onion rings

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

~ hsnixon ~ 8 Comments
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 →

Brass Ram (update), Dallas, 1/13/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, New Orleans, 12/19/23

~ hsnixon ~ 24 Comments
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 →

Southern Porch, Canton, NC., 11/18/22

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
building – 117 Main St., Canton, NC., 28716

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 →

Cranberry Over Superior, Herbster, WI., 8/26/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 86985 Lenawee Rd., Herbster, WI, 54844 

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 →

Cold Spring Tavern, Santa Barbara, 6/25/22

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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 →

Crystal Beer Parlor, Savannah, 3/3/22

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Exterior

The Crystal Beer Parlor building was the “Gerken Family Grocery Store” in the early 1900’s, with the owners living above it.  It sold in the early 1930’s  and was one of the first American eating establishments to serve alcohol after the repeal of Prohibition.  Rumor was that they had been selling illegal liquor as a speakeasy during Prohibition.  The walls were covered with scenes from Savannah’s past and portraits of people.  In one room were blown up copies of the original menus.  It’s a fairly large place in a wedge building on a ‘corner’ with a huge tented area in the back, where parking used to be.  Inside is a counter room with stools and some booth seating and other rooms are a mix of tables and booths.   Service was prompt, efficient and friendly.  They are known for their burgers and housemade onion rings.

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Earl’s Steak Sandwiches, Dover, N.H., 6/11/21

~ hsnixon ~ 5 Comments

exterior (99 Oak St., Dover)

Earl’s Steak Sandwiches is family owned and specializes in shaved beef sandwiches.  Wife Mo (Maureen) Donovan works the floor, husband Jim cooks and their daughter Sophie, who is 10, makes rings and bracelets to sell in one of the booths.  Opening in October, in a location that had previously been a diner,  during the Covid pandemic they rose to the challenge by concentrating on take-out until indoor dining resumed.  The decor features a ‘vintage car theme’ with old hot rod magazines at the table and the walls decorated with oil signs and car parts.  The inside area is small, with a few counter stools, but there also is a good number of outdoor tables.  Behind the counter is a window to the kitchen where you can see, hear and smell the owner’s cooking.  One of the booths is “reserved for Earl” which is where the daughter assembles and sells her jewelry.  Earl has a photo but it is actually not a family member, they just liked his name.   They cure their own meats and make their own sauces. Continue reading →