dessert drink menu

Walker’s Drive In, Jackson, MS., 3/27/26

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building – 3016 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216-4203

Walker’s Drive In was taken over by Chef Joe Cravens in July 2025 after two decades under Chef Derek Emerson.  Originally from Memphis, Cravens worked under numerous award winning chefs and also for US Foods as a Territory Manager.  They offer lunch and dinner Tues to Fri (only dinner on Sat.).  It does look like a drive-in but now it’s only ‘walk-in’ with reservations.  They had a good-sized patio and an equal size interior dining room with booths along the wallks and nice sized tables in the middle.  The white cloths are under a hard plexiglass sheet and the lighting is dimmed.  Five stools are at the counter facing the window to the kitchen and service area in between.   There were a lot of daily specials in addition to the printed menu.and a large selection of half bottles of wine on their list.  Service was good and friendly and the place really had an energy but much of the food was too salty and blah.  Perhaps it was due to Cravens not there that night or we ordered badly.  It certainly had a steady stream of customers, so they’re doing something right. Continue reading →

Elvie’s, Jackson, MS., 3/25/26

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building – 809 Manship St, Jackson, MS 39202-2028

Elvie’s has Chef Hunter Evans in charge of the kitchen.  He was a finalist for the 2024 James Beard Best Chef South award (a semi-finalist in 2025).  With his partner Cody McCain, they opened Elvie’s in 2020 and the Mayflower Cafe in 2025.  Elvie’s served seasonal cuisine highlighting local farmers and fishermen.  The building was a restored home in Belhaven and the food was highly influenced by by the Evans’s grandmother, Elvieretta Good, from New Orleans.  The good-sized place was longer than wide with counter seating at the bar and bench seating opposite small 2-tops along the wall.  Parking was on the street or there was a free lot down the hill behind the building.  The room was not highly decorated with dark wood windows breaking up the off-white walls.  Lots of light fixtures but the overall room was still fairly dim with a good amount of crowd noise.  They’d tried to dampen this with sound panels on the ceiling and cloths on some tables but it still can be noisy when full.  Part of the kitchen was exposed but most hidden by the counter and walls.   With a full bar it was surprising how limited the wine list was, offering mosly low or high price point bottles.  Of course the first wine we picked our server couldn’t find and so we ended up just buying by the glass, which all added to the time the meal took.  It was easily over 45 minutes to get our first glass let alone food.  I liked the concept and the menu read well but the food was mixed.  We were there for dinner but they are open Tues through Sat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Continue reading →

Evelyn’s Table (update), London, 2/24/26

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entrance – 28 Rupert Street, The Blue Posts, Basement, London, GB W1D 6DJ

We visited Evelyn’s Table in 2024 and it now has a new cooking team.  Named for a character in Chinatown, the 12 seat counter tasting menu has had a one Michelin star rating since 2022.  In August of 2024 Seamus Sam took control of the kitchen.  Three chefs prepare your dinner in front of you and this visit they were more interactive than last one, although Sam was not there and one chef seemed to be in training.   The building has a bar upstairs where they invite you to have drinks before or after dinner.   For the tasting they offer wine pairings on two different levels but also have a by the bottle list.  We started with a Negroni cocktail and then enjoyed our own bottle own wine.  They do 2 seatings each night so they ask guests to arrive promptly.   The menu had one truffle supplement option.   The marble counter was set with large cloth napkins and music was in the background.  The stools are fairly close and the noise of the vent hood behind the kitchen counter was slightly bothersome.  It was a better experience than I had last time but the food was not compelling. Continue reading →

64 Goodge Street, London, 2/23/26

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exterior – 64 Goodge St, London, GB W1T 4NF

64 Goodge Street was a small place with closely set small bare wood tables.  Art was on the walls, music was in the background, lights were lowered, bench seating lined one long wall and an opening in the back of the room revealed the kitchen.  They are open for lunch and dinner daily except Sunday and at dinner have a fixed-price 3 course meal with options to add snacks, cheese and/or sides.  The bar menu was limited but wines were available.  The restaurant has one Michelin Star.  Service was good as was the meal pacing and I’d easily recommend you try this place on your next visit to London.  The food was really good. Continue reading →

Cocorico Neo Rustic Kitchen, Ashland, OR., 5/17/25

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exterior – 15 N 1st St, Ashland, OR 97520

Cocorico was a medium sized place serving Mediterranean cuisine.  Chef Nat Borsi and his wife Grace dreamed of owning their own place for years.  His experience came from many fine kitchens and hers was in hospitality.  Named for the French translation of ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ it was to be French but not too much.   Opening in August 2022 it seems to be a local favorite drawing a steady stream of customers the night we were there.  Open Tues to Sat they have both indoor and patio seating.  At first they didn’t take phone reservations, but now the website refers you to tock  The room we were in had some art on the walls, windows to the street, music in the background and bench seating along the walls.  The lights were lowered and the medium sized bare wood tables were fairly close.  They have a full bar and street parking is your option if you can’t walk there.  Service was good and the hostess at the door made you feel most welcome.  The food was great, the portions large and I’d easily recommend the place and go back if I’m ever back in the area. Continue reading →

Fort Oak, San Diego, 4/11/25

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building – 1011 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego, CA 92103

Fort Oak advertises itself as an ‘ode to fire and the sea’ with Chef/Owner Brad Wise using a wood fire to cook much of the food.   They supplement that with a large raw bar for seafood.  They are open for dinner every night but Tuesday.  In a separate room where the wood-burning hearth/kitchen is they also have a Chef’s Counter for 10 guests on Thurs and Fri nights.  The tasting menu also has optional beverage pairings.  We were not able to secure a place at the tasting counter but our server walked us by the window to the room to see the chef and his team in action.  The  main dining area is in an historic former car dealership space with the horseshoe shaped bar being in the old showroom and then various dining rooms are in and outside.  A lion statue was supposed to be a tribute to the actual lion that the car dealership owner brought with him to work.  Tile, glass and wood make up the various stylish spaces filled with music.  The menu is designed to have shared small plates and we did just that – sharing a number of items.  While they were creative, I would say the food was mixed in tastiness, but the fun in lots of little plates is that some will delight you while others are just food.  Let me know what you think when you visit. Continue reading →

Campo at Los Poblanos, Albuquerque, 3/29/25

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building – 4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, NM 87107

Campo is the restaurant at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm.  Los Poblanos was designed by John Gaw Meem, the “Father of Santa Fe Style” in 1932 and now has 45 guest rooms, a working organic farm and special event spaces on 25 acres of property.  Set in the Rio Grande River Valley it has acres of lavender fields as well as gardens that supply herbs and vegetables to the restaurant . Head Chef Christopher Bethoney, a native New Mexican, has been there since the restaurant opened in 2017 and was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s 2024 Best Chef in the Southwest.  The family-run property calls itself “field-to-fork” in the creation of their menus.  There are animals on the property but only the eggs from the chickens are used here and other local farms and herdsmen supply the additional products.  Campo serves breakfast (Mon-Wed), brunch (Thurs – Sun),  and dinner (daily 5-9) with the Chef’s Table (Fri – Sat) which was covered in a post you can find HERE.  It’s a lovely property with a large casual dining space.  If you read the write up on the Chef’s Counter you know I endorsed it but the main restaurant is also worth visiting, so make a plan to visit both when you go to Albuquerque. Continue reading →

Étoile, New Orleans, 12/20/24

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sign at front – 3607 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Étoile is in the the Cockerton house of 1883, a single-family residence.   It remained a dwelling until it was transformed into a commercial space and now offers a farm-to-table tasting menu (with optional wine pairings) four nights a week.  Led by Chef Chris Dupont, the menu starts at 7:00 but the bar opens at 6:00.  They advise you when you make the reservation to be on time and come early if you want to have cocktails or browse around the house.  They have 24 seats available and so each night varies with the configuration of tables.  They have a number of rules for dining there, with non-refundable deposits, gratuity of 25% and are unable to serve vegan or dairy restricted menus, so read over before you may a reservation.  The chef came out to welcome all just before the menu was started and stated that he wanted it to be more like coming to a dinner party than a restaurant and it certainly was a beautiful old room to eat in.  However it was very noisy, with only 7 tables and quite dark.  Pacing and portion control were good until the end of the evening when the charge card machine couldn’t print receipts and it delayed finishing up for at least 20 minutes (which was a lot after 2.5 hours of meal).  I admire what they are doing, but the food was more good than great.  It just opened in June 2024, so maybe give it time. Continue reading →

Pillar, Dallas, 1/14/25

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building – 408 N Bishop Ave #108, Dallas, TX 75208

Pillar just opened Dec. 8, 2024 in the Bishop Arts District by chef/owner Peja Krstic.  It was in the 98-year-old space previously occupied by Boulevardier.  The menu had cross over from the restaurant’s previous occupant as well as with his other current restaurant Mot Hai Ba.  Krstic named this after seeing a photo of Ernest Hemingway’s boat Pilar in Key West, but since this was not all seafood it became Pillar, an American bistro.  It’s a deep space with some table seating and the bar with seats at the front and a combination of booths and tables in the back portion nearer to the open door to the kitchen.  The space had a concrete floor, a brick wall opposite a wallpapered one, a painted wood ceiling and music in the background.  Shelves by the front door were filled with articles and books whereas the shelves in back were filled with glassware and wines, which are mostly of the natural variety.  We had a fairly early reservation and you could still talk but the evening moved slowly and the noise level got pretty loud later in the evening.  One huge benefit of the place was a parking lot right next to it, which is a real plus for places in this area.  The service was super friendly but slow and the food was varied but all on the better side of the curve.  Some items were outstanding however I hope as they get established, they will introduce specials that vary the menu slightly and work on the kitchen’s efficiency.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.  Continue reading →

George’s Little Rock, Little Rock, AR., 12/13/24

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building – 5510 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock, AR 72207

George’s is named for George who represents “the perfect night out; the experience of a restaurant with all the comforts of feeling at home.”  It’s the product of Little Rock natives and friends, John Stephens, David Hesselbein and Greg Baber who’ve partnered with Chef Wes Mickel to offer a menu of Italian classics.  Opening in August of 2023, it was in the works for 2 years before opening in the 1930s bungalow (previously housing Cafe Prego).  Having the capacity for 93, guests are seated in a traditional dining room, casual porch, an outdoor patio or in the hidden speakeasy named “Barnaby.”  The main dining room has tables set with white clothes and some bench seating along the walls whereas the porch had bare tables and wicker furniture.  It was more lit than the main dining room which also had art on the walls.  The service was good and helpful and portions were large.  It was a good meal and one I’d recommend you try when in town.  Reservations can be difficult but the speakeasy and bar seating are all first come, first served. Continue reading →

Cowboys Club, Frisco, 12/3/24

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came with the bill – Five Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX, 75034

The Dallas Cowboys Football Team built a large facility to practice north of Dallas, in the town of Frisco.   Besides the practice fields, weight room, ect. there are offices and some are leased by our financial team who are members of the dining room at The Star.  The only way you can eat there is to be a member or the guest of a member, but I thought you’d be interested in the place either way.  No photos of the practice area are allowed, but I got a few of the room and our lunches.  It’s a large place with a bar area and lots of couch seating too.  Bottles of wine are used to form walls for some of the more private dining rooms.  Service was excellent and the place is bright and attractive.  The food was fine but no football players or other celebrities were spotted, other than Frankie of course. Continue reading →

Primo Restaurant, Rockland, ME., 9/26/24

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exterior –2 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841

Primo Restaurant is a chef-owned place by Melissa Kelly who was the 2013 James Beard Foundation Award winner of the American Express Best Chef, Northeast.  She also won this award in 1999 making her the first 2 time winner of the same award.  It started as a small venture with one greenhouse and one acre of gardens to 2 greenhouses, 60 staff and 3 acres of gardens as well as chickens and pigs. It is a huge place with a 2 story house being the main eating area with a roaming parking lot to the side that goes up by other buildings and gardens.  It was dark and rainy the night we went so it was hard to tell what was what.  There were tables on the porch around the large house but the weather did not allow these to be seated.  Some rooms had white tablecloths and others bare wood.  We were seated in a small room upstairs with old wood floors and bench seating around the walls and small tables.  Art for sale was on the walls and I saw 2 bars upstairs.  The server told us the place was named for the chef’s grandfather when he had a brief moment to chat.  The menu changes daily and yet specials were verbally delivered by the server.  The food was good, the ambiance a bit hectic and my overall impression was once was enough. Continue reading →

Nīna June, Rockport, ME., 9/25/24

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exterior – 24 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856

Nīna June is the nickname of  Chef Sara Jenkins, who was born in Camden, Maine but raised in the Mediterranean.  She uses the background of both places to highlight the products of Maine’s farms and ocean coastal waters with a regularly changing menu.  She is the author of 2 cookbooks and previously cooked for kitchens in NYC.  This is a long place with the back patio seats overlooking the Rockport Harbor.  The open kitchen was on one side and the chef was there to greet the customers and show them to their table.  The walls had bench seating with lots of pillows which matched up with small closely placed small wooden tables that were set with paper placemats and cloth napkins.  Music was in the background, the lights were fairly dim and art was on the walls.  It was a cozy feel and it easily facilitated conversations with your neighbors.  The menu was very intriguing and thus we ordered way more than we could eat but we wanted to try so many things.  As you’d guess, some items were better than others and appealed differently to esch of us.  I’m not sure if any would get a “lick the bowl” rating but I certainly would recommend this place and go back if I’m in the area.  The food is very fresh and well done without dots, smears or added micro-greens and really focused on local.  Let me know what you think when you visit! Continue reading →

Market Steer Steakhouse (update), Santa Fe, 9/16/24

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exterior – 213 Washington Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Market Steer Steakhouse was started in 2018 at the St. Francis Hotel by Chef Kathleen Crook and Kristina Goode.   You can see Frankie’s visit to  the old location here but this trip it had relocated last July to a new 4,500 sq. ft. building with a separate bar area and extensive sound proofing in the main dining room.  They did 4 months of remodeling to the structure before moving in and so were able to address the noise level of the older location.  Adding a bar allowed them to offer craft cocktails and have a place to display the equestrian and rodeo roots of the Chef.  The 60-seat dining room is adorned with a 600 piece hand blown amber glass chandelier and wall sconces made of horse hair ties.  The bench seating along the walls was well padded and matched with closely set 2-top white cloth-covered tables.   Larger tables were in the center on the old wood floor with music in the background.  The ceiling was lined with wood beams and much of the art on the walls was from local galleries with the price list on the back of the wine list.  It was a room of soft tones with friendly and excellent service.  The food was quite good, so if you are ready for a steak dinner put this on your list. Continue reading →

Joseph’s Culinary Pub, Santa Fe, 9/14/24

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exterior – 428 Agua Fria St, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Joseph’s Culinary Pub was the creation of Chef Joseph Wrede, Food & Wine‘s Best New Chef 2000 and winner of several AAA Four Diamond awards as well as being featured on The Food Network’s Triple D.  The restaurant started in Taos in 1995 and moved once more before settling in the present location about 10 years ago.  The place had multiple rooms as well as outdoor seating and a bar counter.  The room we were in had bench seating around the perimeter and free-standing tables in the middle.  Several windows contributed natural light to the electric lights which were well dimmed.  Antique copper pots hung decoratively along one wall and other art was on the walls as was a chalkboard with a drawing of the fish featured in the daily special.  Service was super friendly and the food was innovative and tasty.  Our two main plates had too many ingredients but they all blended into successful flavors.  There are daily specials and changes to the menu with the seasons but some items have been on the menu for 25+ years.  This place is worth a visit. Continue reading →

Alder Wood Bistro, Sequim, WA., 7/11/24

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exterior – 139 W Alder St, Sequim, WA 98382

Alder Wood Bistro was in a house-like building with several rooms open for dining and a large patio and a good amount of parking around the building.  A few booths and lots of tables made up the seating that had music in the background, sound absorbing panels on the ceiling, art for sale on the walls, lots of windows to the outside and decorations scattered about.  There was a full bar and a nice wine selection.  The food was billed as “the finest local, organic and sustainable produced ingredients”.  They have a wood fired oven for pizzas and offer a gluten-free cauliflower crust as well as noting what other menu items are vegan or gluten-free.  Their menu also had a number of nightly specials as well as drink specials.  I would go back, it was pretty good, and the service was super. Continue reading →

Mister Charles, Dallas, 7/2/24

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building – 3219 Knox St Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75205

Mister Charles is in the location that the Highland Park Soda Fountain had occupied for 106 years.  Opening in July 2023, it is operated by the Chas Martin and Duro Hospitality who are also responsible for The Charles and Sister, written up here earlier.   This venue  offers French and Italian dishes 7 days a week for dinner.   The large space has basically 2 rooms one light with a high ceiling which soars to 36 feet with chandeliers and a long bar the other much darker room has tables covered with fine white cloths, booths and one wall opening into the kitchen.  It is a statement restaurant in a landmarked building in a very affluent neighborhood.  Parking on the street is competitively available but they also have valet parking which is at no charge if validated at the restaurant.   We were in the darker room, which according to the hostess is an option you can express a preference for when making your reservation.  It had a terrazzo style tile floor, mirrors on the walls, music in the background, a lower ceiling with sound panels and an assortment of chair and table set ups.  The many windows facing the street were covered with blinds except for the exit door which allowed in a bright patch of annoying light for a bit.  Small booths were along 2 walls and bench seating lined the window wall.  A second small bar was also in this room. Continue reading →

The French House, London, 1/23/24

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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 →

Noble Rot, London, 1/22/24

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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 →

Lindey’s, Columbus, 4/27/23

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building – 169 E Beck St, Columbus, OH 43206

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 →

Lemaire Restaurant, Richmond, 4/6/23

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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 →

The Gallery Restaurant, Reykjavik, 7/29/17

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building
building

The Gallery Restaurant is located in the Hotel Holt.  It is a medium sized place that is named because of all the artwork that is in the restaurant as well as the hotel itself. The dining room is elegant with long table clothes, sparkling crystal, soft background music, dark wood ceiling and formally dressed waiters.  Some half wall partitions further divide the well spaced tables.  Service was helpful and efficient but definitely no chatting in the dining room however the bartender was much more friendly and enjoyed showing us around.  There is a large a la carte menu that also offers a chef’s tasting menu.  The wine list is on the pricey side but large.  Be aware though, since the wine is printed rather than electronic, the year may not be as listed and you will not be notified.   Continue reading →