors open. Inside are small wood tables (counter seating at the bar and in the middle of the room), music and photos of fish and other nautical items. Some fish nets hanging from the ceiling are decorated with glass fish. The full bar also offers a number of beers on tap. Service was friendly, efficient and helpful. It’s about the only seafood restaurant in town but my reaction to the food was mixed. Dinner offered more choices especially if you don’t want fried seafood. Continue reading →
We were at the Fitzgerald about a year ago (as well as in 2019) but this time we stayed on the second level in the newly re-done large rooms. The view and sounds of Lake Superior are fabulous and with so many hot places, the cool breeze here was refreshing. The staff are super friendly and there’s plenty of parking out front. The restaurant does get full, so reservations are a must. Guests at the hotel have first grab at reservations and I found out they hold the window tables for guests. This visit the fires in Canada were making a haze on the horizon but last time we were at the windows and the sun is so bright I believe I prefer the inner tables. It’s a small place though, so there aren’t any tables without a great view. Another thing I learned is to come early as they have limited quantities of some items and the later in the evening the more they’ve run out of. Unfortunately, they were out of ribs again when we arrived and no ends were available. They did look large and meaty from what I saw on earlier tables. Service is friendly and helpful but their wine list is small, especially compared to the array of whisky that is available. It’s a fun lovely place but the food is mixed. Some of the desserts looked and sounded good but those were all gone by the time we finished. Continue reading →
exterior – 32423 State Hwy M-26, Tiovola, MI, 49965
Parkview Lodge and Grilll is a large place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The lodge has 16 rustic rooms ready to house those enjoying the snowmobile and ATV trails nearby. Attached is a large bar and restaurant open 11 to 9, seven days a week. It was opened in 2005 by two sisters and their husbands, but after 10 years they closed for 2. In the middle of being closed, it was taken over by their brother, Scott Johnson who started doing renovations. The bar and restaurant can hold up to 200 people and one new feature was the addition of some cutout trees dividing the bar and restaurant. They are fabric covered to help with noise. We didn’t have any noise issues as it was empty when we stopped but the middle of the afternoon would be prime time for the explorers to be outside. The bartender took our order, helped with suggestions and was very friendly. I don’t know about staying here but it’s definitely a place I’d recommend for a good burger. Continue reading →
exterior – 10590 N Ranch Road, Hayward, WI., 54843
We visited The Ranch Supper Club in 2022 and had a great time so decided to go again, but this time we didn’t have a reservation. Not a good plan for a Saturday night. The wait wasn’t as bad as they thought so it was only a half-hour – time for a martini and a look around the bar area. The bar is a hopping place and they turn out a decent cocktail but their wine list is not too exciting, so we stayed with cocktails for the evening. The bar itself has a beautiful inlay of stones and the wood room is decorated with fishing objects and sporting goods. It’s a good meal with nice service. Continue reading →
Cry Wolf is a regular on our schedule if you haven’t noticed. The menu like the wine list is ever-changing. Some things work fantastically and others miss the mark slightly, but it’s never dissatisfying as I always leave in a great frame of mind. It’s a vibe some restaurants can achieve but it’s tough to maintain, however, they do and so I’ll keep posting updates to our dinners there. It helps that they know us and this night they brought a couple of dishes to us just to try. It made for a lot of food but what fun. Even though Chef Ross Demers was not in the house, Tim Case was there finding excellent wines to go with our order and Chef Mike Stites sent out terrific dishes. If you’re in Dallas this place is a must for you to go relax and enjoy a fantastic meal. Continue reading →
exterior (when closed) – 503 Laneda Ave, Manzanita, OR 97130
Yolk serves breakfast and lunch in Manzanita, on the coast of Oregon. We visited there about a year agoand had fond memories so we were looking forward to dining there and interestingly found out it had been sold in the last couple of days. The past owners were still there when we went, helping the new owners with the transition, particularly cooking. Even so, a little snafu with the ordering process made it take longer to get the bill and impossible to check on our order. It is still a bright and tasteful interior with music in the background, a patio, a full bar and lots of windows to the outside streaming in the sunshine. The food is good but they don’t take reservations, so get there early or be prepared to wait. It’ll be worth the wait. Continue reading →
We visited Neah Kah Nie Bistro last year and it was much better than this year’s visit. They were really short-staffed, meaning one person working the floor and one in the kitchen so any walk-ins were turned away and service was tremendously slow. It’s a small place with some outdoor seating, although the tarp over those seats was gone. I felt for the server but they should have canceled some reservations or notified guests. This was horrible. We didn’t try for a cocktail and instead were thankful to finally get to sit down. We also didn’t try for multiple courses, it took so long to get our wine and then it was the wrong bottle and vintage too. She took it back to try again but finally came back with what we drank and said they’d been delivered it by mistake. (The bill tried to reflect the charge for what we ordered and we waited to have that corrected as this wine was half the price of what we ordered – and was awful). They have a small parking lot but lots of street parking is available. Music was in the background and there was lots of light from the windows in the room to supplement the low lighting. Even so, you could tell the menus were well used and no daily specials were available. I’m sorry to say I can’t recommend this place. Continue reading →
entrance – 178 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107
SAISON had been a favorite restaurant of ours for years but had gradually drifted away from yummy so we haven’t been back since 2016. The introduction of a new team lead by Chef Richard Lee sparked our curiosity and so we decided to re-visit and are so glad we did. They still stress open hearth cooking and the use of local products all while expanding their wine list. The space is the same with well-spaced polished wood large tables with music in the background. The walls of brick and piles of wood give it a softer feel than the large open and modern kitchen that takes up one end of the space, which is the show people come to see. The other end is the bar with an abbreviated menu. Chef Richard Lee led a large team of chefs, each with different assigned tasks, and coordinated the serving the same tasting menu to all of the guests. It’s about a 2.5-hour meal and they do turn the tables. Wine pairings are available and a supplemental A5 Wagyu is offered when booking. They were dropped to 2 Michelin Stars a couple of years ago but with the level of service and the quality of the meal, I can see that third star back in their pocket soon. It’s pricey but if you can go it is once again well worth the money. At the end of the meal, you will receive a menu. Continue reading →
Sam’s Grill and Seafood Restaurant is the fifth oldest restaurant in the US. It was first listedhere in 2015 but I didn’t write up subsequent visits. They credit themselves for helping establish San Francisco as the culinary mecca it is today. They serve local seafood, simply prepared, alongside local vegetables. I thought of it as similar to Tadich Grill but it doesn’t seem to have weathered the pandemic as well. The crowd at lunch was very light and the server was marginal (maybe some language issues here) and tried to sell us on more items when we were ordering plenty. The medium-sized place is full of wood and white tablecloths with some natural light from the windows to the street. The walls are decorated with photos and nature shots. The food was marginal to bad and they charge for bread service. Continue reading →
exterior – 240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Tadich Grill was reviewed here back in 2015, but we visited many times after that and I didn’t write it up. But with the pandemic, it’s been at least 4 years since we were there. It was old school and consistent quality, meaning little changes, but downtown San Francisco has changed with a lot fewer people working in offices and a lower number of tourists. Tadich was ‘started’ by 3 Croatian immigrants in 1849 as a coffee stand that went through numerous moves when in 1871 another Croatian, John Tadich started working there. It became known as The Cold Day Restaurant through a political incident and Tadich took ownership in 1887. He joined with another restauranteur when both needed to recover from the 1906 earthquake, but when their partnership dissolved in 1912 and his partner named his new restaurant The Cold Day. Tadich then named his place Tadich Grill, The Original Cold Day Restaurant. It’s a fairly large place with wood tables and booths set with white clothes and napkins. A long bar with stools runs the length of the place with the kitchen being partially open in the back. Staff are friendly and dressed in long white aprons and white jackets. They have a large menu featuring much local and imported seafood with a few daily specials. The food is fine but nothing to write home about. You no longer seem to need a reservation at lunch, if that’s progress. Continue reading →
Chef Ross Demers – 4422 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX 75246
Note: Restaurant now closed
Cry Wolf has become a regular on our playlist and I swear I am not on their payroll – but the food is just too good not to share with you. The combinations continue to evolve and are different week to week and the atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming. Chef Ross Demers was finishing the plates tonight so we got to chat with him as we had the two “chef’s table” seats adjacent to him. He and Chef Mike Stites share cooking and finishing rolls, which helps the evolution of the menu. Sommelier Tim Case always has some fun and new wines to tell you about and is very mindful of your menu choices in helping you make a selection. In fact we had picked one wine and he came back and said we needed another under consideration based on our menu choices. I was closing the end of a week of birthday celebrations and Tim started our evening with a complimentary glass of champagne. If you haven’t been here, I strongly urge you to put it on your agenda. Maybe Frankie and I will see you there! Continue reading →
exterior – 2016 4 St SW, Calgary, AB T2S 1W3, Canada
Shokunin is a 50-seat Japanese Izakaya-style (informal place for drinking and snacks) restaurant serving charred yakitori and other small shared plates. On the 100 Best Restaurants of Canada, they ranked at #82. They have a seasonal menu for the room as well as a full bar and lots of bottles of sake. There are 4 seats at the bar in front of the cooking area that are reserved for the Shokunin Yakitori Omakase tasting. It also has optional drink pairings and an additional course of 45-day aged beeswax-wrapped wagyu. It is not A-5 from Japan but rather a Wagyu from Australia. One item on the menu, the chicken ass (tail), is only available to those having the omakase. The place was packed and service was well-paced and friendly. I was surprised by how little interaction there was between the 4 guests and those in the kitchen, but that was affected by plexiglass between us and the grilled area. It felt a bit impersonal with slight explanations of courses and a rushed feel. Some of the food was outstanding and others were just so-so. The tasting was a good way to get to know the place if you’re a one-time visitor. Continue reading →
entrance – 25 Prince’s Island Park, SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0R1, Canada
River Cafe dates back to 1991 when it started as a full-service café on Calgary’s Prince Island for the summer only. In 1995 they enclosed the space and began operating year-round. The desire was to create a restaurant space that would blend into the Bow River setting and they ranked at #22 on the 2023 100 Best In Canada. Attempting to serve cuisine from local areas was also part of the plan. To this day there is no access to the place except to walk there across the pedestrian bridge and through the friendly geese. It’s a fairly large space with bare wood tables set with towel-shaped napkins, faint music in the background and decorated with a fishing/nautical motif. An open kitchen is part of the rambling room as is a long bar. They are open 7 days a week and serve lunch/brunch as well as dinner. At dinner, they offer a Chef’s Tasting menu as well as an a la carte menu. We chose the tasting and they were willing to give me a copy of the night’s menu, but the dessert listed was not accurate. Service was friendly but the pacing was off and the food was good but not outstanding. It’s such a pretty spot, though I would recommend you try it. Continue reading →
exterior – 1005A 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0T8, Canada
D.O.P. is a small place that merited the number 23 spot on the 2023 list of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. In the next few months, around Sept. they are moving a couple blocks away to the Grain Exchange Building because their current building is being demolished. This will allow them to have a bigger kitchen and add about 10 seats. The name roughly translates to “Protected Designation of Origin” meaning that its products are locally grown or made, as much as possible. The narrow place had small tables running the length of the room opposite the bar/counter seating. The end with the entrance had windows to the street and a couple of side-by-side tables and the other end houses the 6′ x 8′ kitchen. The server said they have a room downstairs for some prep work and storage but this was about the smallest kitchen ever. The room’s long wall is decorated with posters and art, has a high ceiling, music in the background and the small bare wood tables are set with cloth napkins. It filled up quickly and was quite noisy, with reservations being a must unless you’re a singleton for the bar seating. Service was friendly and helpful and the food started with a flourish but then fizzled slightly. Continue reading →
exterior – 106 3 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0B6, Canada
The Silver Dragon Restaurant is located in the heart of Chinatown in Calgary. They offer over 200 Chinese dishes as well as brunch dim sum cart service daily (till 2:30). It’s a fairly large place on the second floor of the building that has been successful enough to now have a second location in Banff. The tables were well-spaced but not set with pepper oil, soy sauce or vinegar. It’s old-school Chinese food and service was friendly and fast with lots of carts coming to your table at any time. However, if you didn’t see what you wanted on a cart they would get it for you if it was presently being served. If it wasn’t they would only serve it if you had 2 orders of it. That made it tough since there were just the two of us but there was plenty of selection to choose from. They did bring us a tray with a bit of hot oil and some vinegar, but the hot oil was gone quickly. Some items came with sauce and then I saw others asking for soy, etc. and they cut most items when served. I would not call it outstanding but it was perfectly satisfying, just not extraordinary. The only specialty item worth commenting on was the ginger beef – a dish invented in Calgary. It’s a fried strip of beef in a sweet/spicy sauce. Fun to try something new. Continue reading →
view from the restaurant – Scotia Centre, 700 2 St SW #4000, Calgary, AB T2P 2W3, Canada
Major Tom is a restaurant and bar on the 40th floor of Stephen Avenue Place in downtown Calgary. It is the only restaurant in Alberta to be ranked in the top 20 of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants for 2023, claiming #13. Opening in the summer of 2021 it offers spectacular views of downtown (and further depending on the weather) with a menu that is heavy on steakhouse fare. While they offer other dining options, the menu highlights their beef selections which are all broiled at 1800º and brushed with Major Tom butter. It’s a large place and very popular, judging by the crowd and reservation options. The attractive interior is nicely lit by the walls of windows on the perimeter. Music is in the background, as well as much conversational noise and a full bar is available. Service is excellent and very friendly, with our great server Raven willing to pace out our meal and offer guidance on how much to order. Fortunately, the food matched the wonderful views and it was a fantastic evening. I recommend you include this one when you visit Calgary. Continue reading →
dining room – 982 Debruce Rd, Livingston Manor, NY
The current owners have run the place for 6 years and offer 6 “seasons” of menu to span the year. We were there for the ‘Stream’ season which features the many trout in the area. We were fortunate to get the same wonderful server both nights and he really made the meal enjoyable. Knowledge and friendliness are important in a great server and Giovanni Costantino has plenty of both. The tasting is offered at 6:30 and 8:00 pm so it moves at a fairly rapid pace. However, we had the later time and were there past 10, so the early seating moves more quickly. Portions are well-modulated. The beautiful landscape outside made a perfect backdrop for a meal of fish, that I didn’t have to catch or clean. I imagine the other seasonal tastings are well-crafted too. I recommend this place. Continue reading →
The DeBruce Lodge and Restaurant, built in the 1880s, sits on a ledge overlooking the Willowemoc Vally and river in Catskill Park. There are 12 rooms whose stay includes dinner and breakfast, as well as access to many fishing spots. On Friday the menu is ‘a la carte’ and Saturday is the tasting menu (which will be in a later write-up). They sometimes offer a Carte Blanche menu for Fridays but it was not available the time we were there. Some reservations are taken for diners not staying in the lodge, but reservations are recommended. Downstairs is a club room if you desire additional drinks but upstairs, or the main floor, has the small glass-walled dining rooms that has around 8 tables. A larger table is in the Great Room for bigger groups. Music is in the background with wood walls and wooden benches lining the perimeter of the room. The seats are padded and pelts and horns provide the decorations. Skylights provide additional lighting to the votives on the tables and natural light coming in the 2 walls of windows. Once the sun goes down the room did get much darker. A large opening goes to the kitchen which is kept amazingly dark, which is nice for diners but more challenging for the chefs. Eric Leveillee is the Executive Chef but he spends most of his time in Philadelphia and Chef de Cuisine Robert West runs the kitchen here. It is a lovely spot and if you like fly fishing, pack your bags now. If you’re not a fisherman you can still enjoy this place’s wonderful hiking and food. We enjoyed both types of menus and they are quite different, so stay 2 nights if you can.
Set-Up
dining roommenuwineFrankie explored
Food
For dinner we were told we could order whatever we wanted off the menu. We wanted to try a lot and were willing to share all. The server was most helpful in crafting our meal. Our Sourdough was their bread topped with peas, fiddleheads and ricotta. The thick slice of bread was heavily spread with their housemade ricotta and then decorated with fresh fiddlehead ferns and English peas. It was delicious and a delight to have the ultra-fresh vegetables.
Our sourdoughanother angle
Roasted carrots were mixed with coffee, maple and pistachio. These might have been my husband’s favorite plate of the evening. The beautiful fresh carrots were perfectly cooked and seasoned with the nuts adding a bit more texture to the dish. They were great.
carrots
Chilled mussels were mixed with white beans and topped with housemade potato chips. It was described as chilled but it still jolted me to have the cold mussels but they were fun and tasty. The chips gave the texture some crunch and a bit of salt which the beans needed. There was also some briny liquid mixed with the beans underneath. Some of the beans could have been cooked a tad more but better this than turned to mush. The large mussels were great.
Chilled musselsuncovered
Ricotta dumplings were mixed with wild mushrooms and parmesan. The large pasta wrappers were stuffed with the tasty ricotta and then blended with tons of mushrooms and topped with lots of grated cheese and a bit of cream. They were rich, heavy and wonderful.
Ricotta Dumplingsinside
Mangalitsa pork chop au poivre was served sliced and de-boned on a fabulous sauce. The large fat cap on the meat gave it extra richness and a wonderful depth of flavor. It was slightly chewy, but this one you didn’t mind working on, especially the delectable bone meat.
Mangalitsa Pork Chopturned
Beaverkill trout was topped with fiddleheads and smoked roe. It was a boneless fillet but the head and tail were on the plate for a faux whole-fish effect. The cooking and flavor were excellent and the roe made a nice accent seasoning.
Beaverkill Trout
Rice pudding was with almond and sea buckthorn. The thick round of rice was underneath a layer of cream and sitting in the sea buckthorn sauce. It was light and yet full of flavor. I love rice pudding and this was a interesting rendition.
rice puddingcloserinside
Chocolate mousse with raspberry sorbet was topped with lime shortbread. A final drizzle of cream finished off the dish. The cookie was buttery and short and the dish had lots of textures. Some herbs were mixed in and sprinkled on the top to add another layer of flavor. It looked goopy but it was nice.
The Bocuse Restaurant is the French restaurant in the Culinary Institute of America. Named aptly for Paul Bocuse, it is staffed by students at the CIA who learn modern cooking techniques to bring diners classic French cuisine. It’s in a large room at one end of a main building that has a parking garage next to it. Tons of windows added even more light to the fairly bright white room. Modern ceiling fixtures add soft light as does the see-through wine cellar. One end of the room is the open kitchen. Students not only do the cooking but also the service, drinks and wine service. They were all very pleasant but varied in their competency. Bench seating lines the walls with free-standing tables in the middle of the room and music was in the background. The menu is set up as a prix fixe 3-course menu with several choices in each category. They offered a nice wine list as well as many cocktails and mocktails – some made tableside. We were there with family so I got more pictures than I got to eat, but pictures tell a lot. Overall the food was nice but some menu descriptions were off the mark. Continue reading →
Garvan’s was opened 6 years ago by Garvan and Leonie McCloskey to bring a bit of Ireland to New Paltz, NY. It is located in an historic home that was built in 1759. The restaurant is spread over 5 spacious rooms in the building that have carpet and lots of windows to the outside. With the addition of drapes and well spaced tables the noise level is quite nice. There were no special that evening but the place does offer a full bar. We were there with family and so my note-writing and picture-taking were limited. The service was friendly but not particularly attentive. Our main server took our orders and then disappeared for long periods of time while others brought the food and drinks. The food was mixed with some plates good while others were quite ordinary. The bar did turn out good cocktails though and as I said the noise level made it easy to talk. We didn’t get dessert but I got a photo of the menu. Continue reading →
building – US Bank Plaza, 1 S Pinckney St, Suite 107, Madison, WI 53703
L’Etoile Restaurant was opened by Odessa Piper in 1976. She was an early supporter of the sustainable food or farm-to-table movement. In 2005 she sold the restaurant to her Chef de cuisine, Tory Miller and his sister Traci. They continued the tradition of supporting local farmers and expanded to open a bakery and a casual lunch spot also. Dianne Christensen became a co-owner in 2007 and envisioned a new space for ‘L’Etoile and the addition of a gastropub. Chef Miller was the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Midwest in 2012. The new space is in the US Bank Plaza building with 3 walls of glass looking out at the dome of the Wisconsin capital building. The widely spaced tables are covered with white cloths, sitting on carpet with a high ceiling overhead and music in the background. Parking is on your own, so allow extra time to make your reservation. They offer a “5” course tasting with 2 levels of optional wine pairings as well as an a la carte menu. The full bar and wine list has a fairly hefty mark-up but it is a good selection. We chose the tasting menu which included multiple extras and chose a half bottle of white and full bottle of red to accompany the meal. The food is excellent as was the service and if you have the chance this is a place I would recommend, but it’s not cheap. Continue reading →
The Plaza Tavern and Grill is the home of the “world-famous Plazaburger.” The burger is dressed with a Plaza sauce which is a secret recipe from 1964. The Plazaburger is ordered separately from a regular burger but they also offer a number of other food choices. Inside is a long bar that runs the length of the long room and booths run along the opposite wall. The middle of the room is open but you’ll find various game machines around the room. A number of televisions were around the room and midday they were playing an old animated show. It’s conveniently located by the capital and UW and open Wed to Sat from noon to 2 am. Goggle wrongly said they weren’t open till 3 pm on Wed but that is not the case. They were super friendly and cooked our burgers on the grill right behind the bar. It is a cash only place. Continue reading →
Paul’s Pel’meni is a small place near the UW campus serving Russian style dumplings. The owner, Paul Schwoerer, once lived in Alaska and found that Russian cuisine was good for colder climates. While there he learned to make these dumplings from a man who wanted to move back to Russia. Now he and his wife are in their 3rd location having been in business for 18 years. Everyday in the kitchen downstairs he rolls the dough and stuffs it with mashed potatoes or a savory ground beef mixture. Sour cream is the standard accompaniment but they still seemed plain to him. Now he adds a topping of yellow curry, butter, sweet chili sauce with vinegar and cilantro. They are sold in full and half orders of the beef, potato or mix. You order at the counter and they are out quickly. In the next room are tables and a water jug and a room with a bar. Later in the evening they’ll be serving lots of cocktails and draft beer to go with the dumplings. It was a quick and very satisfying lunch for us and I highly recommend you check the place out. Continue reading →
exterior (daytime) – 644 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703
The Harvey House is a modern take on a supper club and train travel, located in an historic train depot. The old Baggage Claim House and a train car next door make up the interior spaces. Opened by Shaina and Joe Papach, he runs the kitchen and she provides the design and business development portion. Lots of Wisconsin classic cocktails are served as well as newer craft cocktails, but the wine list is limited. The private car, which we could see out the window in our dining room, is used mostly for private parties according to our server. Even so, it is a large place winding around different floors and rooms with music in the background. A parking lot outside can handle some of the cars but parking can become an issue. There were some area rugs on the hard floor but with all the brick walls and marble-top tables, noise quickly became an issue. The lighting is very lowered which also became difficult as the sun went down. The food was mixed but service was fine. I do love supper clubs, but as much as I admire what the owners bring to the dining scene I probably wouldn’t go back. Continue reading →
exterior – 5371 Old Middleton Rd, Madison, WI 53705
The Oakcrest Tavern opened in the 1950s and it’s famous for its burger made from “steak trimmings” but they offer a number of things on their menu, including a fish fry on Fridays. It’s a casual place with the bar counter filling half of its space. The cooking area is inside the bar area and a parking lot surrounds the building. There were lots of TVs around the room but the sound was muted and music was playing. Lots of beer paraphernalia decorated the wood walls. The staff was all super friendly and they were quick with the food and you could see it was made to order. We enjoyed Leinenkugel’s beer, which was served nicely cold in a bottle, with our lunch. I suggest you give this place a try if you have a chance but be forewarned – it’s said to get quite busy at some hours. Continue reading →
Di Anoia’s is an Italian restaurant run by Chef/Owner Dave Anoia from Lebanon, PA. that opened in 2016 in the Strip District with his wife, Aimee DiAndrea (get how they came up with the name?). They accept reservations 6 weeks in advance but do have a waiting list that actually works. The bar and patio are for walk-ins. It’s a large bustling place serving all ages on closely spaced faux marble tables with red-checked napkins. Windows to the outside are on 2 walls and one looks like it used to be a garage door. They are open for all three meals except for no breakfast on Sunday and closed all day Monday. It’s a deli/cafe by day and a full-service restaurant at night. You enter into the bar/cafe area where there is a pastry case and a full bar. The dining room is to you right. Service was helpful and friendly and the noise level is loud. Continue reading →
exterior/day – 1230 Grandview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15211
Altius was a combination of fine dining and spectacular views. Located next to the top spot for the Mt. Washington Incline, the 2-story restaurant makes the most of its views with windows on three sides and 2 levels on each floor, so everybody can look around. The comfy seats have adequate-sized tables on carpet with only faint music in the background. Most of the lighting was from the windows and that would have been an issue if we hadn’t been lucky to be located under one of the ceiling spots. Some tables got quite dark as we watched the sun go down and the city’s lights go on. Bridges, stadiums and buildings are all within view as was the Duquesne Indian station and its car. A more casual crowd seemed to be celebrating special occasions among us regular diners. Service was good as was the food but the view was exceptional. Continue reading →
Primanti Bros. started in 1933 during the Great Depression. Joe Primanti had a sandwich cart that was successful enough to turn into a storefront feeding shift workers and truck drivers. Their signature is potato fries on the sandwich. The story is that someone came to the restaurant during the winter with a load of potatoes. He was concerned if they were frozen but when cooked on the grill they were fine. As other customers came in they wanted some so Joe put them on the sandwich and it was a hit. It allowed the drivers to eat with one hand while they drove. They now have 40 restaurants in over 6 states. We tried to hit the original location of this Pittsburgh icon. It is definitely worth trying and they are open daily 8 am – 10 pm and even later on Fri and Sat. The interesting thing was their menu had no prices and the drink menu on the table didn’t either. You can order extra meat or cheese on your sandwich but then I heard another patron asking how much and the server had to go to the register to check. On the website, most of the sandwiches are around $9 with $2 for extra meat/cheese. Service was super friendly and the place has murals you could study while you wait a short time for your order. They also had a full bar and several options for draft beer, which is what I tried. Continue reading →
Eleven was in a renovated warehouse beside the rail lines and served a seasonal menu with an accompanying large wine list. Opening in 2004 it was named because it was the 11th restaurant opened by the big Burrito Restaurant Group and it has been a launching spot for many of the best Pittsburgh chefs. It’s a striking interior, with a two-story dining area where the second floor is glass-enclosed private rooms (and a patio) and downstairs is filled with curved booths opposite straight booths that are next to the wall separating the open kitchen. The wine cellar is the glassed-in area on the second level above the middle of the space. On the opposite end of the dining area/kitchen was the large bar area that had a separate menu. Music was in the background with lighting lowered and curtains on the windows to the street. The food was quite good but there were a few service glitches that showed a lack of communication among the staff. It was a dressier crowd, many looked like expense account eaters. I would recommend the place based on the food and the lovely setting but with some reservations. Continue reading →
Lindey’s is owned by Sue Doody who opened it in 1981 in the German Village neighborhood. Now two of her sons are involved and both have found careers in the restaurant industry. It’s a huge place serving American cuisine in a white tablecloth setting. There are several dining rooms as well as private dining rooms in the 2-story corner building. The 1884 building housed another restaurant prior to but earlier served as a grocery, a saloon, flower shop and hardware store. Doody named the restaurant after the linden trees that used to grow on the property. The small tables are on carpet with the walls covered with drawings and music somewhere in the background. The entrance room had a long bar and tables but we were in the next room with windows to the street adding a bit more light into the room. Service was friendly but jumbled and the food was mixed. Perhaps we should have ordered the daily special. Continue reading →
exterior – 127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
St. Elmo Steak House has been a landmark in Indianapolis since 1902 when it opened. It is the oldest steakhouse in the city that’s in its original location. The place is huge, covering several floors with lots of different rooms and private dining options. It was founded by Joe Stahr and named for the patron saint of sailors, St. Elmo. Having had several owners over the years it is now run by Stephen Huse and his son Craig. They’ve won awards, have a huge wine cellar, valet parking and professional tuxedoed waitstaff. The large white cloth-covered tables are surrounded by brick walls and lots of photos with lowered lighting. The evening we were there, there were a number of large parties in the private rooms as well as on the floor. It had a very typical steakhouse ambiance that you have to be in the mood for. It was mixed on food but service was outstanding. Continue reading →
entrance – 653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Bluebeard is an amazing farm to table restaurant open for lunch and dinner. They have a full bar as well as lots of wine. It started as a European-style bakery, as one was not in Indianapolis in 2010. Tom Battista found a 1924 factory building in an historic Italian neighborhood in downtown and started Amelia’s Bakery which now supplies all the bread for Bluebeard. The space was large enough to house more so Tom brought in Chef Abbi Merriss and his son Edward to open a restaurant that would have the same artisanal approach to food, and they did just that in 2012. They named it Bluebeard after a book by Indianapolis native Kurt Vonnegut. Many of the decorations in the place reflect Vonnegut’s books. The winding space moves through numerous cozy rooms packed with fun decorations and happy people. They take no reservations so get there early if you don’t want to wait in line. The food is fantastic as is the service. It will be a memory you won’t forget. We didn’t get dessert but I snapped a photo of the menu for reference. Continue reading →
exterior – 601 E New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Vida offers innovative cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, when possible. It’s a large building with a bar on one side and the dining room on the other. The bar offers more casual dining and is in the original part of the building. They offer a 6-course Chef’s tasting menu (optional wine pairings available) or a 4-course fixed price menu with several choices for each course. Opening in 2016, it is an elegant space with a super high ceiling that has windows much of the way up. One wall of the dining room had a cushy bench that was mated with medium-sized dark bare wood tables. Carpet was on the floor and lots of wood in the room help keep the noise at a good level even with music in the background. The service was very nice with the team working together. The pacing was good as was portion control. We chose the Chef’s tasting with a dessert substitution for me and our own bottle of wine. Continue reading →
building – 234 N Belmont Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46222
The Workingman’s Friend is said to be the “best blue-collar burger place in town.” Founded around 1918 by Louis Stamatkin, an immigrant from Macedonia, who was helped by his fellow Macedonian immigrants to open the place. He served lunch to local railroad workers and other factory workers and called his place Belmont Lunch. Beer and liquor were a big draw for customers. When the workers were on strike he let them run a tab for which the place was given the nickname “The Workingman’s Friend.” When he died at the young age of 46 his sons (Carl and Earl) took over and renamed the place in his honor, but they also added some more expensive items to the menu and live entertainment. Carl’s daughter Becky started working there in 1978 and by 1980 the live music and steaks were gone. The place again focused on burgers and beer, of which the burgers are thin with a crispy edge. The expansion the sons planned never happened but it is still a large place filled with small closely spaced formica-topped tables. There are a number of lots around to park in and they were all pretty much full at 1:30 as was the interior. At one point a line formed waiting for the tables. It took close to an hour to get our food but the wait was worth it. It is a fantastic burger. The service was friendly but the noise level is loud from conversations. Televisions over the long bar were turned off, but a full bar of liquors is available. Continue reading →
In 1998 the award-winning Chef Chris Ward joined the M Crowd Restaurant Group as Executive Chef of The Mercury. Ward had garnered many honors including “Rising Star Chef” by the James Beard House Foundation. Today he is still in the kitchen at this neighborhood staple and packing a crowd even in the middle of the week. Located in a modest strip shopping center, inside you’ll find the lights lowered, dark wood tables, padded seating, stone and wood walls, shaded windows to the outside, and music in the background. You enter into the large bar area and now next door houses a sushi bar that shares food with this place. Along one wall is the opening to the kitchen where some terrific food is being offered to diners. There was only one special that evening but the menu covers a good range of American classics. The service was outstanding and we truly enjoyed an evening there with some friends. Continue reading →
Longoven offers a seasonal 10-13 course tasting menu highlighting local products. Owned by a trio of chefs – Andrew Manning, Patrick Phelan and Megan Fitzroy Phelan – it opened about 5 years ago. The trio united after varying careers to do a series of pop-up dinners for 4 years starting in 2014. They didn’t start out intending to offer fine dining but evolution found them receiving tons of awards as they refined their concept of flavors. Open for dinner Wed through Sat, there are few tables so get your reservation early. Wine pairings are offered and cocktails can be acquired at the Lost Letter which is the bar in the front of the building. The Lost Letter and the patio on the side also serve food made in the same kitchen, just a more casual and a la carte version. Fittingly the name refers to the community ovens of the Civil War period. They do give you copy of the menu at the end of the meal. The space is fairly dark with dark wood tables and carpet and excellent service. It is star for the Richmond dining scene and a bargain at $155/person. Go if you get the opportunity. Continue reading →
L’Opossum offers a quirky take on traditional French cuisine in a very eclectic interior, masterminded by Chef/Owner David Shannon. Opening in 2015 it immediately won the Elby (Richmond-region award) Dining award for Best New Restaurant and in 2017 won the Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year. You can see why it also has claimed fame as the most romantic restaurant with a number of sexual references in the food and art. Inside you’ll find a small darkly lit place with booths on one side of the long room, cut-outs holding statues between tables on the opposite wall and small tables in the middle. The tables are embossed with gold patterns underneath heavy plastic coating that brought Rorschach to mind and the lighting is from dozens of colored balls hanging from the ceiling. The walls are covered with plates, paintings and statues. Service was great – helpful and friendly, offering advice when needed. It may not be the best food I’ve ever had but the place itself is worth a visit and a chance to soak up the vibe. Continue reading →
Stella’s serves rustic and modern Greek cuisine. Stella was born in 1942 and emigrated to the U.S. as part of an arranged marriage. Her husband opened an American classic cafe in 1956 and she joined him working there in the 1960s bringing in Greek dishes. In 1983 she opened a restaurant bearing her name a few doors down. Expanding on its success she opened a second place in 1998 offering eclectic cuisine. The current location opened in 2011 and Stella still comes by and the kitchen prepares her old family recipes. The medium-sized place is on a corner and parking is on the street. Windows make up two walls and the large L-shaped bar is opposite, set with stools with backs. A large table is midway to the back and that and the bar are for walk-in seating. Otherwise, it is a bunch of small bare wood tables with some bench seating or larger tables for 4 with chairs. The ceiling is tin, Greek music is in the background and it’s very busy. However, the service didn’t rush you and was glad to bring things out individually so we could split them. The server warned us we ordered too much as the portions were large but agreed to give the kitchen our apologies that we were going to waste some food in order to be able to try lots. If you like Greek food try and get a reservation and otherwise get there early and snag an open seat. Continue reading →
hotel exterior – The Jefferson Hotel, 101 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23220
Lemaire is the fine dining restaurant in the historic Jefferson Hotel. It is named for President Thomas Jefferson’s maitre d’ Etienne Lemaire who is credited with introducing cooking with wine to America. The menu changes seasonally and is under Chef Patrick Willis, a Virginia native, since 2009 when the place underwent a major renovation. The hotel was lovely and had a nice bar just outside where you could wait for your table. Inside the elegant dining room was one room with elaborate plaster moldings, Italian chandeliers, mirrors, custom draperies and double-clothed large tables. Some windows were on two sides of the room and provided additional light to the small votive on the table. The padded leather chairs, carpet and well-spaced tables make a conversation easy yet private. Service was professional yet friendly and guests varied from those celebrating a special occasion to casual hotel guests. We wanted to split a number of things and they were happy to course it out for us. This place is worth a visit. Continue reading →
Perly’s is a Jewish Restaurant and Delicatessen serving “traditional Jewish cuisine with a twist.” In the heart of downtown, they are open Wed. to Sun. from 9:00 am till 3:00 pm. The place originally opened in 1961 and has had 3 owners with the current ones taking over in 2014 and adding the twist. It’s a long place with one side taken up by the long bar that ends in the kitchen space. The area that’s left is divided in two with booths and tables. The marble bar had stools opened and we took that as there was a wait for tables even later in the afternoon. Music was in the background, windows to the street provided additional light to the many fixtures, a black and white movie played silently on the screen above the bar, the ceiling looked like an old tin one and a pair of larger semi-circular booths flanked the doorway. Continue reading →
Buck’s Restaurant is in the heart of Old Louisville in the historic Mayflower building. Established in 1992 they wanted to create a “moon garden” and filled the restaurant and bar with white flowers against the dark green walls. The continental menu is served on artfully mismatched china and nightly live piano music adds to the ambiance. The medium-sized place felt very retro with a large bar dividing the 2 rooms. The tables were covered with white clothes and set with black napkins. The lighting was lowered, the bar is decorated with liquor bottles, the crowd was a bit more casual and there is a dedicated parking lot. Service was super friendly but in all honesty we were thrilled to have the young chef from our B & B be our server for the evening. Continue reading →
exterior –610 W Magnolia Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
610 Magnolia was in a 125-year-old carriage house in Old Louisville – the creation of Chef Edward Lee. In 2003 he wanted a modern take on the Southern Table and so offers a 5-course tasting menu with 2 options on 4 of the courses. Wine pairings are available as well as a full bar. Since there were 2 of us we decided to each order one of the options so we could try the whole menu. The menu focuses on seasonality and locally sourced produce including their own greenhouse and farm. It’s a medium-sized place with rock music in the background. A large bar filled one area but it did not have seats. The nice-sized tables were bare wood set with white cloth napkins and windows to the outside helped with the otherwise dim lighting. They do 2 seatings a night and reservations must be made by calling. We were in the early seating and as such the noise level was good at first but then became difficult as the later crowd arrived and more drink was consumed. The food was mixed but Chef Lee was in the house and did come around to visit with guests. We tried their pairings which were okay and small pours. Continue reading →
entrance to restaurant – The Brown Hotel, 335 West Broadway, Louisville, KY, 40202
J. Graham’s Cafe is in the Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville. One of several restaurants in the hotel they are the ‘light and airy’ one. They are famous for the “Hot Brown” which was invented there in 1926 and has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NBC’s Today Show and many other media outlets. In the 1920s The Brown Hotel regularly had over 1,200 guests every evening for its dinner dance. As the guests grew tired and hungry they wanted something glamorous to eat and Chef Fred Schmidt created the open-face turkey sandwich he called the Hot Brown. The Cafe is on the first floor of the hotel and if you dine there you are given 2 hours free valet parking, which is nice in the busy downtown. The room had windows looking out to the street which provided much natural light, bare wood tables, carpet, walls decorated with poster art and nicely padded seats and benches. A full bar is available. Service was a tad pushy, trying to upsell a bit and not particularly attentive but there were enough service people you didn’t get forgotten. The sandwich is an icon so I had to try it. Continue reading →
Jack Fry’s is celebrating 90 years in business. Jack and Flossie Fry opened in 1933 and the restaurant was mostly a sportsman hangout due to his love of horse racing and boxing. He closed the business in 1972 and then the space served Mexican food until it was re-established as Jack Fry’s in 1982. Susan Seiller bought the restaurant in 1987, the year Jack died. She transformed the restaurant into fine dining and then sold it to Stephanie Meeks in 1996, who started working there in 1996. She further upgraded the dining area and bar as well as adding climate-controlled wine storage. The place has won many awards and is filled with photos of its history, including the photo of Jack with the winning Derby ticket that made it possible to purchase the restaurant. It’s a cozy medium-sized darkly lit place with a small parking lot adjacent to one side. The white tablecloths, tin ceiling and full bar are complimented by the lovely live piano music. Service was friendly and helpful and I would heartily recommend this place if you find yourself in Louisville. Continue reading →
Frankie took the night off and we slipped into Cry Wolf for a delicious dinner. We were lucky to snag reservations for the Chef’s Counter seats where you are able to see all the dishes get prepared and chat with the talented chefs. What a treat to find owner Ross Demers at the grill. The menu had changed quite a bit in the month since we were there and many exciting choices were available. Also, Sommelier Tim Case had added some fun new wines and Sous Chef Mike Stites was doing the finishing touches before the plates were served. I’ve described this place before but my rule of thumb is to go as often as you can while a place is hot – you never know what the future holds. So, get there now cause this place is on the top of its game. Continue reading →
Chez Fonfon was a casual French bistro that opened in 2000. It is under the helm of Chef Frank Stitt but the night we were there it was his wife Pardis Stitt who was on site. (She also is a co-owner of Highlands Bar and Grill). The large place was crowded and busy with a large bar taking up about a third of the room. Music was in the background, lights were lowered, windows looked out to the street and parking, and the good-sized tables were bare wood set with cloth napkins. The vibe was of younger people and lively conversations. We were lucky to get a table in a corner, otherwise, the noise might have made me like the place less. Service was good as was the food, which was first-rate. I’d go back, especially for the dessert. Continue reading →
Bottega is open for dinner Wed through Sat and now reservations can be made 4 weeks in advance, online and by phone. The formal dining room opened in 1988 in the historic Beaux-Art building. A Café opened next door 2 years later which offers more casual dining. The building originally was an upscale clothing store and later housed some medical care units until it became a restaurant, but it retains the original facade and front windows and tile floor. Chef and Owner Frank Stitt received the James Beard Foundation’s Award for Best Chef Southeast in 2001 as well as many other awards during his time in the industry. Now the good-sized tables are covered with two white cloths, large metal chandeliers provide soft lighting supplemented with votive candles on the tables and some tract lighting in the high ceiling. Currently, they are not using their upstairs seating due to staffing shortages. It has a feel of elegance, the noise level is good and the crowd seemed a bit older. Service was wonderful as was the food. I heartily recommend this place. Continue reading →
exterior – 2013 2nd Ave., N. Birmingham, AL, 35203
Helen is a contemporary Southern grill under the helm of Chef Rob McDaniel and his wife Emily. Helen was Rob’s grandmother who cooked on an indoor grill. The large restaurant is in downtown Birmingham in a 2-story 1920s shotgun-style building. Opening in the summer of 2020 they serve diners downstairs with upstairs having private party rooms or it can seat diners as needed. Small bare wood tables sit opposite a wood bench with movable pillow backs. Some larger tables accommodate bigger groups. Windows look out to the street, a small bar has chairs for waiting, pictures are on the walls, valet parking is available out front and a long open kitchen is in the back. The noise level was acceptable but the service could border on pushy. The food was good but once again we encounter “the small table and lots of plates at one time” issue. Continue reading →
The Essential is a medium-sized bar and cafe in an historic part of downtown Birmingham that serves contemporary American food. They serve dinner, brunch on weekends and lunch, which is what we had there. They have seating inside at tables and at a long bar or tables on a patio, which did have heaters. Along with a full bar, they offered a nice wine selection. Large windows in the dining area overlook the outside patio and street and music plays in the background. A fun tile floor was opposite a decorative ceiling and one wall had a bench seat that accompanied the small round marble tables. The back end of the room was a large opening into the kitchen. At lunch, they have fewer items to pick from than at dinner but whenever you go you’ll find fine food and service here. This place should be on your list if you visit Birmingham. Continue reading →
Scoundrel was opened in October of 2022 by Greenville native Joe Cash. He wanted to create a French bistro like he’d find in NYC or LA. It’s a good-sized place that’s divided in half by curtains, with the bar and its seating on one side and a long bench seat facing small tables on the other side. Opposite those tables are semi-circle booths with larger tables and padded seating. Music was in the background and lights were lowered, supplemented by spots on some of the tables. Wood floors, exposed ductwork above, and art featuring the ‘scoundrel’ cover the walls. they have 2 unisex bathrooms and one is marked with a warning that it is not ‘family friendly’ due to the provocative photos on the wall. I’m betting the notice was posted after several comments were posted about it on the trip advisor reviews. The full bar offers lots of options but the wine list was mostly uninspired. Noise was not a problem here maybe due to spacing or design but that was nice as was the excellent and friendly service. Continue reading →
back entrance – 550 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
Hall’s Chophouse was started by the Hall family in 2009 in Charleston. They now have 5 locations in this area of the country with Nashville set as the next to open. They bill themselves as serving the finest steaks money can buy, offering an extensive wine list and serving hearty family-style sides all with great service. The Greenville location is located in the refurbished part of downtown overlooking the water feature. Parking is on the street as well as in several city-owned parking garages. It was a fairly large place with huge windows taking in the view with an equally huge bar available for drinking and dining. At lunch, they had some different menu options but the entire dinner menu is available too. Be advised that portions are large. The nice sized tables were cloth covered but I found the service to be a bit overdone bordering on intrusive and pushy. We were there for a relaxed visit with a longtime friend and the constant picking up of plates we were using to replace them with larger ones, changing out flatware after plates were served and the pushing of extra orders did not endear their service to me. Continue reading →
The Anchorage was a small place in the Village of West Greenville serving an eclectic menu. Partnered with Horseshoe Farms the restaurant brings the farm-to-table concept to life by having a variety of vegetable dishes on the menu. Executive Chef/Owner Gregory McPhee opened the restaurant in early 2017 and the place was a semi-finalist for the 2018 Best New Restaurant James Beard Award. Carlos Baez, Chef de Cuisine has cooked in many places but joined the team in August 2020 and was in charge of the kitchen the evening we dined. It’s a small 2-story place with a dining room and partially open kitchen on the first floor and dining and bar area on the second floor. Next door is a tiny wine shop where you actually enter the restaurant, but wines are available for purchase. We were a little confused about where to enter and some of the regular patrons found us wandering and showed us the way in. They were local people who said it was their favorite place and I can see why. Parking was on the street, music was in the background, wood and brick made up the walls, and lighting was lowered with a bench seat lining one wall. The guests were made up of a range of people but it never got too noisy to talk. The service was fabulous. The menu offers 9 plates a la carte but there is a tasting option where you get to try all of the dishes in 3 groupings, with scaled portioning. It is the way to go, which you should – as soon as you can. Continue reading →
exterior – 654 South Main Street, Greenville, SC., 29601
Coral was a large place in the West End district of downtown. It’s basically divided into 2 rooms, one bar and one dining. The kitchen is under the helm of Joshua Dill and Addison Stone, both South Carolina natives but it is owned by 3 friends who all were born elsewhere and ended up in the Greenville area. It’s a busy and loud place that stresses the bar and cocktails as well as local seafood. Painted brick walls are lined with booths and small bare wood tables. The lighting is quite low but spots set in the black ceiling shine intensely on the outer ring of tables. The floor was carpeted and there were sound panels on the walls, the only music was in the bar that blended slightly into the background but the crowds made noise an issue for me. Service was friendly and helpful but it’s hard for servers when plates are large and tables are small. The food was mixed but it’s definitely a happening place. Continue reading →
exterior – 5650 Village Glen Drive, Dallas, TX., 75206
Meridian brings modern Brazilian cuisine to Dallas as prepared by Chef Junior Borges. Opening in 2021, the restaurant celebrates chef’s Brazilian roots in a lively and beautiful setting surrounded by apartments, offices and small businesses. There is valet parking available but there are lots of places if you’re willing to walk. You enter through the large bar area that also has some small booth seating and proceed into the large main dining room with one wall having an opening to the open kitchen. Opposite walls are mostly glass with lights in the trees surrounding the place. Music is in the background and the tables vary in size with some couch-like comfortable seating. Maybe due to the wood floor or lots of plants but even in a very full room, it wasn’t too noisy to talk at the table. Lights are dimmed but it’s not overly dark. In the dining room, they offer a 4 course fixed price menu with several selections in each category or guests can go a la carte in the Bar Room or patio. The fixed price menu also has some additions available as well as supplements and wine pairings. We got the pairings and while it is a way to match the wine in food, the pours are very small and the matchings were not inspired. There is a happy hour also with drink specials and different food items. Open every day but Monday, it’s a fun place to try. Continue reading →
FIG opened in 2003 and this was our third visit, the last being in March 2017. More plants are growing on the sign over the front door but you still enter into the bar area and then proceed to the big dining room. The lights were lowered, white cloths covered the large tables, the ceiling dark, floors wood, and walls red with no music in the background. We were privileged to be seated in one of the two red booths in back with really comfy seats. The place was still very popular with tables being turned regularly even on a Thurs. night. We were very happy to get to chat with Chef Jason Stanhope who was recovering from ankle surgery, but stopped by the table at the end of the meal as I requested getting an updated photo of him. The place is named for “Food Is Good” rather than the fruit and it is well-named indeed. When you have the chance I suggest you dine at this fine restaurant. Continue reading →
We were excited to return to Chez Nous but slightly dismayed to not see Chef Jill Mathias in the kitchen. This visit we got to sit downstairs and enjoy the jazz music that plays in the background. There is a second fireplace at the base of the stairs to the upper level and the tables are just as small down here. There are also a few stools at the bar counter in front of some of the wines. The decorations in the place are from a local antique store that one of the owners is also involved in. Also found out that the doors to the bathrooms are original to the house. The setup was the same as before, with 2 choices for each of the 3 courses and that really befuddled the neighboring table that wanted French onion soup or any soup (they eventually left). We however were happy with the choices but this trip wanted the same things and split the dessert as we knew a heavy dinner was on the schedule. The food didn’t dazzle me as much as the first visit but I would still plan to visit this place every chance I get because the food is that good and the concept is very refreshing to me. Continue reading →
exterior – at Cannon Green, 103 Spring St., Charleston, SC., 29403
Wild Common promises “bold and inventive cuisine” in several dining spaces. We chose the Chef’s Counter but there is also the indoor dining room or private courtyard. The space is large and also accommodates a couple of event spaces, neither of which were in use nor was Chef Orlando Pagán in the kitchen. You enter the plain building and go down a long hall, thinking you’ve entered the wrong space. When you find the dining area there is also a marble bar that looks into the kitchen and a large changing digital painting that dominates the dining room. Opening in the spring of 2019, you’ll find high ceilings and music in the background. They offer a tasting menu (with supplements) only and have optional wine pairings. The pricing of the menu and supplements was off in that each supplement was as much or more than the whole menu – seemed odd. We chose our own bottle and a cocktail from the bar to go with our tasting menu as printed. The menu had good portioning and very fast pacing. Staff were all friendly and helpful. Continue reading →
Chez Nous is a small place in an 1835 2-story home. Around 9 years ago Chef Jill Mathias started serving the cuisine of southern France, northern Italy and northern Spain for lunch and dinner 6 days a week. She serves the same menu of 2 appetizers, 2 entreés and 2 desserts both times of day but changes the menu daily. Chef writes the new menu by hand every day in a very stylized script, with the first line in the language of the area and the second in English. The place just holds 36 guests inside and 20 on the outside patio. Music is in the background, light streams through the many windows, upstairs a bench runs along the long wall with no pillows and tiny tables. Upstairs wide plank old floors are opposite exposed ceiling rafters and the end of the room has a crumbling brick fireplace. It all works to feel like you’ve jumped back in time to enjoy a meal in a friend’s home. Don’t let anything stop you from getting to this place and eating some of her great food. We were so impressed we made a reservation for the next day’s lunch while we sipped coffee. Continue reading →
Chasing Sage is a medium-sized place that tries to focus on locally grown produce and locally sourced meat and seafood. They were scheduled to open in March 2020 but due to the pandemic instead sponsored a series of pop-up take-out meals. They officially opened for dinner in June 2021. The Chef, Walter Edward is a graduate of the CIA in Hyde Park, NY and then worked internationally before opening this place. His wife, Cindy Edward runs a farm, that has been in her family and will now supply produce for the restaurant. The space is long with a bar on one side, a long service table in the middle and small tables filling the rest of the space that ends with a window to the kitchen. Faint music is in the background, the lights are fairly low, candles are on the tables, and the walls have decorations of wine bottles, books and such. It’s a cozy feel but the food did not live up to my expectations. The menu is a la carte but they offer a ‘let us pick for you’ option which we tried. The pacing was varied as were the portions. Continue reading →
building – Wentworth Mansion, 149 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
Circa 1886 is the restaurant in the carriage house of the historic Wentworth Mansion. Guests of the mansion are entitled to one entrée of their choosing for breakfast, however they also serve dinner. We were scheduled to have dinner there but let it go when an opening became available at another place we wanted to try – so many good places to eat in Charleston. We did stay at the Wentworth so we had breakfast there twice but skipped the other 2 days due to planned lunches. After passing through the lovely patio the door opens into the cozy bar room. The main dining room is a small but elegant space with double clothed large tables, well spaced and a few large booths along one wall. Service was great and friendly and the food was good. The pastries were a real surprise, being house-made, probably by Ashley Cardona the pastry chef. It would have been easy to fill up on them. I suspect dinner there would be very nice. Continue reading →
exterior- 2063 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
The Obstinate Daughter is named for the American victory in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in 1776, where a British cartoonist illustrated the defenders of Charleston as “Miss Carolina Sulivan, one of the obstinate daughters of America”. Their website describes the place as a ‘Lowcountry Food Fort.” They have a wood-fired pizza oven as well as a raw bar and relationships with local fishermen and farms. It’s a large place on the second floor of frame house with a patio facing the street and a very small parking lot downstairs. The eclectic menu has influences from Italian and Spanish cuisines and the interior is decorated with a nautical theme. There were 2 main rooms, one with a bar and counter and the other with an open kitchen and an assortment of table types. Music was in the background, lots of windows look to the outside and the staff was all super friendly and helpful. The food was excellent. Continue reading →
Vern’s is a small corner place that opened in July 2022 by Daniel “Dano” and Bethany Heinze. Dano previously worked as Chef de Cuisine at McGrady’s where Bethany managed the bar. They also worked in Los Angeles at Animal and Jon & Vinny’s. The restaurant is named for Daniel’s grandfather who is featured on a postcard that’s presented with the bill. Currently, they are open Thurs. to Monday for dinner and brunch on Sat and Sun. Windows to the street are on 2 sides and the kitchen is through an open window behind the limited bar seating, which is first come-first served and serves only wine and beer, no liquor. The bare wood tables are closely set and matched with a variety of chairs and wall benches and set with towel sized napkins. The menu has various-sized dishes that are all meant to be shared. In addition, there were a couple of specials on the chalkboard over the fireplace, one of which ran out and a line was drawn through while we were there. The food was creative and delicious and the vibe was casual and welcoming. Go if you can. Continue reading →
exterior – 3540 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove, FL., 33133
Ariete was created by Chef/Owner Michael Beltran to combine his Cuban heritage with French technique. It was awarded one Michelin Star in 2022. They offer 2 tasting menus with optional wine pairing or an a la carte menu. It’s a small place with very low lighting, small tables and a patio. A bar counter is in the main dining room. Music was in the background and the kitchen is open to both dining rooms. Staff was super friendly and helpful. We opted to try one of their signature a la carte dishes rather than the tasting. The duck dinner is for 2 and involves a press brought to the table where parts of the duck are made into a sauce tableside. It’s a fun show with a fabulous result. The order comes with a number of side dishes also. I give this place high recommendations but be prepared for the dim lights. Continue reading →
entrance – 11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL., 33139
Joe’s Stone Crab was opened as a lunch counter in 1913, before Miami Beach was a city, by Joe Weiss. He moved south from New York due to his asthma and found he could breathe easier in Miami Beach. It started as a lunch stand and by 1918 he and his wife bought a small house and set up tables on the porch, calling it Joe’s Restaurant. For a number of years, they were the only restaurant on the beach and Al Capone was a regular customer (using a different name). Around 1921 a researcher discovered stone crabs, but they were not known to be eaten. Joe gave them a try and they were an instant hit. His son Jesse evolved into running the place and had the personality to attract many celebrities and the well-to-do crowd. The place served food to Will Rogers, Amelia Earhart, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Joe Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover to name a few. The third and fourth-generation family members now run the place with some employees having worked there up to 50 years. It is an institution, to say the least. A huge place, there are several dining rooms, a large bar and a patio all appointed with formally dressed staff and double white clothed tables. Service is fabulous as is the food. An experience not to be missed. Continue reading →
exterior – 101 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Stubborn Seed has Bravo’s Top Chef Season 13’s winner Chef Jeremy Ford in charge of the kitchen. It’s a medium-sized place that serves only a tasting menu in the main dining room and various snacks at the bar. It was very lowly lit, which made photos difficult, had music in the background, got fairly noisy when full, and the small tables were unclothed dark wood. Paintings and mirrors decorate the walls. The menu for the evening is on the table and wine pairings are available as are supplements of Perigord truffles, Ossetra caviar and a course of Chawan Mushi. The server informed the kitchen of our visit and we were gifted several supplements. A kind and generous gesture but that didn’t win me over, the food did. It was wonderful, as was the service. They were justly awarded a Michelin Star in the new Florida guide. Put this one on your list to visit, sorry my photos don’t do justice to this tasty and inventive cuisine. Continue reading →
Boia De is a small restaurant in a strip shopping center with closely set small tables and a long bar inside. There is a patio also. In the new Michelin Guide for Florida they were awarded one star. Lights are lowered, windows look out to the patio, the open high ceiling has exposed ductwork and there’s music in the background. The food is definitely American with a strong Italian influence – they make their own pastas. They stress natural wines and the place sells no liquor. The plates are small, meant to be shared and multiple ordered per person. The place is lively and fun with touches of that seen in the decorations and particularly their signature ‘!’, which is in neon outside and on the wallpaper inside. That ‘!’ well describes their food with an amazing amount of flavor and texture in each bite. Couple that with some outrageously friendly and helpful servers and you will have a great dining experience. Get a reservation and go! Continue reading →
It’s been several months since Frankie officially visited Cry Wolf but she always enjoys her time in this place. Chef Ross Demers was back to finishing out the plates before being served while others enjoyed some vacation time. Since we were sitting at the Chef’s Counter this was a plus. The place was really hopping with returning and new customers all enjoying some heavenly food and the lively atmosphere. The bar turns out some fun-sounding cocktails but I prefer to put us in the capable hands of Sommelier Tim Case. He always has something new and different to try that compliments the food turned out by the kitchen staff. In fact, all the staff seem to enjoy working here and translate that into the fine service delivered to the diners. The menu changes regularly but staff will help you make decisions if you want. Put this one on your list to visit soon. Continue reading →
exterior – 2023 Greenville Ave., Suite 110, Dallas, TX
Quarter Acre opened the last day of 2022 in the space that used to house Rapscallion on Greenville Ave. Their intent is to combine upscale dining with Chef Toby Archibald’s New Zealand roots. Chef likes to use seafood, flavors of, and other meats from New Zealand and their wine list has some wines from there. In New Zealand “quarter acre” symbolizes your dream – a quarter acre of land with a house and space for kids to run and grow. This is Archibald’s dream to showcase his cooking. Prior to this he served as Chef de Cuisine at Bullion and Executive Chef at Georgie, here in Dallas. He also has worked in NYC, London and Toronto kitchens. The place is one large room with a bar running the length of it. The middle section is crowned by some huge bamboo/rope fixtures with larger tables underneath and the other long wall is a long bench lined with tiny 2-top tables. The open kitchen is in the back. Lots of plants, fairly loud music, and windows to the street are part of the scene. Service was good but mixed – the same as the food. Portion sizes vary. Continue reading →
exterior – 1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70130
Commander’s Palace has been on this blog several times, but this time we were back for lunch. The menu is smaller and cheaper and they still off 25¢ martinis which come in several variations. No wonder they had a good crowd but it also turned out to be KingsDay, which is the start of Carnival Season and so there were tables of people dressed and ready to start the celebrations. It seemed like private parties were being seated upstairs. There is a limit of 3 on the drinks “cause that’s enough” and it truly is. They also have $5 deals on a couple other cocktails. One caveat is that you do have to purchase an entrée. The food was fine but mostly the ambiance won me over this time. Continue reading →
exterior – 3054 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA., 70117
Saint-Germain offers only a 10 course tasting menu that moves between the 2 rooms of the place. They wanted to recreate the feeling of eating at a chef’s home and they certainly did that with their tiny dining room. First to find the place, look for the sign that says “Sugar Park” that marks the spot and reservations are a must. The menu changes regularly and wine pairings are available. The award winning chefs go for a French bistro type of fare and partnered with Drew DeLaughter, their business partner who runs the front of the house, to open in 2018. It’s in an older house that used to house a pizzeria – you can see the marks in the dining room where the oven was pulled out. You start at the bar with the lovely and friendly bartender, Hillary. She like all the staff are lively and engaging and make the evening a delight. Pacing and portion control were spot on and I’d encourage anyone to go there that can, – the food’s terrific. They do give you a copy of the menu at the end of the meal. Continue reading →
exterior – 1117 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA, 70116
Saint John is a large long space from Chef/Owner Eric Cook, who has worked at many fine restaurants in New Orleans. His first restaurant was Gris-Gris and this one opened in Oct. 2021. There are several rooms as well as a long bar for seating. Upstairs has balcony seating as well as rooms for rent for private parties. As you walk to the back room, the long open kitchen is on your right but first you pass a huge mural by Deurty Boys that features tributes to deceased local chefs and hospitality leaders. The same artist did pieces of stained glass art for each of the elevated booths across from the kitchen. The space is quite bright, music is in the background and the tables are topped with marble. Service was helpful but there were very few people there. This surprised me as it’s right across from the way popular beignet restaurant. It could be the coldness of the place, the high prices, the average food or the time of year. Take your pick but I don’t recommend this one – it’s not bad but not worth the money. Continue reading →
Galatoire’s has been written up on this blog numerous times but on our most recent visit we tried a few different items so I thought I’d post pictures and some commentary. I had read that the food had gone downhill following Covid so I also wanted to re-visit. While everything was not spectacular, and some even a little off, overall it was a fine meal. The service there is so adaptable and the crowd too lively, it’s hard not to have a good time. The menu seemed smaller but I learned a new thing – that you can order half sizes of many of the entrees. This allows you to try more things. I still recommend this place for a dose of wonderful seafood cooked nicely with lots of butter. Continue reading →
Chat qui Rit opened in 2015 and is close to the Piazza San Marco. However, the logo is from the 1940s when it was a cocktail spot and after-dinner place with a luxury feel that was named Chat Qui Rit or “the laughing cat”. Owner Giovanni Mozzatto decided to maintain the 1948 logo as the logo for this new venture. That thought of merging the old and new is also seen in the kitchen here, with established Venetian Chef Davide Scarpa paired with young Leonardo Bozzato, who also brings in some Asian influences. It is a striking space with outstanding service and food. Spread over several rooms, there is music in the background, lots of windows to the outside, a large bar area, seats outside and good-sized tables set with a beautiful napkin embroidered with the cat logo. Besides a full bar they also have a huge, well-chosen wine list. In addition to the a la carte menu, they have a tasting menu that is well-composed, paced, and portioned. I of course loved the cat logo, but the place lived up to the name and I give it high recommendations to any who have the chance to visit. Continue reading →
Eugene’s Gulf Coast Cuisine is named for the owner’s (Kyle Teas) father, Eugene. Kyle Teas was born and raised in Houston and grew up eating Texas Gulf seafood and wanted to acquaint more people with the cuisine and thus he opened Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen in 2007. When the Mockingbird Bistro space became available about a year ago, the restaurant moved and expanded the menu as well as the seating. They stress serving fresh and seasonal fish, many cooked with Cajun influence. The old school large place is in the River Oaks area with plenty of parking. The staff is super friendly and helpful but also very professional and efficient. In addition to their menu, they had nightly specials and discounts for happy hour snacks and drinks. The food was delightful and I would easily recommend this place as one to visit when in Houston. Continue reading →
Brass Ram is Chef Nick Badovinus’ ninth and newest restaurant which opened in early November 2022 on the second floor above National Anthem on the edge of downtown. This place is all about prime rib and old-school steakhouse dining. There’s leather, dim lighting, brass, exposed brick walls, cozy spacious booths, a large bar, vintage music in the background, and a private dining room decorated with photos of Marilyn Monroe. Parking is mostly valet but be forewarned – they sent us to the end of the building to climb the open staircase and surprised the hell out of the staff leaning on the door. There is a proper door on the downtown side of the building where you enter and have an elevator or enclosed stairs to take you up to the place. Either way gets you in but the hostess stand is by the preferred door. Staffing has been an issue with the parkers so these people probably really didn’t know how to enter. The service is friendly, relaxed, and excellent in the restaurant but the food did not overwhelm me. I love the look of the place, but as with many of Bodovinus’ places, I wish it were less noisy, and even though he was in the house he did not make it around to many of the tables. Continue reading →
building –21021 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, CA.
Diavola Pizzeria and Salumeria is in an historic building on the main street of Geyserville. They bill themselves as serving Califorian cuisine with an “Italian state of mine.” Their regularly changing menu features locally sourced meats, fish and produce. Chef/Owner Dino Bugica spent 10 years in Italy learning local methods. They are open daily for lunch and dinner, with a bigger menu at dinner. It’s a good sized places with 2 interior rooms, the larger one also housing a long bar with seats and the kitchen. The second room is a good bit smaller but there is also patio seating. There is a full bar, music in the background, lowered lighting, tin ceiling, wood floors, brick walls and parking is on the street as you can find it. In addition to the house cured salumi they make Neopolitan style pizza in the wood burning oven. The bread for their sandwiches comes from a bakery in Healdsburg. We were there to try the Prime Rib Sandwich which is only available on the lunch menu but got seduced by the oven to order a pizza too. It’s worth a visit. The food is great.
Set up
sign outsideentranceinteriorto another roomsecond interior roomkitchenbar areaFrankie found some artmenudrinkswinewine
Food
The Prime Rib Sandwich comes with thinly sliced prime rib, tonnato aioli, onions, giardiniera, salsa verde, Pt. Reyes Toma and horseradish. It also came with a good portion of chopped salad on the side. The well-stuffed sandwich was wonderful and plenty for 2, although it did not come cut. It was so stuffed that some of the meat and cheese dripped out into the salad which made it even tastier. The marinated cauliflower was almost meatlike and was part of one of the sauces on the beef. There were a lot of seasonings and some oil on the ingredients that made it pretty drippy, but also full of flavor. As I mentioned earlier, they did not make the bread it came on but it was great and nicely toasted. It was really good.
prime rib sandwichturnedturnedinsidesalad
The Boscaiolo Pizza was topped with sausage, mushrooms, house-smoked pork belly, peppers, local greens, and creamed onions. The onions were basically the sauce for the pizza. There was a generous amount of cheese on the pie and a lovely rise to the edge of the crust. The fresh mushrooms were thickly cut and added a wonderful amount of flavor as did the sausage. The pork belly melted into the cheese and onions but added even more fun flavor. Each table has a bottle of Calabrian Chili oil if you want to add it to the pizza. It is not too spicy, it just added even more flavor. This was a great one too.
Boscaiolo Pizzaanother angleclosercloser Calabrian Chili oilFrankie enjoyed the bathroom arrangement
Vivian is the creation of Chef Josiah and Shannon McGaughey who started it as a kitchen pop-up in 2015. Within a year they had their own food truck called Salt & Smoke but they still aspired to own an actual restaurant space. They did just that, opening Vivian in the River Arts District in January 2018. They serve a seasonal changing menu with French overtones. It’s made up of 2 rooms, one with the long bar and counter seating and another room with just tables. There was a patio that people came and went from but I didn’t go there to get a photo. Lots of art is on the walls, sound panels are on the ceiling, the walls are of brick and wood, the lighting is lowered, the floor is concrete and the tables are bare wood. The service was first rate with good advice and recommendations on ordering. In addition to a nice wine list, they have a full bar from which we enjoyed a basic Negroni as we worked out a meal plan. The food is outstanding and I would heartily recommend you try it. Continue reading →
Southern Porch is a family-run operation not too far from Asheville. The current couple that owns it started it with the wife’s mother and stepfather, who had chef experience. The senior couple retired in March of 2019. The building was constructed as a house in 1876, before Canton was even a town. As the town boomed due to a paper mill the building was purchased in 1910 and made into a hotel. A 4-story tower was added and it became The Imperial Hotel. Much has since transpired but the ownership started restoration of the building’s appearance to the 1920’s look and then welcomed Southern Porch Kitchen and Drink onto the premises. The inside dining rooms now are large and fairly unadorned. The bar was off to the side when we entered the large room with well-spaced tables, a high tin ceiling, a wood floor and rock music in the background. The menus were large and so worn that much of the print was wiped off. There were a number of people working there but our server was not particularly experienced. Continue reading →
The Admiral opened in 2007 in a modest building that used to be a bar for cab drivers with a maritime theme – thus the name. It’s a small interior with low ceiling, lowered lighting, vintage music in the background, bare blond-wood tables, and an open kitchen. There is a full bar with a few seats in front of it as well as a plastic-enclosed patio section and a fully outdoor patio section. It felt very cozy and inviting and the service was friendly to match that cool relaxed vibe. They had installed plastic partitions above the backs of the booths which not only provided more privacy but also allowed conversations without yelling. It looks like a dive from the outside and is not in the ‘hot’ section of town but that makes street parking a lot easier. We decided to go with the flow and order a very traditional meal. It was mixed on the food but the place was so fun I’d go back if I was in the area. Continue reading →
exterior – 22 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC., 28801
Chai Pani translates to “tea and water” and is slang for going out for a quick bite. The restaurant features the street food of India as well as some comfort food you might be served in a home. Opening 13 years ago Chef/Owner Meherwan Irani and his wife wanted to offer an under-represented type of Indian cuisine in an affordable place. In 2022 they were named an Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation and in 2021 The New York Times included Chai Pani in their ‘America’s Favorite Restaurants’ list. Chef Irani now has restaurants in numerous cities. In Asheville, it’s a long one-room place with a half dozen seats at the bar and the rest at the booths that line the walls and tables in the center. One end of the room opens to the kitchen. The windows to the street let in additional light, Indian music is in the background and the staff was friendly but not the most directive. The food varied but for the most part, was full of flavor and texture. Continue reading →
Cúrate offers a collection of ways to enjoy Spanish tapas. Cúrate Bar de Tapas is a large restaurant that opened in 2011. (Other portions are shops, cafes, and to-go items.) The menu includes many staples of Spain’s tapas culture as well as an all-Spanish wine list. There were 2 rooms and a patio that were packed with people even on a weeknight. High ceilings, windows to the street, and copper top or marble tables set with pens to mark your menu for your selections. All plates are meant to be shared. One room had a long bar facing the kitchen and the second room had the ham area in the back. It was fairly well-lit inside but parking is as you can find it on the street, and it is an area with lots of restaurants and bars, so allow yourself some extra time to arrive. We had a terrific server, Denby, who understood our desire for flavor in the dishes and helped craft a menu that was well-paced and tasty. It is popular but get a reservation if you can. Continue reading →
Cry Wolf is still turning out wonderful dishes to eat with a great selection of beverages. Frankie and I have become regulars there and this visit we sat up at the Chef’s Counter. This is what they call the first 4 stools at the bar opposite the cooking area. It’s a terrific view to watch all the different dishes being prepared and the people working seem to enjoy interacting with guests. I think it’s fun to talk with them and get their opinions on what to order. If you get a chance, go there. It’s a fun experience and some really different and exceptional food. Continue reading →
Via Emilia is an Italian restaurant on the main street of Mystic. It has 2 stories and we got a table on the second level by the window looking out on the street. It was a nice view. Music was in the background for the small bare wood tables set with armless chairs. A bar is on the first level and lights are lowered. In addition to the menu there were several daily specials orally presented to us, but when we tried to order one it turned out they were out of it. Service was spotty and our server was a bit manic that carried over to the diner. We got our cocktails fairly quickly but the timing of the rest of the meal was uneven. I understand small tables but restaurants need to understand you need room to eat without fear of pushing a dish onto the floor. That said, the food was varied in quality. If you’re in need of an Italian fix, this would be where to go but I’d recommend seafood in this town. Continue reading →
Oyster Club is a farm-and-sea-to-table place that opened in 2011 and the night we were there Renee Touponce was Executive Chef. Chef has made connections with various farmers and fishermen to present these local items in creative combinations. Originally the building was a small carriage house in downtown Mystic and was renovated to become a restaurant. The restaurant was re-modeled during the pandemic while management moved their food service to Stone Acres Farm where they could dine at a safe distance in 200-year-old gardens. Now the expanded place has a daily changing menu but still delivers creative and delicious food with excellent service. They always have several types of local fresh oysters available in the main dining rooms but in the Treehouse, which is outdoors on the top of the building, a limited selection is available. It’s a fun place with art on the walls, music in the background, lowered lighting, and bare wood tables but enough dampening in the surroundings that the noise level was very acceptable. We sat in one of the booths that line the wall opposite the one with street windows. I understand there is a second-floor dining area but didn’t get up there. It was a dressier crowd but maybe they knew they had arrived at the fine dining spot in town. Put this one on your list when you travel to Connecticut and ask for Dru to be your server. Continue reading →
entrance in light – 20 East Main Street, Mystic, CT., 06355
The Shipwright’s Daughter opened in 2020 in the Whaler’s Inn in the heart of Mystic. Chef David Standridge changes the menu regularly to present highlights of the Connecticut coast. They also offer a tasting menu with optional wine pairings, but it must be reserved in advance. Wine Spectator magazine gave them an Award of Excellence for their wine selection and they also have a full bar. They also were the second Connecticut restaurant to be recognized by the James Beard Foundation’s ‘Smart Catch’ program. They are open for breakfast, brunch on the weekends, and dinner. It is a fairly large place with lowered lighting, music in the background, windows to the street, bare blond wood tables, and a large bar area. We were there on a Friday night and were glad we had a reservation as it was very busy, which also contributed to the noise factor. The lights are so low that many of the photos turned out grainy, so apologies in advance for that. Service was attentive but sometimes rushed and not engaging and the food was mixed. Continue reading →
building – 156 Church Road, Burlington, VT., 05401
Honey-Road is female owned and operated, serving Eastern Mediterranean food. Chef Cara Tobin has been a James Beard award finalist 4 times and teamed up with Allison Gibson to open Honey-Road in 2017 that is only open in the evening. (Recently the duo opened a brunch spot called Grey Jay.) The corner building is in the popular pedestrian Church Street Marketplace and named for an ancient trade route in Turkey. The small plates (mezze) are meant to be shared and focus on locally sourced ingredients. For those that are unfamiliar with this cuisine the menu had a glossery on one side explaining the meaning of many terms, but the servers were also helpful in making selections. It is a large place with a high ceiling, subdued lighting, music in the background, bench seating along most walls, small bare wood tables, windows to the street, brick walls, sheer curtains dividing portions of the room and decorations of small mirrors on the walls. The crowd was made up of various age groups but skewed toward the younger side. The food was mixed, with some being very good but others trying too hard. If you want this style of cuisine, it’s the place to go.
Set up
exterior/entranceinteriorinteriorinteriorFrankie enjoys a candlemenuwine listdessert menumenu after dinner drinkswine frontwine back
Food
Baba Ganoush with pickled cauliflower and Za’atar Garlic Knot are ordered separately. The menu has a number of dips and then you can pick your bread of choice to go with it. The Baba Ganoush was well seasoned and tasty that was great with the garlicky bread. The server suggested the combination and it was right on. Good versions of the dishes, easy to split and excellent together.
Baba Ganoush and Za’atar Garlic Knot
Sweet Harissa Chicken Wings with dried lime labne came as 4 flaps and 2 drumette pieces. The sticky excellent sauce was covered with sesame seeds and the moist pieces were good alone or also in the tasty sauce. Fun to eat, it was a wonderful take on the “Buffalo wing” craze. They were thoughtful enough to also send out a couple wet wipes to use after easy the messy food.
Sweet Harissa Chicken WingsturnedFrankie liked that they gave us wipes to go with the chicken
Braised lamb, Simit bun, pickles and herb mayo was nice shreds of lamb on a good piece of bread and accented with pickles. The pickles really accentuated the flavor but the lamb was on the tough, slightly dry side. The first 2 plates were much better but this was fine.
Braised lamb, Simit Bun, pickles, herb mayofrom the side
Duck breast, ajvar, mushroom Tabbouleh, and hot peppers was 2 boneless pieces of meat cooked nicely rare. This one had a terrific sauce and was absolutely full of flavor. Lots of things with the meat that shall remained unidentified due to my lack of note-taking.
Duck breast, ajvar, mushroom tabbouleh, hot peppersturned
Cauliflower with preserved lemon, buttermilk and lentils was suggested by our server. It also had tons of things mixed with it. Pomegranate seeds added crunch and the plump golden raisins added sweetness. Some pickled onion added contrast to the milky dressing. Lots of flavors and textures made this a fun one.
Cauliflower, preserved lemon, buttermilk, lentils
A special dessert was offered that evening with pistachio galette, raspberry and pistachio labna (cream cheese like), figs and a raspberry plum sauce. The labna had a bit on honey on it in addition to the chunks of pistachio. Most of the stuff was good but there were too many flavors competing to make it work for me.
Pistachio Galetteturned
House made walnut Baklava came in 2 pieces. It was sticky with tons of walnuts and honey. It was a very good version of the common dessert. While I liked it better than the special neither of the desserts took it over the top.
House made walnut BaklavaturnedFrankie rested on the bench
Hen of the Wood opened in Oct. 2013 in Burlington as the sister restaurant to the original one in Waterbury. Menus change daily and feature wood-fired cooking. They strive to present the products of regional ranchers, growers, and bakers. It’s a fairly large place located next door to the Hotel Vermont. The entrance end of the place is bar seating where they will serve walk-ins, but it was an hour and a half wait for those on the Monday night that we visited. The other end of the room is the kitchen with fires blazing. There are also some counter seats facing the kitchen but we opted for one of the relatively small bare wood tables. Bench seating lines some walls and a low wall separates the dining area from the bar. Music is in the background and in combination with the crowd it made it fairly noisy. There are windows to the street outside along one wall but the lights were dim enough that I did want to turn on my flashlight but didn’t. Service was friendly and helpful and got the first several things out very quickly and then died for about 30 minutes before it picked back up. Parking is on the street or in the garage between the restaurant and the hotel. Continue reading →
The last of the 3 nights we were there may have been the best meal yet. The menu had slightly changed from the previous 2 nights. We were excited to have our server Ethan from the first night again. He made the meal so relaxed and enjoyable. It really is a fun place with good food and the surrounding area has lots to explore. I hope you’ll visit and let me know what you think. Continue reading →
We ate at The Restaurant at the Park Inn the night before and were scheduled to eat again the next two nights. We opted for a cocktail in the room first so went straight to wine. It is very approachable food with a menu that makes you want to try all of it. See the post of 9/21/22 if you want more photos of the interior.
The Restaurant at the Park Inn is made up of 2 adjacent rooms on the first floor under the small inn located on the second floor. It’s an old building with the current chef arriving 4 years ago. We read about their locally sourced and seasonal menu from Chef Dan Eaton and the accompanying wine program under the care of Sommelier Jason Ferris (who received a “Best of Award Excellence” from Wine Spectator Magazine in 2022) and wanted to try the wines of the Finger Lakes area. We spent 3 nights in the region and managed to snag a reservation at the 60-seat restaurant each evening. The entry room is long with a bar counter on one side and tables in the back, heading toward the fireplace. The other room steps down to your right as you enter and has windows to the street with bench seating around the perimeter. The full menu is available at the bar counter as well as at all the tables. Lots of historical photos are on the walls, music was in the background, lights are lowered, the floor is wood while the ceiling is tin and the tables are well-spaced. Service is friendly and attentive and will offer guidance if requested. Its menu has enough choices that it was no strain to go 3 nights in a row but we learned the first night that the portions are generous so don’t over-order. I totally recommend visiting the region and staying and eating at the Park Inn. Continue reading →
building – 169 Cherry St., Burlington, Vermont, 05401
Penny Cluse has been owned and run by husband and wife team Charles Reeves and Holly Cluse for about 25 years. At the beginning of Oct. they told their staff that they would close by the end of the year – thus I am pushing this article ahead of others in case you have a chance to get there. It’s a really popular place; our first visit we had to wait about an hour for a table. It’s in a corner building with the main dining room slightly above street level with a smaller dining area up one more level. The kitchen is below and you can look in the windows as you walk by on the street. The couple opened the restaurant in a former Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop in 1998. He was a culinary arts graduate who always wanted a breakfast and lunch place and thus created this fine place named for his wife’s first dog, Penny. It has since become a Burlington ‘go-to’ spot and has hosted many famous people including Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, Suzanne Vega, and Jake Gyllenhaal to name a few. The couple does not plan to sell the restaurant or the concept cause it wouldn’t be the same without their presence. They also owned Lucky Next Door which hasn’t reopened since the pandemic. The menu offers interesting options and a few daily specials are also available. Not much time left, so get there if you can. Continue reading →
Cry Wolf is a local favorite, especially due to the ever-changing menu, casual atmosphere, interesting wine choices by Sommelier Tim Case, and excellent cooking by Chef Ross Demers and his staff. We don’t always think ahead for reservations so the bar counter stools are for walk-ins but we’ve also learned for last-minute cancellations on the reservation system where you can snag a table. I hesitate to overwhelm readers with the same restaurant but when you’re hot it’s too tempting to not post. So I’ll keep it short but if the menu doesn’t tempt you to go even my poor picture-taking will make you want to stop by. We shared all the plates. Continue reading →
exterior – 730 Peachtree St NE #100, Atlanta, GA 30308
El Viñedo Local translates to ‘the local vineyard’ and that’s what this place is – a place to enjoy South American plates, wines, and coffees. This is not Central American or Mexican food and so is not so spicy. Empanadas and ceviche are a big part of what Chef Bruno Vergara brings to the menu. Owner Robert Kaster was on site and came by to visit with every table and make sure that all was good – a nice touch. We were there for a snack with friends and ordered some of their small plates to share. It is one large room with most being inside the building with one wall open to the outside. The roof over the outside tables is not solid, but the umbrellas would be better for sun than rain. It did have one long table in the inside room and seats at the bar counter. It’s right down the street from a theater so parking is as you can find it. Good wine choices and tasty food make this a nice spot to visit. Continue reading →
Casita Tex-Mex has been in business for 40 years but in Dec. 2020 they closed for a year and a half after a fire. The kitchen fire caused owners Norma and Alfonso Valles, who bought the place in 2007, to completely rebuild the interior, and this was on top of dealing with shutdowns due to the Covid pandemic. The building was also a restaurant even further back, in the 1960s as Casita Dominguez, and thus has a lot of long-time and loyal customers. They were back in force when it re-opened on August 30. The interior is clean, bright, and new but the food is tried and true. There are a number of square tile-topped tables that can be positioned to suit party size and several high-top tables in the bar area, which also has seats facing the bar. A patio with tables runs along the front of the place and by the time we left, it was pretty much full. Service was friendly but challenged by the crowd. TVs are on the walls but the sound was muted. It was well worth a visit and I went back a week later to try another plate. Continue reading →
building – 10590 N. Ranch Rd., Hayward, WI., 54843
The Ranch Supper Club started out as The Aladdin in 1931. It had a varied following from lumberjacks to timber tycoons to Chicago gangsters. It changed ownership several times during the ’40s and ’50s but finally became the Ranch Supper Club in 1960 when the “colorful personality”, Vivian Levinson owned it. In 1987 Beth and Barney Morgan partnered with Cheryl Haupt to run it for the next 30 years. After Haupt died in 2016 the Morgans were happy to have their daughter Haley and her husband Nathan Bochler take the helm a year later. Haley was raised in the business and her husband is also from northern Wisconsin. They spent 13 years in California learning more about the food industry where she earned a sommelier certificate. We visited on a Sat. night and the place was packed. A large parking area is outside with 2 doors that lead into the large bar area with tables too. Don’t miss the beautiful counter at the bar that is made with colorful inset stones. The dining rooms are behind the bar and have a separate hostess station for check-in. Windows to the woods out back make up one wall with tables in the middle and booths along the opposite wall. Another dining room was in the opposite direction. Faint music is in the background and farm and cooking implements decorate the ceiling and walls along with wood beams. The lighting was lowered, the wine list was above average, the bare wood tables were set with flatware wrapped in a cloth napkin and service was friendly and attentive. Overall it was a good meal but I expected more. However, if you’re in the area I’d stop by and try it out I think it has potential and any drink would taste better drunk over that beautiful bar. Continue reading →
The Cranberry Over Superior is so named as it overlooks Lake Superior and is on the Cranberry River. One block from the Herbster beach, they have drinks from a full bar as well as non-alcoholic choices, lunch and dinner. The regular menu has lots of fun-sounding options but they also have daily specials. Seating is at the bar, on the patio or in 2 inside rooms. We sat on some bar stools looking out at Lake Superior and listening to the radio music from the kitchen. Lots of memorabilia is on the walls for other visual entertainment. The owner, Lacey Lynn Lueth, was tending the bar and taking orders but later moved into cooking in the kitchen. She opened the place in Feb. 2022 and you can visit Thursday – Sunday. All the people working there were super friendly and welcoming and the food is good – give it a try. Continue reading →
The Local Bar and Grille is on the Chequamegon Bay Golf Course and the dining room and bar have views of it and the surrounding trees. It’s a large space and open every day for lunch and dinner. They opened in Dec. 2021 in a building that was and is available for rental – it’s a large space. A husband and wife team, Mike and Natalie Skinnes, joined up with friend Brad Moulett to try and make some dreams come true for the three that grew up in Wisconsin. They call their menu ‘pub fare’ with a twist. There’s plenty of parking out front. When you enter the bar is to your right with a few tables also. The rest of the room is a large space set with 4 tops covered with brown cloths and a large fireplace is at one end of the room. Windows look out on the golf course and lovely hanging baskets of plants. A separate door is on the golf course side for those sports people to pop in for a short respite. Between the windows and lights, the room is well lit. Service was friendly and attentive and the food was good and generous. With a smaller lunch crowd I might have closed off part of the large room, but everyone wanted a window table to watch the outdoors. Continue reading →
Arnie’s Cafe is really popular and they don’t even have a webpage. They have been a part of the Warrenton community for decades and recently owners Crystal and Michael Green (took over in Sept 2014) decided they needed more space and moved to their current location. It started out as The Sea Breeze and in the late 50s became the Donut Hole and subsequently the Ponderosa. At the front of the current location is a coffee grinder, that belonged to Mike’s grandmother, whose wheel has become the logo with Arnie’s written across it. In the move, they brought over lots of kitschy signs that line the walls. At the hostess station, they have a list for seating. A coffee bar is at the front end but didn’t seem to get much use yet. Their plans include a liquor license and expanding their baked goods selection. There were about 7 stools in front of the kitchen window that was in the back of the place. They have a good-sized parking lot out front and windows looking out to it and the lovely hanging plant baskets, all along one side. They serve lunch and breakfast with large portions and friendly service. Continue reading →
hotel exterior, restaurant on second floor – 2740 S. Pacific, Cannon Beach, OR., 97110
The Stephanie Inn Dining Room is of course in the oceanfront Stephanie Inn. Chef Aaron Bedard creates a 5-course prix fixe tasting menu that changes often and in which you have a choice of entrée. They have a full bar but also offer wine pairings for the meal. Built in 1993 the inn is a luxury coastal retreat in Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast. They do 2 seatings in the evening at 5:30 and 8:00 in the second-story room overlooking the mountains and nearby homes. The large tables are set with cream-colored cloths and brown napkins in a room with a vaulted wooden ceiling. The room faces east so the glaring sun is not a problem for diners. Music is in the background and there’s plenty of parking out front. Some tables are on the outside veranda but they didn’t seem to get used for the dinner service. They didn’t open early, in fact they were a bit late, and so a number of the diners lined up at the door. The problem with that is many people wanted a cocktail and the servers were trying to get out an amuse bouche and take dinner drink orders – and basically, it felt clunky and ill-planned for a fine dining experience (we waited 25 minutes to place a drink order). It is hard when the diners are all served at the same time so the place can accommodate more people, but there must be a way to make it flow more smoothly. That said, the service was friendly and finely caught up with demands to provide a lovely evening with pretty good food too. After the salad was served the chef came out to talk about the evening’s menu and the 2 choices for entrées. Continue reading →
Yolk is a small place serving breakfast (all day) and lunch (beginning at 11:00) in the little town of Manzanita. They have been in business since 2018 and strive to have your dining experience provide a level of flavor and service that reflects their zest for life. It was a very popular place but takes no reservations so show up early if you don’t want to wait. Inside there was seating at small tables or a few seats were at the kitchen counter. There were also stools on two sides of the large bar but they were only for those over 21. On the patio, there were several additional tables. The hostess at the entry had a list. Music was in the background and the vibe was casual and fun with a concrete floor, metal siding on the bar, windows to the outdoors, tile front on the kitchen counter and lots of wood and mirrors. The service was super friendly and would offer advice as well as joke around. In addition to the menu, there were daily specials. It was a good place. Continue reading →
Neah-Kah-Nie Bistro was opened in the late fall of 2012 by Owner/Chef Lynne Hopper, who specializes in gourmet comfort food. I’d call it a casual fine dining place, if that makes sense. It is named for a coastal headland a few blocks away and located in a 1920’s house with just 7 small tables and a bar. They added a cover to the tables on the patio to provide additional seating. The bare wood tables are set with stuffed chairs and music is in the background. The small kitchen is open behind the serving bar and there are windows around the room to the street and patio. There were chairs at the bar, which turned out good cocktails. The service was very friendly, welcoming and helpful. It was a fun and tasty place to eat. Continue reading →
exterior – 5033 Front Street, Eagle River, MI, 49950
We visited The Fitzgerald in 2018 and much has changed at the Eagle River Inn where it is located. The dining room is the same but the menu seems smaller. They still have the whiskey bar but the 12 rooms have now become 6 and they are (you guessed it) twice as big and have air conditioning. The waves of Lake Superior are still right off the dining room or any room at the inn, so the scenery is excellent. The dining room is wood-filled with lots of light from the windows. The crowd is casual and they did have specials for the night. Service was excellent, friendly and helpful. They still specialize in barbecue and you can see evidence of adding-on to the kitchen in front of the building, so not sure what will be added. Portions are generous and combined with the beautiful scenery, this is a lovely place to spend a meal and then retreat to your room to sleep with the sound of the waves. It’s out of the way but go if you get the chance, especially if you’re a whiskey lover. Continue reading →
exterior – 177 North Ada Street, Chicago, IL., 60607 – ground floor
Smyth was last visited by Frankie and me in Nov. of 2018. The interior hasn’t changed much – the main difference this time was eating there in daylight, as the days are much longer in summer. It does give the room a different feel with the floor-to-ceiling windows being open to the street activity. The large open kitchen is divided into 2 parts, one serving as the dessert area. The small bare dark wood tables are well spaced and some bench seating is along one wall. Music is in the background but you also hear the kitchen calling out orders to one another. I don’t remember that. It still serves only a tasting menu with optional drink pairings but there is only one tasting menu (except for allergy substitutions). The wine list is small and on the pricy side. The diners seemed more casually dressed than I’d expect in a Michelin 2-star place. Service was attentive and efficient but not as warm as on our last visit. We decided to have a bottle of champagne to accompany our tasting. No menu was provided but one was emailed about a week later. Continue reading →
We last visited Oriole in Nov. 2018. Opening in 2016, Chef / Owner Noah Sandoval’s restaurant has 2 Michelin stars. They still offer only a tasting menu of contemporary American cuisine but their site mentions an extended tasting also. Optional wine pairings are available. The first difference we noticed was the entrance – which is now through an open gate on the corner of the alley-like street. You still stay in that admitting area for a drink before being taken through the sliding door to the restaurant. Inside has changed a lot with a bar area now opened up where you have your first bites and a drink. From there you proceed to the kitchen, which is now a huge open space. You have a counter there where you also have a bite and a glass of champagne. After that, you are finally taken to your large, white cloth-covered table with music in the background. I’m not a big fan of having to rove around while you’re eating, maybe because it’s hard to take notes and photos, but I like to get settled and soak in the experience. The staff is first-rate with our main server, Celeste, being a wonderful part of our time there. They do present you with a ‘menu’ when you’re finished. Continue reading →
Au Cheval is a diner-style bar and medium-sized restaurant serving traditional diner fare. The full bar has strong cocktails and a variety of draught and canned beers. They take no reservations and are quite popular so be prepared to wait or come early. They did have a few outdoor tables as well as seats along the long bar. Loud vintage music is in the background, walls are dark wood and the lights are lowered with the row of windows to the outside being heavily tinted to keep lighting low. There are a few tables but mostly it’s large leather booths that line the length of the place. Behind the zinc-wrapped bar is the open kitchen. Service was friendly, helpful and quick. We were there many years ago and couldn’t quite get why it was so popular, but we went for their signature burger. While I saw the majority of lunch tables have one or more I found the other menu items much more creative and tasty. They stood out much more than the burger to me. Continue reading →
from the parking lot – 32390 N Harbor Drive, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437
Sea Pal Cove is on a local fishing pier in Noyo Harbor with all outdoor seating. The assortment of tables overlooks boats going by. The small walk-up window has beer and wine to go with your choices as well as non-alcoholic options. Dogs are welcome and the service was very efficient. They are known for their really fresh seafood but also have other options. We tried the fish and chips but what was extra fun were their prawns and chips. The fish was very moist with a really crisp coating that wasn’t so thick that it smothered the delicate fish. Not too greasy either. It was perfect with the tasty tartar sauce they supplied. The prawns were dynamite. Sweet and juicy with that fantastic coating, they needed no dipping or seasoning. The tray also provided lemon and malt vinegar. The fries were uninspired but adequate. Some crisp ones and all with nice potato flavor, but they were a frozen slab variety. Ketchup packets were also on the tray. All in all a fantastic find that I’ll certainly go back to. Continue reading →
The Ledford House Restaurant is south of Mendocino on a bluff overlooking the Pacific ocean. They can serve 65-90 people in 2 adjacent dining rooms that both are lined with windows looking through to the coastline. It is owned by a couple Tony and Lisa Geer, where she manages the kitchen and he the front of the house. The cuisine is influenced by southern France and the Mediterranean with an emphasis on using sustainable sources. Open Wed – Sun for dinner, they have nightly live music but not sure when it begins as it wasn’t happening when we were there, but we were in early. In addition to the menu, they have a 3-course bistro special and nightly appetizer and entree specials. There is a full bar with seating and people were eating there too. Both rooms had fireplaces and piped-in music in the background. There was plenty of parking out front and tables somewhere outside. Inside had open windows. Staff were all friendly and efficient. It’s not a wow place just good solid food with fun choices. Continue reading →
exterior – 1014 Coast Village Road, Santa Barbara, CA
Bettina is in a neighborhood shopping center which is too popular for the parking available. It’s a good-sized place with a large outdoor patio for additional seating. Windows inside look out onto it as well as the parking lot. They specialize in naturally leavened breads, fine dining and simple dishes based on the owner’s visits to Italy. Open daily for lunch and dinner, reservations are helpful if you want a table, but a bar is inside with first come-first served seating. Inside the bare wood tables are small and nicely spaced and music is in the background. The service was helpful and efficient and the pizza was good. Continue reading →
Caruso’s is in the Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel on the ocean front of Montecito serving Italian-inflected coastal cuisine. It is the fine dining option at the hotel. The facility was complete around 2019 and definitely delivers the pampered dining experience. They offer a 4-course tasting menu with at least 4 choices in each category and also a 10-course Chef’s Tasting menu with optional wine pairings. Executive Chef Massimo Falsini was not there but the kitchen was in the most capable hands of Chef de Cuisine Shibani Mone. We chose the 4-course menu and had our own wine after a well-made Negroni cocktail. The large white cloth-covered tables are well spaced and are serenaded by the sound of the waves coming ashore. There are lots of outdoor heaters for when the sun goes down. When you pull up to the hotel the valet will park your car and then be prepared for a bit of walk down to the beach front. You’ll have to cross an active railroad track and finally down a flight of stairs, but it’ll be worth the trek, I promise. Continue reading →
entrance – 900 San Ysidro Lane, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108
The Stonehouse Restaurant is inside a 19th century citrus packing house on the grounds of the San Ysidro Ranch. Dining is on a green walled patio, an upper story ocean-view terrace or indoors by the wood-burning fireplace. The contemporary American cuisine stresses fresh, local ingredients of Central Coast California and Santa Barbara in particular. The San Ysidro Ranch property covers 550 acres and has hosted many celebrities including John and Jackie Kennedy who honeymooned there. We were seated on their upstairs patio with beautiful views on 3 sides, white cloth-covered tables, and live guitar music downstairs for their Sunday brunch. They offer lunch and dinner every day except Sunday when lunch turns to brunch which is a 3-course meal of your choice accompanied by an endless glass of champagne. Continue reading →
exterior –9 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
Bouchon calls itself the ‘wine country cuisine.’ They specialize in local ingredients, “as-fresh-as-and-as-local-as-possible” and local Santa Barbara wines. It’s a medium-sized place with a patio out front. Inside the white cloth-covered tables are on a wood floor, music is in the background, antiqued mirrors are on the walls and the end of the room opens into the kitchen. Service was helpful, particularly the knowledgeable sommelier, and the staff all were friendly. The food was very good and I’d go back again if in the area. Continue reading →
main building – 5995 Stagecoach Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
Cold Spring Tavern offers lunch and dinner at a stagecoach stop that dates from 1868, on the San Marcos Pass near Santa Barbara. The place is filled with history and an amazing amount of detail is on their webpage <coldspringtavern.com> about the various buildings on the property and the furnishings within. You can’t miss it as the cars are parked on both sides of the winding road for some time before you hit the place. On weekends they have live music, a stand where you can buy their barbecue Tri-tip sandwich as well as an outside bar. If you prefer table service there are a number of outdoor and indoor tables. Lunch has a smaller menu than dinner, so I’ve included photos of both lunch and dinner menus. Service was enthusiastic and efficient which really enhanced the dining experience. The A/C is ‘open windows’ so we left smelling of barbecue smoke, which was no problem. The onion rings are worth a trip alone but I would love to be able to try some of their dinner options too. Continue reading →
Bouchard Restaurant has been in business over 20 years and also has a few rooms/suites to stay in. They have a parking area but you need to go into the restaurant and get a pass to place in your car before parking there. They have a dress requirement that is on their website as well as reminded about when they call to confirm your reservation. No jeans, t-shirts, flip-flops, etc but I saw no enforcement of that whatsoever. There were many casually dressed people in the dining room that were obviously regulars due to their rapport with the staff. There were also ‘dressed-up’ people there but this was only the first odd bit of this place. They have a full bar which is located adjacent to the check in desk. Further inside is a medium to small dining area with small white cloth covered tables with full drape underneath. Lighting is lowered, there is music in the background, carpet is on the floor and the ceiling is low. They offer a tasting menu which is 5 courses at the second seating. Most courses have choices, some with an upcharge. The food was average at best but the service was awful. Slow and inattentive, it aggravated me and probably affected the way I perceived the food. The captain spent little time with many tables and concentrated on the ones he knew. It’s a fine line to walk, but it bothers me to see tables sit for 20 minutes with their menus still in their hands and staff carrying on conversations neglecting their job. Continue reading →
Flo’s Clam Shack was recommended by one of the servers at the previous night’s dinner. It has been serving clams since 1936 in Newport, RI. They are known for their fried clams. It’s a 2 story place and filled with brick-a-brack. The building has been hit by at least 5 hurricanes and continues to rebuild. They are open seasonally and closed at the threat of a hurricane. The place is a little hard to find but they do have a parking lot in back. They tout their fresh seafood but mostly all I tasted was filler and fried coating. We tried a number of clam preparations but none of them would ever call me to come back and eat here again. Continue reading →
exterior – 194 Washington Street, Providence, RI., 02903
Gracie’s is a medium sized place in downtown Providence with Matt Varga as chef. There is no valet or assigned lot, so allow some extra time if you need to hunt for street parking. In addition to the nice sized white cloth covered table they had a number of booth like seats around the perimeter. Large windows to the street make up one wall of the dining room and they are heavily tinted which darkens the room quite a bit. Patterned cut outs are on some of the windows and gauzy drapes hang between some of the perimeter tables. There are a few tables outside. The wood floor is opposite the high dark ceiling with hammered copper inserts in some of the wood columns and booth dividers. The view out the window is of the street that is mostly filled with a bank building and its sign. They offer an a la carte menu as well as 2 tasting menus of 5 or 7 courses. Optional wine pairings are available and they have a full bar. We had pre-ordered the 7 course tasting and ordered our own wine. They promised to email and menu but never did. It is a good place anyway. Continue reading →
Al Forno Restaurant was opened in 1980 by Johanne Killeen and George Germon to use New England’s farms and waters to produce renditions of Italian food. Al Forno means “from the oven” and they use wood burning ovens and open flame grills to incorporate that concept into their dishes. It is where the concept of grilled pizza was first used, which is served as an appetizer. It’s a larger place with a dedicated parking lot. Inside there are 2 floors for eating and a bar area that also serves food. Small white cloth covered tables are quickly turned for the constant flow of people. The downstairs room we were in had a wall of windows to the parking lot with the opposite wall’s windows being mirrored. The lighting is lowered and no music was in the background. Service was very friendly but not well coordinated. Restaurants need to learn that if you provide very small tables you can’t bring too many dishes to the table at the same time. Our pizza came out first following the bread bowl and then quickly followed by clams. Food was piled to an uncomfortable mess. I asked the server to slow down a bit and then it was 30 minutes after we finished that before anything else came. It was good food but timing can really make me less fond of a place. Continue reading →
Au Courant offers a 6-course chef’s tasting menu that changes weekly. Chef/co-owner Benjamin Maides works with local producers to find and feature the freshest ingredients. Maides partnered with local restauranteur Carlos Mendez to open Au Courant in Nov. 2016 and now “Chovy” Caniglia is the Chef de Cuisine with “Barnie” Barnard serving as Sous Chef. They serve some really fine food. It’s a long space with the front half taken up by a U-shaped bar surrounded with stools. Art and mirrors decorate the unfinished walls on either side and lots of plants are everywhere. The high tin ceiling has lighting that was pretty bright and then turned down midway through out meal. The small tables are topped with marble and set on an old wood floor. They have an a la carte menu at the bar whereas the dining room is offered the tasting with an optional addition of oysters on the halfshell. They also offer wine pairings. We got a half dozen of the oysters and our own wine. One quirk was that you could buy a ’round’ for the kitchen and then they’d ring a bell in back. Continue reading →
V. Mertz is in the Old Market Passageway of Omaha. The space between two close buildings was covered with a roof and V. Mertz came to be 44 years ago on the lower level, as a wedding gift. The location allows the inside rooms to open to the ‘patio tables’ that are in the passageway. There is no dedicated parking – it is either at street meters or paid lots. The interior rooms are fairly dark with brick walls lined with wine bottles and the wall between rooms is filled with lit liquor bottles. The small tables are cloth covered under a low tin ceiling and no music is in the background. They presented us with the a la carte menu but when asked they brought out the tasting menu with optional pairings. Menus change regularly, as both were dated. There is a large wine list and full bar. We chose the tasting and ordered our own wine. The food is fun, creative and tasty – go if you can. Continue reading →
The Drover invented the whisky marinated steak idea over 40 years ago. It opened in 1969 as the “Cork ‘N Cleaver” and changed to the current name 10 years later. It is a large place divided into several smaller rooms of 4-5 tables each, all with no windows. A large bar is in one room, the lights are lowered and no music is in the background. Bare wood tables, brick walls, lower ceilings and carpet keep the conversation noise very manageable. There is a different menu for lunch but most of the steaks on the dinner menu are available if you want. The steaks are marinated in a combination of secret ingredients for just 15 minutes before grilling so the marinade does not overwhelm the flavor of the beef but does enhances tenderness. Steaks can be ordered without the marinade soak but you would lose out, even if you are not a whisky fan. All dinners are served with bread, soup or salad and choice of potato or vegetable. At lunch they skip the bread and the salad is via salad bar. It’s old school and good. Continue reading →
street entrance – 1101 N Calvert St, Baltimore, MD 21202
The Prime Rib was founded by brothers Buzz and Nick Beler in 1965 and is still a family run business. It evokes feelings of 1940s Hollywood with lower lighting, live music, stiff drinks and fabulous food and service. They now have several locations. The Baltimore location is a dark place with art on the walls, white clothes on the tables, comfortable seating, black walls with gold trim, leopard print carpet and complimentary valet parking in the garage below. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel welcome, that they’re glad you’re there. Timing was relaxed as we enjoyed a terrific martini and live piano music. The server was fantastic and really added to the overall experience. If you are in the mood for beef, put this place on your list. We were one of the last ones out so I took interior photos then. (Didn’t get a pic of the menu but you can find it on their website <https://theprimeribs.com> and make sure you pick the city you want).
Petit Louis offers classic French bistro dishes with emphasis on seasonal and regional ingredients. It opened in June 2000 and was the second restaurant of Tony Foreman and Chef Cindy Wolf. They chose the location of a former neighborhood hot spot in a 1897 era Tudor style building that was the country’s first strip mall. There were not many French bistros in Baltimore then and it was popular as soon as the doors opened. They re-did the interior and hired Chef Chris Scanga to run the kitchen. It has 2 indoor rooms and a large covered patio area. Inside the small marble topped tables are closely set and lots of windows to the street add natural light. A large bar is part of one room, no music is in the background and there is a parking lot our front as well as street parking. It had a fun ambiance with attentive service as well as good food. I’d go back. Continue reading →
Magdalena is in Mt. Vernon’s Relais & Chateaux Ivy Hotel and run by Chef Scott Bacon. Closed for about 7 months during Covid the historic mansion did a major re-design to the restaurant. Now it is labeled as a Maryland Bistro rather than the former fine dining concept. The color tones of all 4 of the dining rooms now are similar and there is a more variation in the cost. Patio dining is available and one of the rooms is in the wine cellar. Exposed brick walls have some display cabinets of historic objects and rugs to fit each room are on the floor. Music is in the background and well spaced small tables are now marble topped yet still set with nice white cloth napkins. The lighting was fairly bright but pleasant and staff were knowledgable about the menu. Valet parking is available and there were a few specials offered that evening. It was good. Continue reading →
Charleston was opened by restaurateurs Tony Foreman and Chef Cindy Wolf in 1997 in the Harbor East neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. They now have at least 6 restaurants in the city. Chef Wolf offers a constantly changing menu and even cooked lunch at this place for Julia Child in 1999. Chef’s reputation is that she cooks at this, her flagship, most every night. Unfortunately she was not there when we visited and I wonder if that’s why our meal was so unsatisfactory. The food is a combination of French and Southern cuisines and she has been nominated 9 times for the James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic award. The fairly large place enters from a side street, which is not where Google Maps directs you to go. The bar is to your right as we were led to a table that looked directly into the large open kitchen. Table sizes varied but all were set with white cloths and napkins and well-spaced, no music was in the background and the lighting was lowered. The menu offers prix fixe menu of 3-6 courses, which you pick from the entire menu, with optional wine pairings. Desserts are complimentary with your meal and an optional cheese course is available. Continue reading →
Nicola’s Restaurant is in the building that once was a barn for the city’s 19th century incline trollies. It was established in 1996 by owner Nicola Pietoso and after 20 years his son Cristian now is in charge. He added some new second floor seating and expanded the wine cellar. In addition to seating downstairs there is also a bar with seating. The brick walls are punctuated by the structural beams and high ceilings. Downstairs a giant chandelier hangs overheard and windows to the outside let in light and look out onto the patio tables. White tablecloths and napkins are on all tables and music is in the background. Valet parking is available out front. The place is really popular so a reservation is a must and even with a reservation we still had to wait in the bar until out table was ready. They serve Italian cuisine and offer a chef crafted 5 course tasting menu. We happened to be there during restaurant week and so a 3 course menu was also available as well as the a la carte selections. We ordered a la carte. Continue reading →
Carmen’s Deli is in downtown Dayton, opening in 2009. Chef Haitham Imam was encouraged by his wife Carmen to leave corporate dining and open his own place. When the downtown tower where they were located went into bankruptcy the owners of the Kettering Tower across the street, saw their popularity and offered them a spot in their building. The deli is open 8:30 – 2:30 weekdays and the bar runs 4-9 on Thurs. and Fri. As we entered we were greeted and directed to the counter where you place your order. There you can watch you sandwich being made and direct the toppings. After it’s ready you proceed to the register and pick a table. There were also tables outside. The pair cooking that day were personable and gave a good show. The food was fine, not outstading but very edible and satisfying. Continue reading →
Boca came to being in October of 2001, the concept of Chef/Owner David Falk. It opened in the Northside community featuring flavors of Italy and France, then moved to the Oakley neighborhood in 2004 and stayed for 9 years. It moved to the heart of downtown Cincinnati (the former Maisonette space) in 2013, where it is today. It’s a fairly large space with a few seats at the kitchen counter, stools at the bar and a second story. Downstairs there is a combination of booths, various sizes of tables and bench seating with music in the background. Lots of pillows were on the bench seats and lights were lowered. The large open kitchen allows you to see some other foods as they come out. Valet parking is available, otherwise it means using a paid garage. Staff were super friendly and helpful. We wanted to try lots of things and the server was willing to course them out for us. Tables are close enough that conversation can happen between occupants. I can see why many use this as a ‘special occasion’ place but if I lived closer, I’d go all the time – it’s that good. Continue reading →
Herb and Thelmas Tavern is just across the river from Cincinnati in Covington, Kentucky. They are known for their burgers and cold beer – serving the area for 83 years. They buy local ingredients and make the hamburger patties fresh daily. In 1939 Henry “Heine” Boehmker opened Heine’s Cafe. In 1965 his son and daughter-in-law renamed it Herb and Thelma’s Tavern, after themselves. In 1969 another Boehmker began working at the tavern and then buys them out in 1982. In 2015 the Fessler family became the owners, but a photo of the original Herb is still on the front door. It is a small place with 2 rooms, one of which houses the cooking/bar area and the other just tables and the bathrooms. The main room has seats at the bar area as well as tables. The lights are lowered, there is either TV or music in the background and lots of memorabilia cover the walls. They have a few draft beers as well as a full bar. The owner and patrons were all super friendly. In fact one of the gentlemen stopped by on his way out to say hello and wish a good day. Continue reading →
Note 7/19/22 – Just had a call from the customer service person at Jeff Ruby’s Precinct that saw my write-up and was concerned that we were unhappy. Now that’s some incredible service. She took the effort to find a phone number to reach me and that is impressive. That said, so many people raved about this place, don’t be turned off by my experience. I’d love to hear about your experience if you go. If I ever get back to Cincinnati I would consider going myself. They didn’t pay me to say this but honest caring is what can make a great restaurant and they do care.
Jeff Ruby’s Precinct started in 1981, in the former Cincinnati Police Patrol House Number 6 – a turn of the century Romanesque style structure – that holds the ‘longest, continuously running white tablecloth restaurant in the city.’ It has been recognized by a number of publications and is well known in the city. They pride themselves on the excellent service, quality of food and overall dining experience. Some street parking is available nearby but they also offer valet service. Inside the lights are lowered and there is lots of red upholstry to go with the brick walls. Some stained glass windows are in the downstairs dining rooms and chandeliers. Most notable are the large cut-outs of groups of policemen on the walls. It feels clubby. In the entry there are numerous awards and press along with photos of famous diners. Although this place gets lots of praise our experience was not the best. Our steaks were both overcooked and tasteless while the potatoes were undercooked. In their defense they offered to cook others but I didn’t think they could do better. They ended up comping the steaks which was more than gracious so I think the place has promise but I will never go back. Continue reading →
Back for our second visit to J. C. Holdway and it was a busier night at the corner restaurant. The fairly large place goes fairly far back with tables in various places with an L-shaped bar taking up the first room. On the way to the back portion we passed a couple cooking areas. Exposed ducts run across the ceiling opposite the older wood floors. Bench seating is along some walls and the tables are nicely sized bare wood set with large well starched towel shaped napkins. Lights are lowered but much light comes through the many windows before sundown, music is in the background and it was a bit noisy. Service was once again very friendly but pacing was quite a bit slower probably due to the crowd and several large groups. Continue reading →
