wine list

Three Blacksmiths, Sperryville, VA., 11/12/25

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building – 20 Main St, Sperryville, VA 22740-2155

The Three Blacksmiths was opened in 2018 by John and Diane MacPherson who sold it to the current chef/owners Jake and Sara Addeo in 2021.   (The name is in honor of the 3 blacksmiths that worked in Sperryville many years ago. )  Both the Addeos cook, pick wines and run the front of house along with the help of a sous chef and several servers.  The small 20 seat place. is one of the hardest reservations to get in this country – booking out over 6 months ahead.   The warm wooded room had lowered lighting, curtained windows to the street, an open kitchen and music in the background.  They serve a 5 course tasting menu only, with a few surprise additions and offer 2 levels of wine pairings 4 nights a week with one seating.  There is a small wine list but no full bar.  They do have a couple pre-dinner cocktails as well as after dinner drinks like port and sherry.  The tables are set with your evening’s menu and I loved that they have the service team’s names and photos on the back.  The feel of the room is inviting and cozy but the tables are a bit far a part for cross table talk.  The tasting takes about 4 hours but it goes by nicely as you feel you’re in a private home and both of the chef/owners come by to chat.  We had hoped to try it when we were in the area in 2021 but couldn’t get in, so when we found an opening we jumped on it and were glad we did.  It’s a fun night, where you’ll find lots of local repeat customers, some celebrating a ‘special occasion’ and others like us, just celebrating another day of fun dining.  Hope you’ll get on their list and let me know what you think. Continue reading →

The Point (part 2), Saranac Lake, NY., 10/7/25

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
main house – 222 Beaverwood Rd, Saranac Lake, NY 12983-3029

We stayed at The Point for 3 days and so this is part 2 of the chronicle of the food we had. (If you missed part 1, click here). I didn’t photograph the passed snacks that were part of the cocktail hour proceeding dinner each night and snacks/foods were available to be sent to your room if you had a craving for something.  Various guests attend the dinners in the Great Hall, all of which require coat and tie for men, while some arrange to have dinner in alternate locations.  All of the staff couldn’t have been nicer and more accommodating.  They wanted you to have a good time and we did.  The question is, is it worth the price?  I can’t answer that but I will say that a number of the people we met there had been multiple times.  It’s hard to get to – we flew into Albany and it was a 2.5 hours drive from there.  They are happy for you to check in in time for lunch which one of the other guests told me they always spend the night somewhere nearby and then drive in early so they can enjoy a full day of activities and eating. In the winter they have ice fishing, skating and cross country skiing.  In summer they have fishing, boating, water skiing and tube rides.  There are plenty of nooks where they’ll set up a picnic lunch and dining in your room is always an option.  The selection of liquors was good and the wines adequate with a separate list available if you want to buy an upgraded option.   It’s a beautiful property that is well maintained with amenities galore so if an all inclusive place if for you, you should check this one out. Continue reading →

The Point (part 1), Saranac Lake, NY., 10/5/25

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
Entrance – 222 Beaverwood Rd, Saranac Lake, NY 12983-3029

The Point was the first named Relais & Châteaux in North America, some 39 years ago.   It was built by William A. Rockefeller II (John D’s grandnephew) in 1929 as a retreat in the Adirondacks.  It is 75 acres of waterfront property on the Saranac Lake.  There are 11 guest rooms, 4 in the main lodge and several log houses including one over the large boat house.  All the rooms have stone wood-burning fireplaces and include 3 meals a day, cocktail hour, morning coffee and pastries, snacks and unlimited beverages including wines, spirits, beers, espresso and on and on.  Wed and Sat are black tie dinners whereas other dinners in the Great Hall require coat and tie for men with similar fancy dress for women.  It’s a beautiful property that is well maintained with a staff ready to make your stay the best it can be.  In the large modern kitchen was Executive Chef D’Anthony who was on site every day to prepare the meals.  He is from Texas so he got points for that too.   The pastry chef  (sorry I forgot her name) was also in the kitchen and she did a fabulous job on the morning pastries that come to your room with coffee.  We enjoyed the set menus for meals but also appreciate their flexibility if you want something different.  The food was all nicely done and beautifully presented.  Part of the experience was getting to chat with other like minded people over dinner and cocktails which was very well done.  I decided to break my write up into 2 parts as there were a number of meals to report on.  Bottom line is that if it works in your budget you should go.  It’s a fabulous property and a lovely experience. Continue reading →

Ceraldi, Provincetown, MA., 9/24/25

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building  – 9 Ryder St Ext Provincetown, MA 02657

During our last trip to Cape Cod, Ceraldi was closed as they were moving to a new location (where the 9 Ryder Restaurant was) in Provincetown, the very tip of Cape Cod.  They started in 2013 in Ptown as a pop-up and then were in Wellfleet for about 10 years before moving back.   Life partners and artists Jesse and Michael Ceraldi started and continue to run this restaurant  that highlights local farmers, fishermen and foragers.   Chef Michael not only cooks but makes much of the ceramic dinnerware from Cape Cod clay that guests eat off of.  The long place has peach tones to the walls and is right on the waterfront.  Lowered lighting is supplemented by many windows and mirrors.  A bar with seating runs half the length of one wall and the kitchen is through an opening at the back of the room but most of the view is blocked by supplies and plants.  They offer a 7, 3 or 1 course tasting and you can add a dessert to the smaller tastings.  Beverage pairings are available but know they include a couple non-alcholic ones.  The food is good but seemed to be still getting its footing in the new location.  I applaud the concept of a changing menu based on what’s locally available but the quantity was way off.  There were a number of comments online that the price was high and maybe it could be less if there wasn’t so much food on the plates.  I’ve beeen to 20+ course tastings were you can easily eat it all but with this 7 there were a number of courses sent back half eaten.  This chef and staff seem very capable but there’s a few kinks to work out. Continue reading →

Brentwood Restaurant, Addison, TX, 9/16/25

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building – 5318 Belt Line Rd, Addison, TX 75254

Brentwood Restaurant is in north Dallas in the building that housed the Houston’s Restaurant that closed in the mid 2020s.   The Vandelay Hospitality Group bought the property (they operate Hudson House) and re-opened it as Brentwood in fall 2021.   You’ll see many similarities to Houston’s interior as well as menu offerings- like spinach artichoke dip, Hawaiian ribeye, double cut pork chop and chicken tenders.  They have a wood fired grill for cooking and a full bar with a separate counter.   There’s a patio as well.  The clubby interior of the dining area has lots of booth like seating surrounded by wood and the same menu is offered at lunch and dinner 7 days a week.  Service is attentive and servings are large.  The food is very good but nothing cutting edge, just good solid American cusine.  We were meeting some business associates there so it’s farther than we usually venture but if it was closer I’d be a regular. Continue reading →

The Ranch Supper Club (update), Hayward, WI., 8/29/25

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
exterior – 10590 N Ranch Road, Hayward, WI., 54843

The Ranch Supper Club serves the prime rib dinner on Saturday and fish fry on Friday.  The prime rib dinners are on this site from 2023 and 2022 – and you can see those by clicking on the dates for more history and photos.  This trip we wanted to try their “signature steaks’ and they come with the same supper club set up of relish tray, salad, bread and choice of potato.  The bar is a gorgeous one topped with colored inlaid stones. There are two dining rooms and the one behind the bar is my preference with vintage cooking, sporting and farming equipment hanging on the walls and a fireplace topped with an old sewing machine.  The menu has plenty to chose from and lists the numbers of drinks served in one year.  I’m including photos of it as the prices have increased since last year.  The service is friendly and efficient and the food isn’t novel but it will definitely satisfy and they have ice cream drinks for dessert.  I know I’ll be back and hope to see you there. Continue reading →

St. James Social, Bayfield, WI., 8/28/25

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
building – 200 Rittenhouse Ave., Bayfield, WI., 54814

St. James Social is a hotel and restaurant combination that offers a new and modern take on things in the restored original 1883 St. James hotel.  Annalisa and Cody Bermel bought the building in May 2022 and they manage, bartend and do whatever is needed along with their 2 daughters.  .  The first floor is a large space with a lounge area, curved bar counter with seats and tables for dining.   The two story room is filled with wood, brass, chandeliers and mirrors along with artwork to give it an urban yet comfortable feeling.  Upstairs they have a 8 rooms and on the roof is a small lounge area for hotel guests.  The kitchen uses local ingredients when available, which for this short growing season are amazingly abundant.   One of their specialties is pizza and Tuesday they dedicate the menu to their artisan Neapolitan style pizzas.  They have a sourdough crust with more on that later. Thursday through Saturday they offer the Chef’s menu with more plated options and a fewer number of pizza varieties.   Sunday is brunch only.  The service is great and the vibe is too.  We really enjoyed our evening there with some long time friends.  I would highly recommend a meal and maybe a stay here when you visit the lovely town of Bayfield. Continue reading →

Sauvage, Dallas, 9/6/25

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
dining counter – 1914 Commerce St. Ste 100, Dallas, TX  75201

Sauvage is a 12 person counter tasting meal that opened a week ago by the team of Casey and Amy La Rue, who previously ran the now closed Carte Blanche on Greenville.  Located adjacent to the Statler Hotel the La Rue team has done much of the finish out work on their own.  The “L” shaped concrete counter surrounds the open kitchen including a wood fired grill.  A lounge like area is at the entry to accommodate those waiting for their seating, as the times are flexible for the 2 seatings.  Music is in the background and lighting is fairly bright which helps for photos.   It’s on a busy downtown street and you can get your ticket from the nextdoor hotel’s valet validated at the restaurant and then it’s costs just $10. The name translates to “wild” or refers to something uncultivated.  I have to say it didn’t feel wild to me rather more approachable and relaxed. At $245 for the tasting that may be the untamed part for some but if you can swing it it’s worth a try.  They are barely open and I hope as they progress the menu will evolve and change enough to entice people to come multiple times.  Let me know what you think when you visit. Continue reading →

Far Out, Dallas, 8/13/25

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
sign in parking lot – 1906 S Haskell Ave, Dallas, TX 75223

We last attended a whiskey tasting with dinner at Far Out but wanted to get back to try the regular menu.  It was less crowded, especially being a weeknight and we went quite early but people continued to trickle in but the outdoors wasn’t getting any takers in the Texas heat.  The large window on the entrance wall let in lots of sunlight but the air conditioning did a good job keeping the large space well cooled.  Music was in the background and a ton of plants decorate the walls.  The tables are fairly small but I was truly thrilled that our excellent server Ashleigh did as she promised and only brought a couple plates at a time, not overloading the space or us.  Chef Misti Norris is the Culinary Director and you can sense her touch on the fun, changing menu of shared plates.  She may not be in the kitchen but her Chef de Cuisine Mery Aguayo and staff are producing some fun tasty dishes.  I applaud their use of seasonal options and our server was nice enough to tell us what was newest and what were favorites.  It was a wonderful dinner with lots of flavor.  I hope to get back to try more things soon.  Hope you’ll let me know what you try when you go! Continue reading →

Mābo, Dallas, 6/26/25

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 6109 Berkshire Ln, B, Dallas, TX 75225

Mābo is an yakitori omakase restaurant under the direction of the former chef of Teppo, Masayuki Otaka that opened a little over a year ago.  He offers 2  seatings (5:30 and 8:30) for 8 guests of a 14-course tasting menu.   At Teppo, Chef Otaka was known as “the Yakitori King of Dallas” so this place serves more meat than seafood.  Yakitori in Japan means grilled chicken and while five chicken parts are on the tasting menu even more are offered on a supplemental menu.  This supplemental menu includes options for other meats, fish and vegetables.  The basic tasting is $200 per person, with tax, tip and drinks in addition but the chicken supplements we had were just $8 per skewer (I did find it annoying that the supplemental menu had no prices).   The small, minimal space has few decorations but it is serene and tasteful.  We took the early seating and found the door did not get unlocked until precisely 5:30.  After being shown to a comfortable seat at the counter, which has screens blocking you view into the kitchen, we ordered some sake and water and chatted with neighbors until the screen rises 10 minutes later.  Chef Otaka was the only one ever in the kitchen but a sweet server helped with information and serving.  The vent fan runs constantly, because the charcoal is going, but it does make some noise for counter conversations and in addition there is music in the background.  It was great to see Otaka back in action but I don’t think I’ll be a regular here because there’s too much non-yakitori.  The non-yakitori foods were good but didn’t get into great territory.  On the other side though, if you want a yakitori fix this would be the first place I’d direct you to. Continue reading →

LUNE, Dennis Port, MA., 6/5/25

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building – 587 MA-28, Dennis Port, MA 02639

LUNE is brought to you by Chef Mick Formichella and his wife Charlotte who moved back to Cape Cod from Portland, OR where they both worked in various restaurants.  She runs the front of house including the wine program and he does the kitchen.  Starting as a pop-up in an art gallery, they moved to a permanent location in mid-May last year.   They chose an old garage building that adds an interesting interior to the place.  About 6 seats are at the end of the long counter surrounding the open kitchen and the rest are small tables, most with bench seating backing up to the walls.  Art and wine bottles provide many of the decorations  as well as the large black and white tile floor.  The restaurant was a semi-finalist for the  2025 James Beard Best New Restaurant Award but then were removed from the competition as they were closed in Feb and March when judges visit the nominated restaurants.  That was to the benefit of the remaining contenders as this small gem would have been formidable competition.  They book up quickly for the tasting menu that is offered in 2 seatings on Thurs, Friday and Sat.  On Wed and Sun they serve an a la carte menu.  We were lucky to enjoy one the tasting menus with Charlotte’s selected wine pairings.  It was a terrific evening filled with great food and friendly staff and one I highly recommend you try when in the area. Continue reading →

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

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
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 →

Bolboreta, Madrid, 3/2/25

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – C. del Ave María, 8, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Bolboreta, open about a year, was a small place run by a husband and wife team.  Chef Aaron Quaife was the only staff in the kitchen while Patricia Grandío was the entire front-of-house.  She is Galician and he is an Englishman (Hastings) who met while working in London. The name means butterfly in Galician, which is something his grandmother loved and collected.  There were just 7 tables but a menu that changes regularly, some with distinct English touches, that keep it interesting for the owners as well as the diners.  The menu had 3 items in each 4 courses of the meal.  All are a la carte and she was happy for us to share them all and bring them out one by one.  The small bare brown wood tables were in two rooms with art on the walls and jars of their pickled products along one wall.  Music was in the background but there were sound panels on the ceiling so noise was not a problem.  Both of them spoke good English and were super friendly.  They are living their dream and it’s to our benefit.  Put this one on your list the next time you’re in Madrid, you won’t be sorry.   It’s excellent. Continue reading →

Fond, Dallas, 2/15/25

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
entrance – 1601 Elm St Suite 110, Dallas, TX 75201

Fond is the creation of husband and wife team, Chefs Jennie Kelley and Brandon Moore, who were part of the group that brought FRANK, an underground restaurant to the Deep Ellum area.  Most recently, they ran Better Half Bistro – a pop-up of French-inspired dishes and Detroit-style pizzas.  The restaurant is named for “fond” – the savory browned bits in the bottom of the pan, but in addition because they are “fond” of Dallas, each other and their customers.  The space is on the first floor of the Santander building in downtown.  They are open for lunch Mon. to Fri. and for Aperitivo Tues to Fri. where they offer shared plates.  They have wine but it is of the natural variety.  Opening in Sept 2023, they now have a tasting menu dinner one Sat. a month, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients and each month features a different theme.  The idea is to offer 40 seats split between 2 times at $175 per person and optional wine pairings at $50 or non-alcoholic pairings at $25.  What we attended was a tad different with guests being at individual tables for the six-course tasting at $125, same pairing options.  Not sure I understand how to tell what you’re going for but a friend had secured a reservation for 3 and we wanted to try it.  Parking is in the garage under the building and they will validate for 2 hours.  This meal was mixed in success with light portioning but I do love the Beatles and the theme was “The Beatles Love Menu.” Continue reading →

Be Home Soon, Dallas, 2/13/25

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 9540 Garland Rd #407, Dallas, TX 75218

Be Home Soon opened mid November in Casa Linda plaza.  Owner Madison King created her dream restaurant after years as a musician with Russ Kirk (an accountant with a law degree), and Joey Fink (chef de cuisine).  All three have restaurant experience but wanted to create something casual with a changing menu on their home turf of East Dallas.  It’s in the spot previously occupied by Dugg Burger but you wouldn’t recognize the space.  The purple walls are filled with art and collectables.  A long bar takes up one wall but it has seating for drinks and/or eating.  Small tables line the other wall with the kitchen in the back. The menu was printed on a roll of butcher paper that hangs on the wall and a printed menu lists snacks and staples, like a salad.  The other side of the printed menu was cocktails, many of them traditionally based.  The weekly menu shows up on their Instagram page not the website and they take no reservations.  The cocktails were well made but their wine selection seems only by the glass and was quite limited.  They do offer a kid’s plate but children are not seated after 7:00.  The portions were fairly small so you can order lots and have it family style.  The food was mixed but I’ll go again when I see an interesting menu – I love the concept. Continue reading →

Noble Rot Soho (update), London, 1/27/25

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior – 2 Greek St, London W1D 4NB, United Kingdom

Nobel Rot was visited by Frankie and us about one year ago (click here).  The restaurant where we had a reservation had electrical problems and so closed for the day and we decided to repeat since our visit last year was so wonderful.  It was a different day though so it wasn’t nearly as magical.  This visit we sat upstairs which was cozier and had nice murals painted on each of the walls – one of the street where the restaurant is located.   Small marble tables were set closely opposite bench seating lining both walls.  A small bar/service area was at one end.  Curtained windows to the street added little to the lowered lighting of the room.  No music was in the background and the menu was printed daily.  Service was fine but the food did not measure up to last year’s.  It’s still a fine place for a casual meal but it didn’t have the lick-the-plate quality I remembered. Continue reading →

The Devonshire, London, 1/22/25

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior – 17 Denman St, London W1D 7HW, United Kingdom

The Devonshire has a pub called the Public House downstairs (known for its perfect pint of Guinness) and then the two floors above feature a wood grill restaurant and seating.    Having been in Soho since 1793, they dry age, butcher their Scottish beef on site, and offer locally caught seafood.  They are open 7 days a week and the grill is on the second floor.  We were in the quieter third-floor room (they do have an elevator) with many small white cloth-covered tables filling the room.  Brown paper was on top of the cloth, windows were on two sides letting in the sunshine, curtains cover some of the walls which do have some paintings, no music was in the background and carpet was on the floor.  Even filled, the room didn’t have a noise problem.  At lunch, they offered a 2 or 3 course set menu as well as a full menu.  Wines were available by the glass and bottle and they also have a reserve wine list.  It appeared to have a good mix of local people as well as tourists and service was efficient and friendly.   It was a good value for London with the set menu having generous portions and additional vegetable sides being reasonably priced.  Nothing was bad but nothing blew me away though.  It was a perfect first meal when you’re jet-lagged and waiting for your hotel room to open so you can crash a few hours.  I’m sorry I didn’t get to try the pub downstairs – it was very lively. Continue reading →

Étoile, New Orleans, 12/20/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

Brave New Restaurant, Little Rock, AR., 12/12/24

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
building – 2300 Cottondale Ln #105, Little Rock, AR 72202

Brave New Restaurant describes itself as “a casual, warm environment, delicious food and excellent service at a reasonable cost.”    Opened by Peter Brave (and his ex-wife Marie) 33 years ago in a former Steak and Egg location it had 1750 sq ft.   In 2000 he moved to its present location – a large upstairs space with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Arkansas River.   Through the years he’s added on space, patios and private dining rooms to total 5,980 sq.ft.  He worked in the kitchen as well as the floor until Chef Ben Lindley was hired in 2022.  Now his son Gordy, who serves as General Manager, and his daughter also work at the restaurant and they are poised to continue the legacy he created.  The large room had no music, lowered lighting, carpeted floor, acoustical ceiling and a corner of the room open to the kitchen.  The black tables were unclothed and art was on the walls.  Peter Brave made his way around to tables of regulars.  Service was good as was the food.  The menu has options at many price points with generous portions. Continue reading →

The Pantry Crest, Little Rock, AR., 12/11/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building – 722 N Palm St, Little Rock, AR 72205

The Pantry was opened by Tomas Bohn in 2009 in west Little Rock.  Based on its success, he opened The Pantry Crest in 2014 in the historic Hillcrest neighborhood.  Both locations serve Czech and German classics but the Pantry Crest is dinner only Tues through Sat.  They do not take reservations, so first come, first served.  The Pantry Crest was in a 2 story building with limited parking supplemented by street parking.  Downstairs was a good-sized bar counter with seats and high-top tables.  Upstairs was segmented into several rooms with varying sizes of tables.  Art was on the walls and a large mural was on the ceiling.  It seemed to be a very popular place with many of the tables turning  and lots of young folks in larger groups.  The service was helpful and friendly and the portions were on the large side.  However, the food was mixed. Continue reading →

The Waterboy, Sacramento, 11/1/24

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
building – 2000 Capitol Ave, Sacramento, CA 95811

The Waterboy has been serving the cuisine of  northern Italy and southern France since 1996.   A native Sacramento Chef Rick Mahan was inspired by a trip he took to France and now creates European style food with local California ingredients.  It’s a good sized place with an open ceiling two-story room decorated with lots of plants.   Windows were on 2 sides, the back of the space was filled with a semi-circular bench seat, music was in the background, the small tables were covered with white cloths and a bar with stools  faces a painted wall.  There were also some tables outside on the patio.  The menu was supplemented by a list of daily specials and breads that were made in house.  The wine list had reasonable prices and the food servings on the large size.  Service was friendly and efficient.  The food was good and I hope you’ll give it a try when in Sacramento. Continue reading →

18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill, Rockport, ME., 9/27/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 18 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856

18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill looks over Rockport Harbor and is owned by Chef Patrick Duffy and his wife Jessica.  The couple moved to Rockport from Boston in 2011 to run the Shepherd’s Pie restaurant, which closed in mid-2016.  With a first run at the property, they decided to open their own raw bar and restaurant in that location.   After several months of renovations, they launched the new venture.  It’s a good-sized place with patio seating, overlooking the harbor.  The first part of the space is the bar and raw bar and a partially open kitchen fills the rest.  The floors are old wood matching the tin ceiling above.  The walls are wood and brick while art, historic photos and boat sails hang as decorative touches. The lighting is quite low and there was no music in the background.  The tables were well-spaced yet small and service was fine after a slow start.  The menu responds to seasonal products and the food was quite good.  This place is worth a visit when you’re in the area. Continue reading →

Long Grain, Camden, ME., 9/26/24

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
entrance – 20 Washington St, Camden, ME 04843

Long Grain opened around 2010 serving “honest food” which was mostly Thai based but also made use of other Asian cultures.  A husband and wife team owns it, Ravin Nakjaroen and Paula Palakawong, both from Bangkok with he being a self-trained cook.   In 2014 he was a semifinalist for the Best Chef Northeast James Beard Award.   Located in downtown Camden parking is as you can find it but there was a small public lot across the street.  Over the years the place has expanded in size, which helps as it’s pretty popular.  Large windows look out to the street and inside it’s divided into 2 rooms by an open bookcase with things for sale.  A few seats are also available at the counter in the back.  There’s lots of light in addition to the windows with the addition of skylights and there is music in the background.  The servers were very friendly but service was slow, I think due to being overwhelmed by customers.  They do take reservations and serve lunch and dinner Tues through Sat. The food was worth waiting for – everything we had was excellent.  Put this one on your list for your Maine vacation. Continue reading →

Nīna June, Rockport, ME., 9/25/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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

~ 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 →

Geronimo (update), Santa Fe, 9/15/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 724 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Geronimo has long been a standout place to eat in Santa Fe.  It’s in the “Borrego House” that was built by Geronimo Lopez in 1756.  Frankie visited and wrote it up on 11/19 and again on 9/23, which you can click on if you want to see more photos of the place. Located on the busy Canyon Rd where there are tons of art galleries, they do have valet parking if you aren’t close enough to walk.  It’s a quiet and elegant place with music in the background, white cloth-covered tables and art on the walls.  There are seating options outside, at the bar and in a number of interior rooms.  Reservations are a necessity.  Service is friendly yet polished and professional.  Our fine server, Jay has been working here 25 years or as he put it, “he came with the building.”   We passed on dessert but I got a photo of the menu for you.  The place has never let me down and I know it won’t disappoint you either.  Put it on your list. Continue reading →

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

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
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 →

McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails (update), Dallas, 8/24/24 and 9/7/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
back entrance –9913 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218

We visited McRae’s in March of this year and were anxious to get back and try more of their foods.  Our reservations were on a Sat. night and they were very busy, enough so that we went around the back to park.  That also allowed us to check out the patio but it was not getting much use till later in the evening – it’s pretty hot outside in Dallas now.  Inside people were enjoying cocktails and conversations while music played in the background.  Service was good and efficient but when it’s busy, order your drinks right away as the bar gets backed up.  Our server was quite savvy though, and encouraged us to order drinks and appetizers while we looked over the menu.  The tables are on the small side but it worked and the close seating offered the chance to chat with your neighbors and check out other menu items.  It was great fun, good food and fine service – you can’t ask for more than that.  We went again 2 weeks later and tried some different items and also found some new additions and deletions to the menu.  Hope you’ll give it a try when you’re in Dallas. Continue reading →

Nourish, Sequim, WA., 7/12/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building – 101 Provence View Lane, Sequim, WA 98382

Nourish is a farm-to-table place open for dinner Thurs – Sun. They operate a dedicated gluten-free kitchen with house made dishes using local ingredients.  They offer both indoor and outdoor dining with parking on both sides of the building.  The menu changes weekly and is a 3-course fixed price with several choices for each course.  The wine list was better than most and they also offer cocktails and beer.  The indoor space had carpet on the floor with metal and unstained wood for the walls with lots of windows.  The metal tables were unclothed, the ceiling was open and there was a large amount of space overall.  The food was really good with clean straightfoward flavors.  I love the idea that the menu changes that frequently, it would make me go often if I lived nearby.  Service was super friendly, efficient and helpful.  Hope you’ll try it and let me know what you think. Continue reading →

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

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

Kokopelli Grill, Port Angeles, WA., 7/9/24

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior – 203 E Front St, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Kokopelli Grill is owned by Texans Chef Michael and Candy McQuay who opened it in Dec. 2009.   He produces a Southwest style cuisine using local seafoods, steaks and produce for this, the more upscale side of their two places.  (The other half is Hook & Line Pub nextdoor, serving lots of fish and chips.) It’s a large 2-story place with the entry room having a high ceiling, some booths along the walls and a staircase at the back wall.   Upstairs the two rooms had lower ceilings and bare wood tables and chairs with a bar counter in one of them.  A couple lucky tables had a view of the harbor in the bar room but most had a view of the downtown street.  Music was throughout and older wood made up the floors. A television screen was behind the bar but it was muted. The place felt jumbled and service matched the feel, but in the server’s defense he was new.  However apologies can only work on one snafu, after several it starts to affect your experience.  We had to wait a good 20 minutes for our drink order to be taken.  When we ordered I asked to please not bring it all out at once but sure enough our salads came before the raw oyster and then the entreé came before I even had a forkful of salad.  Rolls never appeared.  The food was probably better than I write it up but it was such a mess it was hard to look beyond. Continue reading →

Goldie’s Dallas, Dallas, 7/5/24

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior – 9850 Walnut Hill Ln #305, Dallas, TX 75238

Goldie’s opened in March 2024 and serves dinner Tues – Sun in the Lake Highlands area.  It serves upscale American fare with craft cocktails.  Owner couple Brandon Hays and Brittany Grignon collaborated with Brittni Clayton (who used to manage Sister) to bring an old-school diner feel into the 1500 sq.ft. space that previously housed RM 12:20 Bistro.   They have used the gold  theme in decorating the space with gold wallpaper, pictures of Goldie Hawn, the Golden Gate bridge  and on like that.  You enter into the smaller of the two rooms, with dark walls, red velvet booths along the side, a couple 2 person booths in the middle and the bar on the opposite side.  There is a doorway to the patio area that is covered and climate controlled, but visually it is a less striking room.   Music was in the background and as the room filled it could have been turned down to make conversation easier, even with a lowered ceiling and lots of sound absorptive surfaces.  We split a number of dishes which the server was happy to course out for us.  Service was attentive and helpful and the food was very good.  I may have to add this to our regular rotation for eating out.  Hope you’ll let me know what you think if you try it. Continue reading →

Mister Charles, Dallas, 7/2/24

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
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 →

Tavern at White Stag Farm, Hayward, WI., 6/26/24

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior – 12695 WI-77, Hayward, WI 54843

The Tavern at White Stag Farm bills itself as “serving delicious food, prepared from scratch daily, using only the freshest ingredients, including produce grown on our own farm.”  However this is not a traditional Wisc. supper club.  You do enter through a separate bar area but they encouraged us to have our cocktail at the dinner table and there was no relish tray nor ice cream after dinner drinks.  Owner Michele DeYoung and her husband Jeff purchased the property that had been Club 77 in the fall of 2018 as part of their dream to create a destination for visitors that includes the restaurant as well as  an inn (McCormick House), a farm, an orchard and a dairy barn. They hope to utilize these resources to provide a changing seasonal menu.   The dining room seats up to 60 on an eclectic grouping of chairs and tables.  Some are covered with white clothes topped with black and white checked cloths and others are smaller bare marble tables.  A couple couches are on one wall and match up with the small marble tables and their chairs, which also vary at tables.  Pillows and faux fur pelts add to the decor which has lots of art on the walls and wide planked old wood floors underneath.  The ceiling felt lower, music was in the background and lots of large windows looks outside.  The wine list was more ambitious than at some places, including some pricey cabernets supplemented by lower price wines.  While their service was friendly and assured us this was fine dining, there were some not fine-dining touches.  I applaud what they are doing but don’t think I’ll be one of their regulars. Continue reading →

Oxalis Restaurant, Dartmouth, 6/13/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building – 22 Wentworth St, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2S6, Canada

Oxalis Restaurant was opened in Nov. 2021 by Sophia Gruber and her husband Chef Andy Preuss in a 2-story building that was a residential home.  The interior can only accommodate 37 people so in June 2023 they opened an outdoor dining area that added 45 more seats when weather allows.  It’s a farm-to-table concept trying to highlight local products.  They offer an a la carte menu as well as a Chef’s tasting, with wine pairings available.   The menu and food reflect his roots in Germany and hers from Austria.  They met working at a resort in Austria but had an opportunity to move to Nova Scotia and work at Trout Point Lodge which afforded them more time to travel.   We sat on the first floor which had only 4 tables that are across from the large window to the kitchen.  Bench seating was on the long wall opposite the kitchen and and lights were lowered.  The walls had some well placed mirrors but otherwise there were few decorations but music was in the background.  Most seemed to want to sit outside but we wanted to be able to see all the dishes coming out of the kitchen.  Service was good and it was overall a fine meal.  The kitchen has creativity and is worth a visit if you are in the area. Continue reading →

Goodwins, Dallas, 6/3/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 2905 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

Goodwins opened in May 2024 in the space previously occupied by a Mexican restaurant (Blue Goose Cantina) for almost 40 years.  A trio of local business partners, Austin Rodgers (Alamo Club), Jeff Bekavac and David Cash are behind the concept that wants to provide an upscale neighborhood restaurant and named it for the corner where it’s located – Goodwin and Greenville.  It’s a large space divided by a massive long bar and set with lots of cozy booths and tables.  The plan is to open an even darker cocktail bar next door (Goose Bar), which looks to be another fun space based on my preview.  Presently it’s only open for dinner every day but they hope to add lunch by mid-summer.  The interiors are all new but well done with wide plank wood floors and dark beams overhead.  There are a few windows to the street but otherwise the lighting is lowered, art is on the walls and music is in the background.  The open kitchen makes up the back wall in the room without the bar.  There is valet parking in the lot behind the place.  It was crazy busy but not so much you couldn’t talk to your dining companion.  Service was first rate – friendly and efficient – and I can’t wait to go back and I suggest you put it on your list when in Dallas. Continue reading →

Stissing House Restaurant, Pine Plains, NY, 6/2/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
front entrance – 7801 S Main St, Pine Plains, NY 12567

Stissing House dates back to 1782 when the building was a tavern that also had beds for travelers and America’s first domed  ballroom.  It fell into disrepair after WW1 when the railroad tracks that brought people to town had been torn up to make ammunition.  In the 1990s Christian Eisenbeiss saved it from demolition and along with Dale Mitchell it underwent a 2 year renovation.  They repaired the old-growth floors and restored the domed ballroom and in 1995 opened Stissing House as a French restaurant.  In 2022 Clare de Boer took over as chef/proprietor.  (She rose to notoriety through her work at King, her French/Italian restaurant in SoHo, NY.)  The 6,000 sq. foot building divides diners into multiple smaller rooms including the second floor.   They no longer have sleeping rooms but the dome is available for rental.  As you walk on the wide plank old wood floors on the way to the table you pass by a kitchen with wood fired ovens which are a part of their cooking process.  Candles light the tables as well as the numerous windows to the outside and a few electric fixtures on the walls.  The small tables are covered with white cloths but then topped with paper and little art is on the walls.  Music was in the background and for some time was just country music which then turned into old rock and roll.  It was a good meal but had a few issues. Continue reading →

Dear Irene, Bend, OR., 5/2/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building – 926 NW Brooks St, Bend, OR 97703

Dear Irene is the creation of Chef Jonny Becklund and his wife Irene.  Opening in July 2023, Jonny moved to Bend from San Francisco where he owned a 12 seat tasting menu restaurant.   He likes to change the menu here as he did there based on what he can find at the market.  Their wine list was not particularly great but they do have a huge selection of bourbons.  It was a long space with brick walls, tile floor, a high wood ceiling, music in the background and draping on the lights over the long bar.  There was a second dining area through a window which was about a third of the length and then the kitchen.  Art was on the walls and there was lots of color in the decorating scheme.  Small tables were along the walls with one side utilizing bench seating.  The place could have noise issues but the food was good enough to put up with it. Continue reading →

La Fia Bistro, Wilmington, DE., 4/4/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 421 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19801

La Fia was in the historic area of downtown in a corner building.  Owned by Bryan and Andrea Sikora, it opened in 2013 with Bryan as chef.  You enter into the area that has some goods for sale and you can look into the long kitchen.  The main dining room seats around 35  people with closely set small bare wood tables.  From the high tin ceiling hang ducts and a variety of light fixtures.  Windows to the street are on 2 sides of the room and music was in the background.  A few higher seats face the bar and the front windows and there was a second smaller dining room.  The current Executive Chef Dwain Kalup, focused on local and sustainable ingredients with a seasonally based menu.  On Wed. night they have a 3-course $40 menu with some optional supplements.  As we were there on Thurs. we made our own tasting menu.  There were no specials offered, as supplements to the menu.  It was only a minute’s walk from our hotel but it would be worth driving to as the food was quite good. Continue reading →

Snuff Mill Restaurant, Butchery & Wine Bar, Wilmington, 4/3/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
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 →

McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails, Dallas, 3/12/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 9913 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218

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 →

Green Point Seafood & Oyster Bar, Dallas, 2/26/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 3219 Knox St, Dallas, TX 75205

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 →

Bouchon Racine, London, 1/24/24

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
exterior – 66 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BP, United Kingdom

Bouchon Racine is the restaurant above the Three Compasses pub and was inspired to be a French-style bistro.  It’s a small place that offers menus created by Henry Harris with seasonal daily offerings.   Opening about a year ago it got Harris back into cooking after his restaurant ‘Racine’ closed in 2015,   It serves hearty fare that wasn’t prepared with tweezers.  Harris had done Michelin-style cooking and wanted to present French classics with’ indecent amounts of butter and cream’.  The place has 2 rooms, one the inner portion and the other the conservatory overlooking the street below.  The menu is on a moveable chalkboard and the tables are covered with white cloths.  Pictures are on the walls and music is in the background.  Dinner reservations are super hard to get but lunch is a little easier, so try for a lunch there.  Staff are helpful and friendly and the food is terrific. Continue reading →

The French House, London, 1/23/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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

~ hsnixon ~ 7 Comments
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 →

Bistro Daisy, New Orleans, 12/20/23

~ hsnixon ~ 8 Comments
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 →

Gideon Ridge Inn, Blowing Rock, NC, 12/12/23

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
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 →

Campione Roman Kitchen, Livingston, MT, 10/25/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 101 N Main St, Livingston, MT 59047

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 →

Via Triozzi, Dallas, 10/16/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 1806 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

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 →

Butcher’s Union, Grand Rapids, MI., 9/27/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

Gia Wine and Grill, Montreal, 9/22/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
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 →

Cry Wolf, Dallas, 8/29/22 (Now Closed)

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
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 →

Louie’s (update), Dallas, July- August 2023

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
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 →

Inn at Langley Restaurant, Langley, WA., 8/19/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building – 400 1st St, Langley, WA 98260

The restaurant at the Inn at Langley was one of the reasons we traveled to Whidbey Island, besides also wanting to escape the Texas heat.  Chef Matt Costello started the restaurant in 1989 and now also is co-owner of the Inn.  However his cooking duties have been passed to a fellow named Landon and the tasting menu we looked forward to has been dumbed down to a 5-course menu, one of which is your roll.  Chef was in house and called it a “transition time”.  They also serve an a la carte menu but it is mostly bar snacks now.  Thank goodness we found another place to eat one of the 2 nights we hoped to eat there.   That said, the breakfast included with your stay at the Inn was very nice and a good assortment of options.  The place itself is wonderful and I heartily endorse it as a place to stay but caution you against reserving dinner there until they finish the “transition.”  We left hungry and dis-satisfied even though we had a delicious bottle of champagne with the meal and they took off some for the over-cooked salmon. Continue reading →

Orchard Kitchen, Langley, WA., 8/17/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
seating area – 5574 Bayview Rd, Langley, WA 98260

The Orchard Kitchen was the most farm-to-table place I’ve eaten.  The summer dining tasting menu was served behind a barn, housing the kitchen, in between the planted fields that have served as farms since 1914.  Chef Vincent Nattress and his wife Tyla own Ebb Tide produce, the farm that surrounded us and produces much of what is served there.  They offer one seating at communal tables Thursday through Saturday with an ever-changing menu, depending on what is fresh and available.  In the winter they move indoors and also offer cooking classes.  Chef Vincent is from Whidbey Island and he and his wife returned there buying this 5-acre farm after operating another restaurant elsewhere and wanting to get back more to basics.   Chef starts off the evening with an explanation of what’s to come and acknowledges that the menu is just as new to him as the diners.  They offer wine pairings to go with the menu but also have wines by the bottle and glass but no liquor.   As the evening went on and people relaxed our table came alive with conversation and bonding over fun food.  It helps that they have great weather that can support outdoor dining but regardless it was a wonderful experience filled with fine food and new friends. Go if you can, it’s magical. Continue reading →

Fitzgerald’s, “The Fitz” (update), Eagle River, MI., 7/31/23

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
exterior – 5033 Front St, Eagle River, MI 49950

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 →

Cry Wolf (update), Dallas, 7/25/23

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
exterior – 4422 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX 75246

Note:  Restaurant now closed

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 →

Yolk (update), Manzanita, OR., 7/14/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 ago and 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 →

Neah Kah Nie Bistro (update), Manzanita, OR., 7/13/23

~ hsnixon ~ 5 Comments
exterior – 519 Laneda Ave, Manzanita, OR 97130

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 →

Offshore Grill and Coffee House, Manzanita, OR., 7/12/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 154 Laneda Ave, Manzanita, OR 97130

Offshore Grill and Coffee House is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday and tries to showcase local foods. The Coffee Shop is open all day on those days.  They moved from nearby Rockaway to Manzanita during the pandemic when they added the coffee house.  It’s a medium-sized place with art for sale on the walls.  Polished wood makes up the tables and wood is on the floor as well as the curved bar.  Lots of families were diners and there was faint music in the background.  A few parking spaces are out front but mostly it’s street parking or walk-in guests.  Lowered lighting was supplemented by bright sunlight from the windows.  Service was friendly but only would rate okay.  All though there is a bar area they serve just wine and beer, no hard alcohol.  No specials were offered that evening and the food was mixed. Continue reading →

Tadich Grill (update), San Francisco, 7/6/23

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
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 →

Cry Wolf (update), Dallas, 6/28/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

River Cafe, Calgary, 6/15/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
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 →

D.O.P., Calgary, 6/14/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
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 →

Di Anoia’s Eatery, Pittsburgh, 5/4/23

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior – 2549 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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 →

Lindey’s, Columbus, 4/27/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

Oakley’s Bistro, Indianapolis, 4/19/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 1464 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260

Oakley’s Bistro was started in 2002 and continues to be run by Chef Steven Oakley today.  His dream was to create “an affordable, everyday destination where every meal is a special occasion.”  He started cooking at 16 years of age and has gathered experience from many restaurants and other chefs.  Now he and his restaurant have been recognized with many awards and he also donates a portion of the bistro’s sales to an Indianapolis food rescue program as well as opening his kitchen for training and hiring of those who want to go into the restaurant industry.  The place is medium-sized with some outdoor tables also available and located in a strip shopping center.  They offer an a la carte menu but also have 2 tasting menu time slots on Wed- Sat nights.  We opted for that which must be reserved 24 hours in advance.  As you enter the dining room you’ll see the curved booth slightly above and next to the kitchen and that is where the tasting is served by the chef himself.    The 5 – 6 course tasting can accommodate up to 4 people but if you are a couple it will be just you.  At $85 per person it is a good value with wine pairings available.  We had a lovely evening there and would recommend the place if you are in the area. Continue reading →

Jack Fry’s, Louisville, 3/30/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 1007 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY, 40204

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 →

Cry Wolf (update), Dallas, 3/23/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
Chef Ross Demers

Note:  Restaurant now closed

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, Birmingham, 3/17/23

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
exterior – 2007 11th Ave. S, Birmingham, AL, 35205

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 →

Helen, Birmingham, 3/15/23

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
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 →

Scoundrel Gvl, Greenville, SC., 3/11/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 18 N Main St, Greenville, SC 29601

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 →

The Anchorage, Greenville, South Carolina, 3/10/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 586 Perry Ave, Greenville, SC 29611

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 →

Coral, Greenville, SC., 3/8/23

~ hsnixon ~ 7 Comments
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 →

Chez Nous (second visit), Charleston, 2/9/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
patio

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 →

Wild Common, Charleston, 2/8/23

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
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, Charleston, 2/8/23

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
building – 6 Payne Court, Charleston, SC., 29403

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, Charleston, 2/7/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 267 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

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 →

Vern’s, Charleston, 2/6/23

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 41 Bogard St., Charleston, SC., 29403

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 →

Cry Wolf (update), Dallas, 2/4/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 4422 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX., 75246

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 →

Lengua Madre, New Orleans, 1/4/23

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
exterior – 1245 Constance St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Lengua Madre offers a 5 course tasting menu of traditional Mexican cuisine as seen through the eyes of Chef Ana Castro’s grandmother’s kitchen.  This is now combined with her experiences from living in Denmark and now New Orleans. Open about one year, the menu changes seasonally at the small dark place.  Outside there is a pink glow in the windows and little signage.The neon glow coats the entrance hallway, but the dining room has more subdued orange hues.  Music is in the background, the small bare wood tables sit on large linoleum-like tiles and overhead is a dark ceiling.  They offer 5 oz. pours for wine pairings but also have some bottles.  In one corner of the room is the open kitchen which is well-viewed by the 6 stools by the counter framing it.  Service was friendly and efficient and the tasting was well paced with smallish portions.  We chose to drink a sparkler with the meal and a copy of the menu is presented with the bill. Continue reading →

Brass Ram, Dallas, 12/23/22

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
entrance – 2130 Commerce St., 2nd floor, Dallas, TX, 75201

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 →

Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria, Geyserville, CA., 11/27/22

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
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 outside
entrance
interior
to another room
second interior room
kitchen
bar area
Frankie found some art
menu
drinks
wine
wine

 

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 sandwich
turned
turned
inside
salad

 

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 Pizza
another angle
closer
closer Calabrian Chili oil
Frankie enjoyed the bathroom arrangement

 

Vivian, Asheville, NC., 11/18/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior – 348 Depot St., Ste 190, Asheville, NC., 28801

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 →

The Admiral, Asheville, NC., 11/17/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building – 400 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC

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 →

Cúrate Bar de Tapas, Asheville, NC., 11/16/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 11 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC., 28801

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 (update), Dallas, 11/12/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
View from Chef’s Counter – kitchen

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 Mystic, Mystic, CT., 11/7/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 24 W Main St, Mystic, CT 06355

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, Mystic, CT., 11/5/22

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
exterior – 13 Water Street, Mystic, CT., 06355

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 →

The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT., 11/4/22

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
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 →

Honey-Road, Burlington, 10/20/22

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
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/entrance
interior
interior
interior
Frankie enjoys a candle
menu
wine list
dessert menu
menu after dinner drinks
wine front
wine 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 Wings
turned
Frankie 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 mayo
from 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 peppers
turned

 

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 Galette
turned

 

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 Baklava
turned
Frankie rested on the bench

Hen of the Wood – Burlington, VT.,10/17/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
entrance – 55 Cherry St., Burlington, VT., 05401

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 →

Landmark Restaurant at Old Rittenhouse Inn, Bayfield, WI., 10/1/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 303 Rittenhouse Ave., Bayfield, WI., 54814

The Landmark Restaurant is in the Queen Anne Victorian home called the Rittenhouse Inn in Bayfield, Wisconsin.  Located on a hill, overlooking Lake Superior it provides a wonderful view of the water and quaint town.  The well-maintained brownstone also houses a bed and breakfast inn, there and in other buildings off-site.  Three rooms on the main floor make up the dining area, kitchen, and the beginning of the cherry staircase that leads to 12 guest rooms upstairs.  The 1890 house was purchased in 1973 by Mary and Jerry Phillips who began running the B & B.  It was expanded in 1985 to add more guestrooms upstairs.   Out back is a dedicated parking lot.  The menu is small and one special was featured the night we were there, but you do have the option of making it a 5 course tasting and choosing from the soup, salad, sorbet, entree, and dessert options, some of which have an upcharge.  Each small room has a different color scheme, with lots of windows to the outside, a fireplace, and various decorations.  The tables come in an assortment of shapes but most are large and are covered with white tablecloths.  They do not have a bar but your server can make cocktails.  The wine list is limited but there are some ‘special’ bottles in the cabinet out front you can additionally choose from.  Service was friendly and fairly efficient. Continue reading →

Cry Wolf, Dallas, 9/16/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
counter seating – 4422 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX, 75246

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 →

Lucian Books and Wine, Atlanta, 9/9/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior –3005 Peachtree Rd. NE Suite 300, Atlanta, GA., 30305

Lucian Books and Wine is a book shop that also serves lunch and dinner Tues. through Saturday.  Named for artist Lucian Freud it is a small gem of a place.  It has a large, thoughtful wine list along with amazing food from Chef Brian Hendrickson, with a backdrop of books to browse and/or buy.  The single room has an aisle that passes by the tall bookshelves and on the other side of a low wall are small tables and a bar.  The bar is set with chairs also.  The menu changes with the seasons and is fairly small at lunch.  Since we were there with another couple we were able to try a great many of their offerings and they were all wonderful, some crossing over to the spectacular level.  The service was outstanding and I strongly urge you to try this place if you get a chance. Continue reading →

The Ranch Supper Club, Hayward, WI., 8/27/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
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 →

Fitzgerald’s (update), Eagle River, MI, 7/22/22

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
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 →

Bettina, Santa Barbara, 6/27/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
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 →

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

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
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 & Inn, Newport, 5/27/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 505 Thames Street, Newport, RI, 02840

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 →

Au Courant Regional Kitchen, Omaha, 5/7/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 6064 Maple St, Omaha, NE 68104

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 →

J.C. Holdway (second visit), Knoxville, 4/14/22

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
entrance – 501 Union Ave SW, Knoxville, TN 37902

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 →

J.C. Holdway, Knoxville, 4/13/22

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
exterior – entrance – 501 Union Ave SW, Knoxville, TN 37902

J.C. Holdway is named after Chef Joseph Lenn’s late uncle, Joe Holdway, who sought quality food adventures throughout his life.  Now Chef Lenn hopes to provide that sort of dining experience to his customers, and that he does.  His professional career has certainly readied him to meet the challenge.  A Knoxville native, he so enjoyed cooking for friends and family that he decided to attend culinary school, after which he went to work as an intern at Blackberry Farm and then the Peninsula Grill followed by working with Sean Brock to open the Capitol Grill in Nashville. An urge to return to east Tennessee took him back to Blackberry Farm where he became executive chef of the Barn restaurant and received the James Beard Award for the Best Chef Southwest in 2013.  He opened his own place in 2016 in downtown Knoxville using primarily wood-fire techniques.  Lenn’s attempt to provide an outstanding experience to guests succeeds so well that we cancelled out next evening’s reservation in order to dine with him again.  Strong recommendation for this wonderful place and look for another chronicle of luscious dishes on this site in a couple days. Continue reading →

Cry Wolf (update), Dallas, 4/10/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
oysters – 4422 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX 75246

Cry Wolf is such a treasure, I can’t not post it when we go.  Chef Ross Demers has moved the bar high for other Dallas establishments and so has sommelier and General Manager Tim Case.  The menu is constantly changing but what is consistent is that there are no duds.  You won’t find me saying that about many places.  It doesn’t fill you with bread and there is only one small candy for dessert but somehow that all works magically.  When you find that rare place that is operating at such a level you really want your friends to experience it too.   So, here is the latest meal at this gem of east Dallas. Continue reading →

Cry Wolf (update), Dallas, 3/27/22

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
exterior – 4422 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX 75246

Note:  Restaurant now closed

Cry Wolf is a great place, and unfortunately too many people know that now.  We had to book a couple weeks ahead to find a reservation we were in town with.  Everytime I go I think I won’t post it cause it’s already on this site, but the food is so good I just can’t resist sharing the photos with you.  Another wonderful part of this place is the changing wine list, which introduces me to things I haven’t had that go with food well.  The ambiance is great and there’s a parking lot at the end of the shopping center.  Without further ado, I present photos of our latest fabulous meal (sweetbreads and escargot were amazing). Continue reading →

Pascal’s Manale Restaurant, New Orleans, 3/23/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building – 1838 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 

Pascal’s Manale Restaurant was started as just Manale’s in 1913 by Frank Manale.  Pascal Radosta, Frank’s nephew, was part of the original crew and took the place over in 1937 when Frank died.  Many years later he wanted to add his name to the restaurant but still wanted to honor his uncle and thus it became Pascal’s Manale.  Pas died in 1958 and his youngest brother Jake took over.  They are famous for their BBQ shrimp and raw oyster bar.  It is a large place with 2 main dining rooms and the good sized bar area that houses the oyster shucking bar.  The dining rooms have white cloth covered tables and windows to the street.  Some art is in the dining rooms but the bar is covered with lots of framed photos.  They offer a separate lunch menu, a parking lot and great service. Continue reading →

Brigtsen’s Restaurant (update), New Orleans, 3/22/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Brigtsen’s was last written up here in 2017, but not much has changed here.  The small old home is quite a ways from the Quarter and it’s many rooms are filled with dining tables and happy people.  Chef Frank Brigtsen is still running the kitchen and his wife Marna manages the floor.  Frank apprenticed at Commander’s Palace and then worked under Chef Paul Prudhomme, who helped the couple open this place in 1986. He has since won numerous awards for his cooking.  The super friendly and efficient staff were all wearing buttons saying “I’m vaxed to the max.”  The polished bare wood tables no longer have cloths but white cloth napkins are still on the table.  Music is in the background, art is on the walls and a bottle of cold water is set on each table. Continue reading →

Trillium Cafe and Inn, Mendocino, CA., 3/13/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 10390 Kasten St, Mendocino, CA 95460

Trillium Cafe serves lunch and dinner Friday thru Tuesday with indoor and outdoor seating.  It is on the bottom floor of the Inn of the same name in the heart of Mendocino.  On the second floor are several hotel rooms for guests.  Small tables are well spaced in the interior dining room and the patio winds around with a good supply of seating.  When you make reservations you can specify indoor or outdoor.  As it’s in an historic home, there are lots of windows to the street and a fireplace.  Art for sale is on the walls and there ‘s plenty of street parking.  It has obviously been restored with the old wood floors in good shape and the light fixtures replaced with those made by local artisans.  A bar was in a room to the right, when we entered but I only saw 2 vacant stools in front of it.  Service was friendly and efficient but not particularly knowledgable about the history of the place.  There were no daily specials just the changoing soup of the day flavor.  However when I compared the menu we had to what was on line there were some changes. Continue reading →

Husk, Savannah, 3/3/22

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
building

Husk in Savannah is in the Landmark Historic District with Executive Chef Chris Hathcock using locally sourced products to showcase Southern cooking.  The 1898  building is purported to be haunted and after being built as a home served as an Elks Lodge and a performing arts school until it was abandoned in 1985.   In 2008 it was severly damaged in a fire.  The Neighborhood Dining Group, parent company of the Husk brand (you’l find other Husks in Charleston, Nashville, Greenville, SC.) bought the 10,000 square foot building and its 3 stories of event space.  It has a capacity of over 200 including a bar area room for 84.  At the hostess stand is the list of area farms and ingredients they use and it’s the same at the other Husks. Executive Chef Sean Brock helped develop the concept and this one opened in Jan. 2018.  I thought the Charleston one was much better.  This one is too large. Continue reading →

The Olde Pink House, Savannah, 3/1/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – front

The Olde Pink House dates back to 1771 (Habersham House) where the soft native brick bled trhough the plastered walls to change the color from white to pink.  It housed the Habershams till the 1800s when it became the Planter’s Bank, with the old money vaults now serving as wine cellars.  It was added on to at that time and later occupied by the military during the Civil War.  After that it was used as a bookstore, colonial tea room and offices while suffering decay and neglect. In 1970 it underwent a one year structural restoration and the restaurant opened in 1971.  In 1992 it changed hands and had more refurbishing. A fire in 2018 damaged the upstairs ballroom and it closed for 4 months for repairs.  On the lower level is a tavern restaurant serving food in a more casual setting.  It was fun to see but the food was over-rated and mostly fried. Continue reading →

Cry Wolf (update), Dallas, 2/17/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

Frankie and I wrote-up visits to Cry Wolf in Nov. and Dec. of 2021 and then went back with my husband to enjoy their food again, without Frankie, in Feb 2022 (she was tired).  I am so glad we did!  The place has gotten much more crowded and now they have a reservation system which we were lucky to snag a table on.  Chef/Owner Ross Demers has changed the menu a lot each time we’ve visited, but a few items have been repeated.  The wine selection is small but extremely well selected and the sommelier, Tim can help find a wonderful wine to go with your dinner or the bartender was turning out lots of fancy cocktails.  The cozy place has lowered lighting, music in the background and lovely friendly service.  I can’t wait to go back and hope if you are in the area you will give it a try.   The plates vary in size but all have wonderful creative combinations full of flavor.  We were lucky to catch Chef Liam Byres before ordering and ask what he thought was special that night. Continue reading →

Café Marquesa, Key West, 1/27/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

Café Marquesa, serving contemporary American cuisine, seats just 50 people in the restaurant associated with the Marquesa Hotel.  The corner location had several tables outside with most of them inside along with bar stools that offered drinks and food for walk-ins.  The lights were lowered slightly but the numerous windows let in lots of street light.  No music was in the background and the small tables were covered with white cloths.  Chef Graham Dailey (from the Peninsula Grill) stood in the dining room in front of the trompe l’oeil painting that surrounded the kitchen window.  He looked over all the food before it was served but never came around to the tables.  Lots of mirrors and art were on the wall and bench seating was along a couple of the walls.  It had an elegant feel and efficient service.  I would recommend giving it a try. Continue reading →

Louie’s Backyard, Key West, 1/27/22

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
exterior

Louie Signorelli started Louie’s Backyard in 1971 in his ocean front Victorian home that seated just 12 people.  In 1983 Phil and Pat Tenney renovated the place and transformed it into what is there today.   The chef of 30 years prepares each dish to order using locally caught seafood and produce specifically grown for them from Island Farms.  That commitment to quality makes them quite popular but there are many tables in the house and a huge patio overlooking the water to accommodate guests. The back of the house is where the dining rooms are and the back is a wall of windowed doors that allow everyone to enjoy the view and fresh air.  Even so, the tables are set with white tablecloths and napkins.  Service was very friendly, helpful and efficient. One small room in the front serves as an interior bar.  The lunch menu is slightly smaller than the dinner menu but also less expensive.  There was one special and it’s a place I would happily go back to. Continue reading →

Latitudes, Key West, 1/26/22

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior

Latitudes is Sunset Key Cottage’s signature restaurant – a 7 minute boat ride from Key West.   The boat ride is available about every 30 minutes and once there you have a choice of “island cuisine” in the interior Ernest Hemingway Room or al fresco on the huge grounds, both overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and the lighted palm trees.  Your reservation time is the same as your ferry time and parking is available for guests at their sister property Opal Key West Resort (remember to bring your ticket for the restaurant to validate).  It is a large place but reservations are a must and need to be made several months ahead for dinner.  The place has an elegant feel and great service but people were dressed fairly casually.  The view in the daytime is said to be wonderful but I enjoyed the lighted trees. Continue reading →

Nancy’s Hustle, Houston, 12/24/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

Nancy’s Hustle opened in late 2017 on the east side of Houston and was named in Esquire’s list of “Best New Restaurants of 2018”.  It continues to garner awards and accolades.  The small innovative menu offers lots of small plates that are meant to be shared.  It’s a long space but most of the front part is taken up with a long bar that has seating.  The back end of the space is all small tables with a door that leads to the large patio outside. Lights are lowered and there is music in the background. Service was friendly and helpful with pacing good but reservations appeared to be a must, as it’s very popular.  We were lucky to be there with friends and got to sample a number of things.  Go if you can, it’s very good. Continue reading →

The Antler Room, Kansas City, 12/8/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building

The Antler Room was opened five years ago by Chef Nicholas Goellner and Leslie Newsam Goellner after many years of training and work in other establishments including Noma in Copenhagen.  It is a small 2 room place with one room serving as mostly a bar and pass-through window from the kitchen and the other filled with small tables for 2.  A long bench seat runs along the wall that ends in a huge window to the street.  Music is in the background, lights are lowered, the floor is tile, art is on the walls and exposed ductwork lines the high ceiling.  Parking is wherever you can get it along the street.  The name was a spur of the minute decision by the owners but now many donated antlers provide decoration, especially above the bar.  Service was friendly but know your entire order needs to be placed at the beginning of service.  The food was pretty good, interesting combinations and well flavored.  Continue reading →

EsterEv, Milwaukee, 12/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building

EsterEv is a small dining room inside the DanDan Restaurant that serves a tasting menu only.  Named for the great-grandmothers, Evelyn and Ester, of the owners Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, whose passion for cooking inspired a place for celebrating around a table with friends.  In 2015 the 2 Dan’s opened the Chinese food with midwestern sensibility, DanDan and not long thereafter their fine dining option EsterEv.  The menu changes regularly and wine pairings are available as are cocktails in the small room off the kitchen that looks to seat about 20 persons at individual tables.  Music from the surrounding restaurant bleeds in and the lights are lowered.  Many of the serving dishes are made by Dan Jacob’s wife, a ceramic artist.   The pacing is great and the portions are on the small side. Continue reading →

Story Hill BKC, Milwaukee, 12/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior

Story Hill BKC (Bottle, Kitchen, Cocktail/Cup) is a medium sized wine and spirit shop that also serves upper-midwest inspired cuisine in brunch, lunch and dinner formats.   Lunch is a smaller menu but gave us a good idea of what they are capable of producing – and it’s a good pronouncement for those who are around Milwaukee.  There is a small parking lot behind and lots of street parking around this corner spot.  Music is in the background and lots of windows let in much natural light.  On one side of the room is the retail shop with wine, spirits and beers for sale.  You can also purchase a wine to drink with your meal there for a small corkage fee.  The bare blond wood table was nice sized and set with a cloth napkin.  Two daily specials were listed on the menu.  Service was friendly and very helpful. Continue reading →

Bavette La Boucherie, Milwaukee, 12/1/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
building

Bavette started out as a butcher shop and evolved into a restaurant.  It still has the butcher shop concept and procures the whole animals raised on local farms and then uses the entire carcass to generate less waste.  Now the consumer can buy retail cuts and/or prepared foods from the counter or sit back and enjoy the food in a restaurant setting.  Most of their produce also comes from local farms mandating a seasonal type menu.  Also available are craft beers, wines and cocktails.   It’s a medium sized place with music in the background, a high wood ceiling with exposed duct work and plastic partitions between tables. Although currently in the trendy Third Ward section, the word is that they want to move to a larger location soon, so check their website before going <https://bavettelaboucherie.com&gt;.  Service was relaxed and very friendly and the food was excellent. Continue reading →

Môt Hai Ba, Dallas, 11/27/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

Môt Hai Ba is currently owned by Chef Peja Krstic who wants to merge Vietnamese and French cuisines, stressing quality and seasonal ingredients.  The name means 1-2-3 in Vietnamese and it is only open for dinner.  Located in the Lakewood area of Dallas the place opened about a decade ago under different owners and had communal type of seating.  Krstic changed that to individual tables in the very small facility.  It does have a nice sized patio out front.  In the corner inside is the bar with 4 seats, lights are lowered, there are lots of plants and candles and music is in the background.  The really small tables are set with chopsticks only but the servers bring traditional flatware with plates.  Service was overly cheerful and bit amateurish and the food was disappointing. Continue reading →

Le Diplomate, Washington DC, 11/21/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
building

Le Diplomate is built in the image of a Parisian brasserie serving classic dishes in a well restored corner building.  It is a large place (300 seats) with a huge ‘enclosed’ garden room seating area on the sidewalk and unsheltered tables on the other sidewalk.  Inside you’ll find a combination of tables and bench seating and free standing small tables.  There is not much distance between them.  The red upholstery is dotted with brass as are the railings on the few stairs between levels, the columns are lit from within and the ceiling is high.  Windows are on 2 sides of the room and there may have been music in the background but it was hard to tell over the hum of the crowd.  Paper covers the wood table tops but it is set with a cloth napkin.  It’s been here 9 years and really popular so reservations are in order.  Service was reasonable but not overly friendly. Continue reading →

Little Fox, St. Louis, 11/17/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

Little Fox is a medium sized place with brick walls, lower lights, wood decorations and music in the background where you are given 2 hours to complete your reservation.  This might be due to the increased popularity since the restaurant was listed in the The New York Times article on the Restaurants for 2021 to be excited about.  Lucky as they opened in Dec. 2019 just before the pandemic closed many places and they had to adapt business to new restrictions.  Now the kitchen is on one end of the room and plexiglas dividers are between each table even though the use a shared bench for one side’s seating.  Along the opposite wall are more small lightwood tables that also accommodate 2 people.  There is a full bar in the other room and tables are set with cloth napkins.  It is a small menu of mostly small plates that sound more interesting than they are. Continue reading →

The Riverside Inn, Leland, 10/1/21

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
exterior

The Riverside Inn is on the Leland River, about 40 minutes from Traverse City.  It is a 114 year-old historic inn and restaurant in the heart of Leelanau County.  It sits on the waterfront offering lovely views for the diners and has a dock for those that wish to arrive by boat. It was built in 1901 but mostly burned in 1924 and began business as both restaurant and inn again in 1925.  The Vilter family bought it in 1997 and did major renovations in 2017 but have recently sold the property.  Downstairs is the bar, as well as the restaurant and upstairs are the 4 guestrooms.  They have a large wine list and focus on locally sourced ingredients.  The large tables are set with white tablecloths and black napkins and music is in the background.  Some bench seating is along the wall matched with black upholstered chairs and the tables are set with wooden black chairs.  Lots of wood is on the ceiling and walls, some of which have mirrored inserts, with painted brick making up some of the walls.  Lighting was lowered except for the sun pouring in the windows. Continue reading →

The Cooks’ House, Traverse City, 9/29/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

The Cooks’ House was opened 13 years ago by Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee who  worked together in Las Vegas and wanted to open a small restaurant focused on locally grown and foraged foods.  There are about 8 marble topped tables inside on a wooden floor in a room decorated with art and cookbooks.  A small bar is in the corner but it is only for making drinks not sitting at.  They offer tasting menus of 3, 5 or 7 courses with the smaller ones having some choices and wine pairings available for each.   Menus are only online and change with ingredient availability.  Music is in the background, the place is well lit, benchs are along the walls for seating and street parking supplements the small attached lot.  It is casual with flatware in a box on the table as well as a bottle of chilled water and very friendly service.  We chose the 7 course tasting and got the wine pairings. Continue reading →

Sister Restaurant, Dallas, 10/11 & 16/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

Sister Restaurant was opened by Duro Hospitality (behind The Charles) in the spot where the Grape Restaurant had been for 40 years.  It serves an Italian/Mediterranean loosely inspired selection of dishes.  They make their pasta which is served 7 nights a week.  Barely open a month, it is already packed with hungry excited guests.  The large porch dining area is still there but inside it has been completely transformed.  Two large faux trees are in the center which is surrounded by cozy booth seating and tables.  A sleek bar is at one end and opposite are shelves containing an assortment of objects.  The previous 2 rooms are now one and it is much brighter with music in the background (louder on the porch than inside).  Some of the tables have clothes and others a polished finish.  It is a pleasant space, service is excellent and the food is good too.  Plates are meant to be shared which always makes for a more interesting meal. Continue reading →

The Black Sheep, Buffalo, 9/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

The Black Sheep is a long space with a bar in the space out front and patio outback.  The lighting is lowered, music is loud, art for sale is on the walls, wooden benches line the wall to match up with small wood tables, walls are brick and votives are on the table.  It is a farm-to-table concept with a small menu of interesting items that is supplemented by a daily list of specials.  The bar serves up modern and classic cocktails as well as beer and wine.  The owners are James Beard nominated chefs Steven and Ellen Gedra, with Ellen being the baker and pastry chef.  The chefs prefer a farm-to-table approach and have learned the value of selecting the proper ingredients and then handing them with care.  It’s a small but inventive menu of small and large plates supplemented by interesting specials.  It was a tasty meal filled with flavors with a little twist to the ordinary. Continue reading →

Chef’s Restaurant of Buffalo NY, Buffalo, 9/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
building

Chef’s Restaurant opened in Buffalo in 1923.  One of the neighborhood busboys worked his way up to restaurant manager and became the owner in 1954.  They started with a limited menu of Italian options which has expanded over the years, most notably to include ‘Chef’s Spaghetti Parm’.  A second dining room was added in 1966 with another addition 3 years later making their current capacity 325 persons and a banquet room for 125.  The owner’s daughter and her son now run the business.  The several bright rooms are filled with photos of notables who have eaten there and red-checkered cloth covered tables.  Music is in the background there are some windows to the street outside.  There is even a dedicated parking lot across from the building.  In addition to the regular menu there is a menu of specials for the lunch hour.  An announcer calls out numbers over the sound system, probably to alert the servers to pick up trays to serve.  Service was amazingly efficient and super friendly. Continue reading →

Hutch’s Restaurant, Buffalo, 9/2/21

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment
exterior

Hutch’s Restaurant has been serving fine cuisine to folks in Buffalo for over 25 years. They call it “an American take on the French Bistro”.  Named for chef/owner Mark Hutchinson it closed a year ago for a renovation that was to be in stages but instead was done all at once while the restaurant was closed 144 days for Covid.  They were able to double the capacity of the old Floristry building to accommodate 100 socially distanced diners (probably 175 post-Covid) and expand outdoor seating to 20 people.  Today the large restaurant has several rooms with brick walls, carpeting, low lighting, loud music, art on the walls, votive candles on the tables and a large window looking into the kitchen where you could easily spot Hutchinson.  Sound panels on the ceiling helped with the noise level cause it was filled to capacity and buzzing with people celebrating an occasion or closing a business deal.  In addition to the menu they had a large list of daily specials.  Service was slow but in their defense many restaurant workers have not returned to work, but this would be a good job to land in that line of work. Continue reading →

The Dapper Goose, Buffalo, 9/1/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
Exterior

The Dapper Goose opened in 2016 in Buffalo, NY.   It is on the first floor of a long building with wood floors, large bar, tin ceiling, lowered lighting, music in the background, smallish tables and windows to the street.  Out in back they also have a sizable patio that does not take reservations like the bar seating, but inside is by reservation.   The menu is small, composed of small and large plates of fun combinations of ingredients.  Our server helped us decide what choices gave us the best range of flavors without ordering too much.  There were no off the menu items but halibut was replacing the cod tonight.   It was a really fun and tasty meal, but they need to work on the salt content. Continue reading →

Acadia House Provisions, Stonington, ME., 8/29/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
front door

Acadia House Provisions is on one floor of a house overlooking the bay in Stonington, Maine.  Ryan McCaskey from Chicago opened it in 2019 as a spin off of a Michelin starred restaurant there.  It opened in the site formerly occupied by Aragosta, which moved to Goose Cove.  Outside there is a large deck overlooking the active fishing area.  Lots of windows inside also take advantage of the view.   Inside there is much painted light wood on the walls, floors and ceiling.  Art is on the walls and music is in the background to make up a very pleasant room.  They have an a la carte menu and a full bar.  Food and service are both quite good. Continue reading →

Aragosta, Deer Isle, ME., 8/29/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior

Aragosta is Devin Finigan’s fine dining restaurant on Goose Cove in Deer Isle, Maine. They opened in 2012 in Stonington but bought a 22 acre waterfront resort in January 2019 to be able to offer lodging as well as dining. A team of craftsmen transformed the property and now the dining room is a large open space with painted wood walls and ceiling. They also have outdoor seating overlooking the water but it gets pretty cool in the evening for that. Lighting is lowered and music is in the background. The place is noisy with so many hard surfaces but it was made worse as we were given a large table right next to the swinging doors to the kitchen. Up one step were more tables and a lounge area near the bar, in front of the fire place. Plenty of parking is close by but the walk to the restaurant is poorly lit. They offer only a tasting menu and also offer wine pairings if you don’t want to order your own bottle. Pacing was eratic, service was an issue for us and the food was mixed so I can’t give a solid recommendation for the place.  Continue reading →

Pentagoet Inn & Wine Bar, Castine, ME., 8/26/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior of Inn

The Baron Pub and Wine Bar is in the Pentagoet Inn in Castine, Maine.   The place dates back to the 1800’s and is an old house with lots of rooms set up with tables.  On the wraparound porch are more tables.  Lots of art is on the walls as well as memorabilia, rugs are on the old wood floors, music is playing softly in the background, lighting is lowered and lots of windows let in light and/or view.   Fans were running because it was warm outside and there is no air conditioning.  It’s full of character and the food is good, although portions are on the small side.  The really friendly staff are helpful and friendly. Continue reading →

Altura Bistro, Anchorage, 7/31/21

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments

exterior

Altura Bistro opened in 2019 and serves New American cuisine in a less casual atmosphere.  Located in a strip shopping center outside of the downtown area they were still very much practicing Covid separation of guests.  Along one side of the room was bench seating for 2-top tables and opposite were booths.  A couple tables were in the middle of the room.  The tables were bare wood and set with black cloth napkins.  Windows to the outside were partially shaded but the sun streamed in for a good part of the evening, defeating the low light chandeliers.   The other room had the bar and a few stools facing the bar and a couple small tables along the wall.  It was not clear if these tables were for walk-ins.  Music was in the background.  Service was so-so, with timing issues, not clearing or wiping between courses and less than good advice on ordering. Continue reading →

Ray’s Waterfront, Seward, AK., 7/29/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

Ray’s Waterfront is a seafood restaurant that offers views of the Seward small boat harbor and mountains beyond.  It is a large place on a couple levels, to afford everyone a view.  The walls are decorated with lots of mounted fish in between the numerous windows that overlook the water. Seward is the sight for many day cruises to go see wildlife, icebergs, etc.  They take no reservations and are fairly popular so you can expect a line to get a seat, especially now that they are short staffed due to Covid.  Music is in the background and it seemed to be a place for gatherings.  In addition to seafood they also offer chicken and beef items and there were a couple of daily specials.  The food here is good but fairly ordinary however it is made up for with the fun view of the active harbor. Continue reading →

Catelli’s Restaurant, Geyserville, CA., 7/22/21

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment

exterior

Catelli’s has been around since the 1930s in Geyserville, CA.  Opened by Italian immigrants, it is now run by third-generation siblings in the Catelli family.  They feature local ingredients, hand-craft their ravioli and have many local wines.  They currently offer patio and indoor seating as well as takeout on Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Located in a two-story brick building on the main drag of Geyserville, it is a large place.  The entry room contains a long bar and the other 2 rooms have bench seating around the walls with bare wood tables  and some center tables and chairs.  Tables are set with a cloth napkin that contains the flatware.  Music is in the background, acoustic tiles are in the ceiling and windows are uncovered to the street.  Some decorations and art are placed about as well as historic photos.  Service was friendly and efficient, but be aware of numerous upcharges on innocently offered personalizations. Continue reading →

Carte Blanche, Dallas, 6/29/21

~ hsnixon ~ 7 Comments

exterior

Note:  Restaurant now closed

Carte Blanche opened in mid-June in the space previously occupied by Mudsmith Coffee on lower Greenville Ave.  In the evening it offers a fine dining tasting menu and in the day it sells baked goods and coffee.  The 4 or 12 course tasting menus are offered Tues – Sat.  Husband and wife, Casey and Amy La Rue are the co-owners and chef and pastry chef, respectively.  The tasting menu features native Texas ingredients and wine pairings are available.  One interesting fact is that he doesn’t serve beef, focusing instead on smaller animals but the menu does stress seasonal items and will change regularly.  Inside the large area are well spaced fairly large bare wood tables divided into 2 sides by a huge bar, which holds the pastries in the morning.  Exposed ductwork runs across the high ceiling, art decorates the walls and music is in the background.  The tables are set with a nice cloth napkin and a wrap of flatware that you chose from during the meal.  We had the 12 course tasting and wine pairings however should I go back I would order my own wine.  Portion control was good as was pacing, however the meal was over 2 and a half hours. Continue reading →

The Schooner Restaurant & Lounge, Netarts, OR., 6/25/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

The Schooner Restaurant and Lounge is located at the boat launch for Netarts Bay on the Tillamook Coast.  The source of most of their oysters is from the bay next door and the rest of their seafood is mostly locally sourced.  During lunch we watched a number of small boats launch into the bay and clam diggers hunt for clams.  They are quite popular and there was a line when we arrived at the opening hour.  Most wanted to sit on the large outdoor deck but we chose inside where you could watch the kitchen and wood fired oven.  Indoor the bar is separate from the dining area that has a combination of copper topped tables and booths.  Service was hurried and poor – for example we were told when the server arrived that the daily special was all gone (15 minutes after they opened) then later were told it was still available but she could not change the order we placed. Continue reading →

Side Door Cafe, Gleneden Beach, OR., 6/24/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

Side Door Café is in an old brick and tile factory building.  It’s the restaurant part of the 7,000 sq. ft. warehouse also home to Eden Hall that all opened in 2000.  Family owned and run it serves New American dishes in an eclectic space decorated with many re-claimed items from other Oregon buildings.  They have some daily specials to add to the already large menu.  Their hours are shorter now and tables well spaced due to Covid, so changes may be coming in those areas. Lots of windows in the building add to the lighting during daytime and instrumental music is in the background.  The high ceiling is filled with fans and decorations are everywhere.  There were 2 large rooms, the first one having some booth seating and the second strung with little lights. Continue reading →

Stages at One Washington, Dover, N.H., 6/11/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

building

Stages at One Washington is in the small town of Dover, NH on the third floor of an historic mill building.  Chef Evan Hennessey offers just 6 seats for his fixed price tasting menu Thursday thru Saturday evenings.  There are 2 seatings each night but he recently added “the Living Room” which is not only a place to wait for your seating but also where you can get some of his fabulous food and drinks in a no-reservations setting resembling a living room.  It is in the room adjacent to the kitchen where for nine years the lucky few are seated at a counter and can casually converse with the chef while he prepares your food and/or pours your wine.  Pairings are available as are a number of cocktails and bottles of wine.  The meal is 8-10 courses and no menu is provided as he often changes as he goes along with a menu that features local farms and foraged ingredients. (I wrote as fast as I could but apologies if I didn’t get all the ingredients or preparations written down.)  It is full of interesting combinations and lots of flavors in the foods.  Definitely off the beaten path, but if you have a chance to eat with this native chef of Dover, I suggest you jump on it. Continue reading →

Vetri Cucina (update), Philadelphia, 5/22/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

mural on the outside of the building

Vetri Cucina opened in 1998 through the collaboration of Chef Marc Vetri and business partner Jeff Benjamin.  In 2005 Chef Vetri was named Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic by the James Beard Awards.  Frankie last visited here in 2014 and although the menu has changed the format is still the same and the giant mural of Chef and others is still on the side of the building. The 3 story building has the Vetri dining room on the first floor with private parties, classes and events taking up the higher 2 floors.  The lights are lowered, music is in the background, old wood floors are opposite Italian chandeliers with the glasses on the table also being Italian. They offer all diners a 4 course fixed price menu where you choose from several options.  You can add an add several supplements for a fee.  Wine pairings are available but the sommelier was able to help us pick a great bottle to go with our meal.   Service is fabulous with great pacing and portion control.  I highly recommend this place. Continue reading →

Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia, 5/21/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

Vernick Food & Wine (2031 Walnut St., Philadelphia) opened in 2012 by Chef Greg Vernick, who won the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic by the James Beard Foundation in 2017.   He serves “an honest, no-fuss menu featuring his version of new American cooking.”  The menu is divided into small and large plates with some sides to supplement.  This is a place where a tasting menu would be fun – to have more dishes in smaller quantities.  There are a couple outdoor tables but otherwise dining is in a relatively small room upstairs across from the 2 windows to the kitchen.  They offer dinner only with a few seasonal specials and you have a 2 hour window for your reservation. The full bar downstairs offers lots of cocktails to those at the small light wood tables in lowered lighting.  Music is in the background.  Service was helpful and friendly but pacing of service felt hurried with the small table getting crowded. Continue reading →

DanDan, Philadelphia, 5/21/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior

DanDan (126 S. 16th St., Philadelphia) serves Sichuan and Taiwanese dishes along with having a full bar.  It is a smaller place in Rittenhouse Square that also offers some outdoor seating.  Inside the downstairs has counter seating around the bar and in the window.  Upstairs are multiple tables in different combinations of sizes.  The spheres that are the light fixtures hang from the ceiling and give it a fun view from upstairs.  They appeared to do a lively takeout business but were not busy at any of the tables, but we were early. Music is in the background and some paintings are on the walls.  It is a large menu but several favorites had been suggested by local magazines and we got most of them.  This place got rave reviews but we seemed to hit it on an off day. Continue reading →

Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia, 5/20/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building

Friday Saturday Sunday is a small restaurant that is actually open Thurs. through Sat. evenings.  Chef Chad Williams offers only an 8 course tasting menu and 5:00 and 8:00 seating times.  He and his wife Hanna took over the Rittenhouse Square restaurant in 2017.  Covid has restricted dining to the second level (no elevator) of well spaced tables and the bar on the first floor only makes drinks.  The couple tables outside are for cocktails.  Benches line the walls of the second floor and face the tables set with armless chairs. Fairly loud music is in the background and there are dampening panels on the ceiling.  One wall holds a number of large paintings of lush scenery with a large metal palm tree in the middle while the opposite wall has windows and mirrors.  No wine pairings were offered so we ordered our own bottles of wine.  The meal had good portion control and pacing. Continue reading →

Parc, Philadelphia, 5/20/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

entrance

Parc is an all day restaurant designed to represent a French sidewalk café.  It is a large, extremely popular place with inside dining in many rooms and more than 75 outdoor covered and uncovered spaces to dine.  Restaurateur Stephan Starr brought this place to a corner lot in Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.  Inside dark wood tables are well spaced and set with red napkins to match the red booth seating along the walls.  Old wood floors are juxtaposed with elegant tile ones, especially around the large bar that was currently not in use.  On the table are a special set of directions about Covid and their policies – notably that you have just 90 minutes for your table, that you are not to move any of it and must wear a mask when not seated. We also found that they would not seat you until your exact reservation time.  It felt stiff but the lovely server soon relaxed the vibe.  The menu has a good range of things but there are even more drink options.  We got a bottle of sparkler to go with our meal. Continue reading →

Laurel, Philadelphia, 5/19/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior

Laurel is an American restaurant with French influences. They have 2 rooms, one of which housed a large bar and the other the well-spaced tables and opening to the kitchen. There was also patio dining available. The bare wood tables are set with armless chairs in a room with lowered lighting and wood floors. Assorted rock music is in the background but sound panels on the ceiling help keep the noise level down. They offer only a surprise tasting menu and had one addition offered that evening- a 3oz Japanese A5 Wagyu beef for $75 designed to be split. The wine list was limited but they do offer pairings and limited bar service. We added the supplement and opted for the pairings (which turned out to be pretty small pours). Portion control and pacing of the menu were great. Chef de Cuisine that evening was Alex Beninato and the menu changes seasonally. Continue reading →

Henrietta Red, Nashville, 4/14/21

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

sign at door

Henrietta Red is the dream of Nashville born Julia Sullivan with a focus on fresh, simple ingredients and a variety of raw oysters and seafood.  The name is in honor of her grandparent’s low-country hospitality.  It is a fairly large place with widely spaced tables over 2 rooms and an overall modern feel.  The entry room contains the large bar as well as a few tables in a less lit space.  The second room has more lights, lots of windows, sound panels in the ceiling, the opening into the kitchen, a large center table for service and the oyster shucking area.  There is a wood fired oven in the kitchen and a patio for seating.  The menu has a number of smaller plates, larger main course plates – but all seemed fine to split.  Our friendly server was helpful in making selections and willing to bring out in a spaced format to create our own tasting of sorts.  Overall the food was delicious and full of wonderful flavors with good attention to textures and fun compositions. Continue reading →

The Blue Door Kitchen & Inn, Flint Hill, VA., 4/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

The Blue Door Kitchen & Inn has been the collaboration of Chef Andrea Pace in the kitchen and his partner Reem Arbid directing the front of the house for almost 3 years.  Located in a 100 year old schoolhouse, now the dining rooms take 2 downstairs rooms and 4 suites accommodate guests upstairs.  Their refurbished large patio out back would make a lovely place to eat or read.  The place gets its name from the highly polished blue front door and an additional blue one decorates one of the dining rooms.  Lots of parking is available out front and clear plastic partitions divide the various tables.  Polished wood tables, lots of mirrors, large cloth napkins and decorations of building materials make up the dining areas which are separated by the bar/reception area.  Service was well masked, helpful, well paced and super friendly.  The food is in generous portions that you won’t want to leave any of on the plate. Continue reading →

Claire’s at the Depot, Warrenton, VA., 4/3/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

Claire Lamborne started her restaurant in 2004 by replacing a Mediterranean restaurant with Claire’s at the Depot serving delicious food with a southern twist. The building used to be the town’s railway depot built in the 1850s and features a patio as well as indoor dining.  In the patio area are beds where many of the fresh herbs they use are grown.  Inside you’ll find brick walls, wood floors, paper on top of the  cloth covered well spaced tables, music in the background and a large bar area.  Lots of windows kept it well lit for the lunch service.   They serve lunch, dinner and brunch and offered a couple of lunch specials.  They have a small wine list with some by the glass and many cocktails.  Servers were friendly and well masked. Continue reading →

Addison Restaurant, San Diego, 3/24/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

Addison, San Diego’s only Michelin starred (one) restaurant, has been on the property of the Fairmont Grand Del Mar for 15 years.  Chef William Bradley is in charge of the kitchen where they offer 5 and 10 course tastings featuring California gastronomy.  Wine pairings are available but there is a huge wine list also.  Due to Covid the recently renovated indoor area is closed but there is seating on the large heated outdoor terrace.  It you stay at the Fairmont it is a bit of a hike to get up the hill so the hotel graciously provides car service up for you and the staff call for a pick up when you are finished.  It’s little touches like this that make it a lovely experience.  The staff anticipate your needs – like bringing a glass of ice for my water or a stool for my purse -and yet it never feels stuffy, and there is the beautiful back drop of the hotel’s golf course with bubbling streams.  We chose the 10 course menu and got bottles of red and white to pair with courses as we chose.  In addition, it is a surprise menu but they were kind enough to email a copy of what we had that actually did have the courses detailed.  There was only one supplement offered that night and that was to substitute A5 Wagyu for Barbecued Squab.  I chose the supplement and my husband had the pigeon. Continue reading →

Clancy’s Restaurant (update), New Orleans, 3/19/21

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment

exterior

Frankie has been to Clancy’s many times but always finds a good meal there with excellent service.  It is important to ask to sit in the main dining room as the vibe is much better.  Tables have more space between them, due to Covid, and all the staff wear masks, as do guests when they are away from their table.  They have a bar in addition to the wine list and we enjoyed a Negroni as we decided what to have.  The servers are usually opinionated if you can’t decide and guide you in ordering, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Continue reading →

Mosquito Supper Club, New Orleans, 3/18/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

Mosquito Supper Club is a cajun restaurant that wanted to celebrate all the bounty of local fishermen and farmers.  Starting as a family style place at large farmhouse tables, Covid has had them shift to single party, well-spaced tables with a fixed price 5 course menu for all diners. They are open Thursday to Sunday with 2 seatings and offer wine pairings to go with the meal.  After our cocktail we chose to try their wine pairings with the meal.  They were nice and appropriate pairings but no refills were offered.  Located in an older house, there are many rooms where dining service takes place with wood floors, plaster walls and high ceilings.  A bar is in the first room where there are stools if your table isn’t ready.  Rock music plays in the background and lighting is lowered.  Diners are pre-paid with reservations but cocktails and wine can be paid for at the restaurant.  If you pre-buy the wine pairings you will also pay the 25% gratuity added to your meal charge whereas at the restaurant you can determine your own.  Staff was friendly but not overly. Continue reading →

Herbsaint Restaurant (update), New Orleans, 3/17/21

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior

We last visited Herbsaint in the end of 2018 and it is just as good as before.  They still have white paper on top of the white tablecloths but now the well-spaced tables are also placed in the bar area.  Two walls of the front rooms are glassed looking out on the street with lowered lighting inside.  No music is in the background but there is a hum of conversation.  Service was masked, attentive and friendly. Continue reading →

Lucia at Macellaio (re-visit), Dallas, 11/21/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

We visited and wrote this one up just a couple weeks ago but were fortunate to get back and try again.  In Dallas we finally have the perfect weather to eat outside and the Lucia folks do such a nice job of distancing and masking that it feels almost like a bit of normal in what has been a crazy restaurant blogging year.   Tasting menus are not for all but I sincerely urge all to give this one a chance, especially because during pre-Covid times you could hardly get a reservation to Lucia.  This is the opportunity to eat the fabulous Lucia food only on the patio of their sister restaurant Macellaio.  The menu really changes weekly as you’ll see below but the portions are generous and tasty.  I even enjoyed the wine pairings.  Frankie slept through the meal but urges her followers to check this one out.

menu

Continue reading →

Trio An American Bistro, Jackson, WY., 9/10/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

entrance

Trio opened in 2005 by the two chefs that also operate Local.  They serve a seasonal menu with nightly specials in a relaxed atmosphere.  They have a number of specialty cocktails and cook primarily in a wood-fired oven.  It is a good sized place with the blond wood bare tables well spaced by taking the 2-top tables, setting them with candles and using them as spacers.  Therefore everyone gets a nice size table which are set with lovely large linen napkins.  One end of the very modern room is an open kitchen, with plexiglas in front of it.  There are seats at the bar in front and some tables outside.  Bench seats run along the walls with very comfy seating.  No-arm blond wood chairs are on the other side.  Art is on the wall and it’s for sale.  Music is in the background.  Eating outside is preferable regarding the virus but the inside here is very lovely and very well done, so I would chose sitting inside.  Service was really friendly, opinionated and timing was very nice. Continue reading →

Local, Jackson, WY., 9/10/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

entrance

Local is a steakhouse and bar in the historic town square of Jackson.  It has many rooms, some of which are for dinner and some for lunch and others for both.  We sat in the room with the bar counter and it had plexiglass between the seats and bar as did the booths have plexiglas between them.  The black wood tables were set off by the brown wood floor and light wood walls with mirror insets.  The booths had a padded seat whereas the bar was set with dark wood chairs with backs that were unpadded.  Music was in the background and a TV was playing in the bar area but it was muted.  We made a reservation for lunch which the website recommended but when we showed up the person at the entrance seated the 2 walk-up parties ahead of us in line to get in.  Their lunch menu was mostly sandwiches, particularly burgers and they had one special of the day (a hot ham and cheese sandwich) as well as a soup that changes daily.  Service was helpful, opinionated and efficient. Continue reading →

Glorietta, Jackson, WY., 9/9/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

old entrance (now go through the side door)

Glorietta is an Italian Trattoria with a focus on housemade pasta and wood-fired cooking.  Located in the Anvil Hotel they offer both indoor and patio seating.  Inside the medium room the tables have a lot of space between them, which is good for slowing the spread of virus but leaves the room feeling empty.  The focal point of the room is the large bar with the kitchen and wood burning fire behind it and another seating bar in front of it.  They finally seated someone at the front bar but without much overhang it looked pretty uncomfortable.  The floor is tiled, the ceiling is painted wood and bench seating is on many walls to match up with chairs on the other side of the good sized tables.  The bare wood tables are set with a large cloth napkin and lighting is lowered, but there are a number of windows in the room so that is only an issue after the sun sets.  Service was friendly but rushed.  We wanted to try a number of things and I specifically asked that it not be served on top of the last one but it was.  In fact the main plates came out before all the appetizer plates were cleared.  I realized with limited seating they want to turn the tables quickly but in these times we must find a way to make the experience pleasurable for the diner and profitable for the restaurant. Continue reading →

Cristinas, Ketchum, Idaho, 9/5/20

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior

Cristina’s was opened in 1993 by Cristina Cook, 5 years after she moved here from Italy.  She has written 2 cookbooks.  The place is open for breakfast, lunch and brunch and is using their large outdoor seating area rather than the interior.  You enter into the small salmon colored house to find a counter filled with sweet and savory foods which are available for purchase.  There were a couple room inside but outside they have a large tent complete with chandeliers over the wood deck and individual tables with umbrellas on the lawns around the house.  The white cloth covered tables were well spaced and set with white cloth napkins.  Lots of plants and flowers surround the diners.  No music is in the background.  The small menu has the daily specials written in.  Chef Cook was in the kitchen but she never came out to greet guests.  Seating was only by reservation or waiting a couple hours.  Servers wore masks, were friendly and all seemed to work together to take care of the tables. Continue reading →

Noyo Harbor Inn Restaurant and Tavern, Fort Bragg, CA., 8/13/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_7710
building

Noyo Harbor Restaurant is part of the historic Noyo Harbor Inn in Fort Bragg, CA.  They have a good sized multi level patio for outside dining that overlooks the active marina and flowing river.  Many of the metal tables, but not all, had umbrellas to provide shade, were set on the patio’s tile floor, had some heaters and no music was in the  background.  Servers wore masks and each table had a small bottle of hand sanitizer.   The bathroom was inside by the inn’s check-in desk.   The lovely view and multiple levels made it a very pleasant place to sit enjoy your meal.   The restaurant had wild caught and daily catch from the harbor as well as vegetables and herbs from the Chef’s garden.  We were there midday and they had a brunch menu as well as daily specials.  It offered the aforementioned seafood as well as a number of breakfast items.  They had cocktails, beer and wine by the glass or bottle.  Service was friendly but less refined (one of the servers splashed coffee on my blouse while pouring).  I saw some of the breakfast food come out and the plates looked generous. Continue reading →

Wild Fish, Little River, CA., 8/12/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_7657
exterior

Wild Fish was opened on November of 2011 by a British couple, Liz and Kelvin Jacobs, who had relocated to California.  She was a food writer and he a chef and they wanted to create a restaurant that served local, seasonal  and sustainable seafood and organic produce.  They have an additional place in Pacific Grove, CA.  They have been offering take out options but in Little River they also had a small patio behind the restaurant  that overlooked the ocean and greenery leading up to the shore.  There were only 6 small bare wood tables and one actually was on the parking lot.  The restaurant was behind a gas station/convenience store/post office and there were no umbrellas for shade but heaters were there for later in the evening.  There was music in the background, a small bottle of hand sanitizer on each table and  lots of plants on the patio.  Servers were friendly and wore masks.  They had a small but well chosen wine list and many wines were offered by the glass (a good pour) as well as by the bottle.  Each food item had a suggested wine to go with it and we chose to try their suggestions, creating our own tasting. Continue reading →

Nepenthe, Big Sur, 7/31/20

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments

IMG_7194
facility

Nepenthe is 808 feet above sea level in Big Sur on the site of The Log House that was built in 1925.  Nepenthe, named for a plant ancient writers described as inducing a pleasurable sensation, was designed by Rowan Maiden, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright using native materials of red wood and adobe so the building became one with the landscape.  It is a facility on several levels with the main dining area on the top, the gift shop on the first and a more casual dining spot on the second level.  You can drive up much of the hill but then there are several sets of stairs to climb to the top.  Each level has magnificent vistas to take in of the water and tree covered hills.  The main dining room for Nepenthe was a large room with a long counter that now serves as a staging area for the plates to be served on the outside seating on the balconies around it and the large patio in front of it.  There was music inside the room but none outside.  You need to walk through the room to get to the bathroom.   It is really busy so we got there before they opened and checked in to get a beeper that went off when they were ready to seat us. Continue reading →

Aubergine (update), Carmel, 7/30/20

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment

IMG_7626
L’Auberge Hotel

We visited Aubergine one year ago but currently California does not permit indoor dining.  Luckily Carmel has great weather for this change and the L’Auberge Hotel has a beautiful courtyard to move the restaurant guests to.   The polished wood tables are well spaced from each other and set with placemats and large linen napkins.  The patio has a brick floor, lots of plants and is punctuated with various lighting sources and heat lamps.  It is a lovely place to sit in the lighted hours as well as after the sun sets.  Various benches and chairs on the perimeter are used by people who ordered a separate drink from the bar.  All staff wore masks and were extraordinarily welcoming (as are all the staff at the hotel), especially Chef Justin Cogley who served some of the courses and visited with guests.  They now offer just one tasting menu to all and wine pairings are available.  You can view the wine list on your smart phone with the link provided.  Portion control was good and pacing was leisurely but never lagged.  It started quicker and then slowed slightly.  It still has one Michelin star but I see this place moving to 2 stars soon.  Put it on your list of places to go. Continue reading →

La Bicyclette (update), Carmel, 7/30/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_6757
restaurant

Frankie and I visited La Bicyclette just a year ago and while the food is still good it is a much smaller place as all the seating has moved to the outside (due to Covid 19 regulations of CA.)   They have built a small deck so that seating is at sidewalk level but there are not many tables (I counted seven 2-tops and two 4-tops) and they do not take reservations.  We lined up before they opened and snagged one of the first round of seatings.  The small wood tables were set with a hand towel for a cloth with some umbrellas  and heaters dividing the tables.  The heaters would be good in the evening but during the daytime they could use more umbrellas as it gets quite sunny on this less busy street.  The menu offered a couple specials as well as a daily soup.  Service was friendly and helpful with all servers wearing masks and trying to afford distance  between them and patrons when possible. Continue reading →

Flying Fish Grill, Carmel, 7/29/20

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment

IMG_6607
entrance and patio

The Flying Fish Grill website still lists Tina and Kenny Fukumoto as owners rather than Honza Prikryl who bought it 3 years ago but has not been able to get control of the website to change things.  The menu is correctly reflected on the website except they temporarily don’t offer Clay Pots as that was part of the indoor service.  It looked like a cozy place but currently dining was outside of the restaurant, along the bricked corridor of a shopping plaza, set off the street.  The good sized tables were unclothed metal ones some with umbrellas attached.   Service was friendly but with a few glitches, but then everyone is adapting to new rules and systems.  The inside restaurant was down a set of stairs so staff had to bring everything up to the “new” dining area.   The menu is all about Asian fusion seafood and a couple specials were also offered by the server. Continue reading →

Dametra Café, Carmel, 7/29/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_6596Dametra Café specializes in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food.  The small cafe opened in 2008 and is even smaller now having only outdoor dining due to Covid 19 restrictions of California.  The same table set up runs along the street in front of the building with tables divided by planters and heaters and separated from the street by a wooden fence.  The narrow, small tables are covered with bright yellow oil-cloth tableclothes and set at street level rather than sidewalk.  It makes some difficult to get in and out but didn’t seem to keep the crowd away.  It’s reputation is that there is often a line for walk-up guests but we were lucky and got a table when we arrived. They offer the same menu at lunch and dinner but add sandwiches to the lunch offerings.   They also have a more limited menu for curbside pickup.  Service was friendly, helpful and efficient.  Even with an ever-changing supply of table guests they did not rush us to finish up our wine so they could reseat the table. Continue reading →

Tidal Raves, Depoe Bay, OR., 6/25/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_5829
building

Tidal Raves has been in business since 1990 on a beautiful spot on the central Oregon coast. Whales are a regular sight out the large windows that frame the good sized dining room.  They do have a tint on them that keeps the sun from being too intense but will also tint some of your outdoor photos.  It is primarily a seafood restaurant but a few meat choices are there for the those not in the mood.  The a la carte menu was supplemented by a fresh catch special that was on the chalkboard on both our visits.  The long room has well spaced large bare wood tables along the windows and another series of tables on a second level (separated from below by a plexiglass barrier)  that is just high enough to afford them a good view also.  Instrumental music was in the background, carpet was on the floor, ceiling fans helped to keep it a nice temperature, additional light fixtures add to the incredible day light and the friendly, efficient staff wore masks. Continue reading →

Salum, Dallas, 5/16/20 and 6/6/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_5533
exterior

Chef Abraham Salum opened Salum in 2005 which could seat 84 people pre-Covid 19.  It has re-opened after sustaining itself with take out orders.   I’d been there a number of times for both dinners and lunches and honestly don’t know why I never visited with Frankie.  But it was well worth going back to and the food and service are especially appreciated now.  The nice sized white cloth covered tables are well spaced and waitstaff wear masks and gloves.  The kitchen area is shielded with a curtain now as it also serves as a staging area for take out orders.  The guests are a varied crowd but most are attired with a dressy casual look.  Windows to the street are covered with a darkening shade and the light fixtures that hang from the ceiling are covered with a gauzy fabric.  It all yields a lower lighting level but not so that you can’t see your food.  Also the extra spacing of patrons eliminated one of my objections from the past, that being noise when the room was full.  Music plays faintly in the background.  The restaurant has a full bar and so offers a specialty cocktail menu as well as a nice sized wine list.  There is no tasting menu but the menu does change regularly, with the “Build your own Burger” always on the menu, both lunch and dinner.  Service was attentive and friendly and the chef who was in the kitchen greeted all his guests.  There is a dedicated parking lot in front. Continue reading →

Irene’s, New Orleans, 2/22/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_1519
exterior

Irene’s opened in 1993 and gradually expanded to 3 rooms over time.  Owner Irene DiPietro from Noto, Sicily is still active with the place but now her son Nicholas Scalco does most of the cooking.  In 2018 it moved to a new, much larger location on Bienville because of a problem with the lease on the original location.  It had been a hard table to get because of its size but delicious food made you try.  Going now to this location was a different feel.  There are about 5 eating areas, depending if you call the large bar area one.  Music is in the background, mostly old rock and despite the small rooms the noise level can be loud.  The small tables are set with white clothes and napkins and the lighting is lowered.    Walls, some of which are red, have lots of decorative items.  Our room had red paint on the top and wood below, an open beam ceiling, a fireplace and tile floor.  The service was very friendly but it was a little slow in getting our meal started and then moved quite rapidly, bringing the main plates out before appetizers were finished.  It didn’t lend itself to a relaxed fine dining feel.  The menu had a special entree and appetizer as well as a changing soup.  All is a la carte. Continue reading →

G W Fins (update), New Orleans, 2/21/20

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_1801
exterior

We were at G W Fins 6 months ago but went back on this trip to try some other items.  Same busy and large interior but service not as personal this trip.  Their menu is printed daily, so no specials.  We tried two hot appetizers, a couple of their fish entrées and dessert.  All was good.

Continue reading →

Taverna dell’ Arte, Naples, Italy, 12/20/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_7459
outside

Taverna dell’ Arte was a small place that opened in 1990.  The small tables were closely positioned and covered in beige cloths on top of black ones and set with beige napkins.  Outside there was a porch area with lots of candles.  Inside the lighting was lowered and music was in the background.  There are several rooms divided by half walls and some full partitions.  There was lots of dark wood and various decorations were on top of things and hung on walls.   The windows were covered.  The staff was friendly and spoke fairly good English, as I heard several tables speaking English.   There was a large menu in both English and Italian and everything was a la carte.  There were a lot of drink options.  The chef came out and visited with some but not all of the tables.  Overall this place was okay, not great. Continue reading →

Essencia Restaurant, Naples, Italy, 12/19/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_7211
exterior

Essencia Restaurant just opened last May.  The building has a bar and kitchen downstairs and upstairs are a couple rooms for dining.  Window doors open to the outside and music is in the background.  The small tables are set with beige or white cloths on top of a contrasting floor length cloth.  Coordinated napkins and different colors of fabric on the chairs complete the stylish set up.  Bench seating was on one wall and the seats were pretty comfortable although the small tables are fairly close.  The walls are decorated with various pieces of art.  The menu offers a la carte selections and tastings of 4 or 5 courses.  I didn’t notice wine pairings being offered but the wine list was fairly reasonable.  Staff were very friendly, welcoming and spoke great English.  We chose the 5 course tasting.  Pacing and portion control were both wonderful. Continue reading →

Cafe Pasqual, Santa Fe, 11/3/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_2421
building

Cafe Pasqual is almost an institution in Santa Fe.  They don’t take reservations so be prepared to wait an hour for a table.  They have a list that you get on at the door and they call your name when it’s your turn to enter the medium sized place.  The tile walls add to the colorful interior that is decorated with lace things hanging from the ceiling and t-shirts and calendars.  There is a large communal table in the center of the downstairs and a few tables are up a couple steps at the front of the place.  At the front counter they have desserts to go but also sell many souvenirs.  Tables are of unvarnished wood, there is music in the background and the floor is wood and tile.  Tables are closely set and relatively small and set with paper napkins.  Service is efficient but it takes a while as the crowd is pretty much non-stop.  When we ate there years ago the food seemed worth the wait but now I’m not sure I’d wait again for it.  It was good, it just didn’t have the soul that some of the other New Mexican spots we visited. Continue reading →

Brasserie Les Trois, Basel, 10/23/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_9408
hotel exterior

Brasserie is the casual restaurant in the Les Trois Rois Hotel.  It is a good sized L-shaped place with one wall made up of windows overlooking the Rhine River. Another wall has murals painted on it to back up a long bench seat.  Music is in the background and the nicely spaced tables are covered in a double ecru cloth and matching napkins.  The room was lovely and peaceful to watch the various sizes of boats go by.  At lunch they offered an a la carte menu as well as a 2-3 course menu with glasses of wine to go with the plates.  We chose the lunch 3 plate menu and got glasses of their featured wine.  Each course had several options to chose from.  Service was friendly, helpful and the server spoke great English. Continue reading →

GW Fins Restaurant, New Orleans, 8/28/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_1804
exterior

GW Fins is a large place in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  At the entrance there is a large bar area to the left and a several tiered dining space to the right, separated by a huge fish sculpture.  Booths are set in arcs around the room and tables are in the middle.  Wood pillars break up the huge space and art is on the walls, except for the one wall that is windows to the street.  No music is in the background and the lights are lowered in the room but spots accent many of the tables.  While there is noise in the room from the many diners, conversation at the table seemed easy and private.  Double white clothes and folded napkins are set at the good sized tables.  They have been in business for 17 years.   They have an a la carte menu but also offer a fixed price meal where you chose from 3 options for 3 courses.  Service was helpful, friendly and opinionated.  Various personnel stoped by often to check on everything.  It was nice, not intrusive. Continue reading →

Beverley’s Bistro & Bar (update), Dallas, 8/13/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

kitchen
kitchen

We’d been to Beverley’s Bistro and Bar a few weeks ago but looked forward to visiting again and trying some other things as well as having the delicious Steak Frites again.  The menu had changed slightly during that time.

Frankie shared the restaurant details
Frankie shared the restaurant details

Continue reading →

Il Grillo Carmel, Carmel, 8/10/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

IMG_0835
building

Il Grillo has a small indoor seating space and a larger patio outdoor.  The small light wood bare tables are set closely, but the night we were there most of the space was taken up by a giant party so I’m not sure what the normal spacing would be.  On the end of the room is a service counter with foods for sale or to be used in meal preparation.  Overhead are bottles of wine.  The white ceiling has painted white beams, the floor is tile and the walls are decorated with art.  Music plays in the background and service was friendly.  The menu here changes daily to reflect the availability of local products. Continue reading →

La Bicyclette, Carmel, 8/9/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

La Bicyclette is on a corner in the busy shopping area of Carmel.  It is basically made up of 2 rooms, one having windows to the street on 2 sides, the pizza oven, a long bar and kitchen pass through and the other smaller room having a lot of hanging copper pots and glassware storage.  It seemed much more lively in the bigger room.  The small bare wood tables are placed fairly closely together and set with cloth napkins that are more like small towels.  The rooms had a number of eclectic decorations.  Music is in the background and the place is amazingly busy.  It is a fun spot with good food, friendly service and casual atmosphere. Continue reading →

Homewood (update), Dallas, 7/9/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

sign out front
sign out front

Note:  Restaurant now closed

We visited Homewood again and had different things as much of the menu had changed.  The menu this time was for summer rather than spring.  It was still really busy but with a reservation we had a table waiting for us.   Walk-ins were waiting for a seat and the noise level is a struggle.    It is a lively, varied aged crowd.  Chef Matt McCallister was in the kitchen and out visiting with his guests. Continue reading →

Chinched, St. John’s, NL, Canada, 6/28/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior
exterior

Chinched is Newfoundland slang for being full and the tiny restaurant Chinched is good for that.  It is in an old house that has a small number of counter seats and a couple tables for about 8 people in the window that faces the street.  They do their own in-house chacuterie and make their own crackers and bread.  The small menu at lunch is mostly sandwiches and snacks with lots of beer choices.  At dinner they have a larger menu and also offer a happy hour menu.  Later in the day they have additional seating upstairs.  They also offer wine and a bar.  There is seating on a small patio out back when weather permits.   The super friendly staff were helpful in advising what and how much to order.  We way over ordered, but we wanted to try a number of their things.  Music plays in the background and there are a ton of pigs decorating the place.  It felt casual and cozy.   Continue reading →

Mallard Cottage, St. John’s, NL, Canada, 6/27/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

other side
side

Mallard Cottage was built around 1830 as a one and half story home for the Mallard family in the Quidi Vidi area (rows of brightly colored houses); a house typical of the immigrants coming in from southeast Ireland.  We got to sit in one of the original rooms with the low ceiling but they’ve added on a larger high ceiling room that could seat way more people.  The old wood floors are set with new bare wood pedestal tables, wood uncushioned chairs and large paper napkins. In the larger room, that also housed a bar and stools, the music was quite loud whereas in the older rooms it was quieter.  Lots of quaint decorations give the place character.  Service was friendly but pacing was super quick and portions good sized.  The menu is small but they also offer a ‘family style’ option where they pick the appetizers and main courses for your table.  Wine pairings are available.  We chose the family style option but ordered our own wine.   Continue reading →

Get Stuffed, St. John’s, NL, Canada, 6/27/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior
exterior

Get Stuffed is a good sized place with several rooms on 2 stories of an historic house.  The small, closely set tables are covered with black cloths  and maroon or beige napkins that match the bench seat and cushions that lines the wall.  There are a few stools at the service counter across from the bench and then there are rooms upstairs with tables and bay windows.  Music is in the background and the windows on the front of the building look out over a park and its statues as well as the harbour down the hill.  It’s on an interesting street that is filled with funky shops good for browsing.  Service was very friendly, helpful but pacing was a little slow.   Continue reading →

Rookery Pub Fine Dining, Cable, 1/4/19 & 2/8/19

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

Bill Brakken opened the Rookery Pub Fine Dining restaurant in 2008.  The building originally was constructed in 1978 and had the restaurant on the upper levels.  Bill made those areas into the lodge when he bought it in 2005 and then renovated the downstairs to become the Rookery Pub Fine Dining, named for the breeding colony of Blue Herons nearby and to signify a general place for social gatherings.  Interestingly, Bill worked as a bartender at the original Kliszcz’s Karczma, the Polish Palace as it was known then, the first year it was in business.  Now as you enter the place you see a building on your right with stairs and that is to the lodge and the lower sidewalk goes to the restaurant.  You enter into the large bar area and to the right is a hallway, opening onto a row of 4 booth seats, which leads to the small main dining room.  The walls are lined with prints of animals (most of which have prices if you want to buy one) and in the corner is a fireplace.  The bare wood tables are good sized and well spaced.  The menu covers a good breadth of choices with some changes for seasonality and the wine list is better than most.  You can have cocktails at your table or enjoy them at the bar before you are seated.  Service was efficient and super friendly.  Portions are large. Continue reading →

Carrollton Market, New Orleans, 12/28/18

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

from outside
building

Carrollton Market is a medium sized place out in the suburbs that has been open 4 years.  The entry is into a bar area that is not very well separated from the main dining room.  The small marble tables are set closely together, a tin ceiling, wood floor and wood and painted walls all add to the loud noise level in the room, even without background music.   Windows along the front wall look out onto the street but otherwise there are no windows except for the interior one that looks into the open kitchen and the general light level is low.  They offer only a small a la carte menu.  The staff were friendly and helpful but the food was mostly unexciting and the overall ambiance is ear numbing, yet it was packed with people.  There is no subtlety in the food, it tends to be over-seasoned with large portions of heavy food.   Continue reading →

Restaurant A ma Vigne, Lyon, 12/15/18

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior
exterior  (23 Rue Jean Larrivé, 69003 Lyon, France)

A ma Vigne is a small place with just 2 dining rooms, one containing the bar, and a tiny kitchen in back.  The closely spaced small tables are set with nice white tableclothes and napkins and then covered with white paper.  The casual atmosphere is heightened with the array of art, photos (done by the server Alex) and mirrors along with windows to the street decorating the walls.  They had a large menu that was not translated and served all day and a set menu of 2 or 3 courses that featured their famous steak in butter and fries.  They had wine by the bottle as well as by centiliter, as well as lots of cocktails.  It didn’t take long at lunch for the place to be packed and most seemed to be repeat customers and having a good time.  Service was really friendly, welcoming and helpful yet staffing was minimal – one guy sat people, took orders, dispensed the food, took care of billing and cleaned the tables and one guy did all the cooking and kitchen cleanup. The guy who did all the cooking was actually Chef and Owner Stéphane Giraud, whose grandparents started the place.  His grandmother Josephine,  perfected the amazing French fries.  Food was great as was the ambiance.  It was really reasonable for the quality of flavor.   I would go back here in a heartbeat – check it out if you can.  The server told us that Paul Bocuse ate steak and fries there every day  for years and showed us the table he always sat at.  I can see why. Continue reading →

L’Arcane (update), Paris, 11/28/18

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior
exterior

We visited L’Arcane for the first time about 18 months ago and they hadn’t been open long (opened June 2016).  On this re-visit pretty much every thing that bothered me about the place has been corrected and food remains outstanding.  Get it on your list as soon as you can.  The tables are still small but well spaced and the lighting is at a good level.  Soft music is in the background and some decorative changes, like wide planked wood floors and nice artwork, have been made that are all for the better.  They now have a well deserved one Michelin star rating.  Chef Laurent Magnin is now married to Sophie Keller who runs the front of the house.  They offer a tasting menu only with the option of 3, 4 or 5 different courses, but there are a couple of amuse bouche to add to it.  There is no printed menu.   Portion control was good and pacing on the slower side but nicely regular as opposed to having long gaps. Continue reading →

Monteverde Restaurant, Chicago, 11/17/18

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

entrance
entrance

Monteverde is a large place on a corner so two sides have windows to the street.  Walls are decorated with pizza peels and mirrors and a really long bar adds seating.  High top tables sit opposite the bar, that is decorated with hanging pasta, TVs and windows into the rest of the kitchen.  On one end is the pastry chef and cabinets of their labors.  The main dining room is filled with closely set small bare wood tables, benches and chairs as well a good sized area of pasta and cookware items for sale.  The menu is all a la carte and many items are designed to be shared.  We ordered a lot of things to try and intended to share all.  Some were quite good but others were really lacking.  Pacing for all was extremely rapid and plates and flatware were not replaced between several of the courses.  Service tried hard and they did refund the price of 2 unacceptable items as well as bring a complimentary dessert.   This place was really bustling, so more is good than not but they also have some kinks to work on. Continue reading →

Lucia, Dallas, 10/31/18 and 11/24/18

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exterior
exterior

Lucia is in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas, a small chef owned Italian restaurant.   It was opened in 2010 by Chef David Uygur and his wife Jennifer, who also serves as wine coordinator.    There are just 32 seats in the place and is still a hard reservation to come by but there are 4 seats at the counter that are reserved for walk-ins, on a first come first served basis.  Parking is another issue, as there is no valet, only street parking and a few spaces in a lot to the side of the building.  If you don’t get dropped off make sure and allow time to circle around looking for a place to leave your car.  Inside you’ll find a cozy place with benches and pillows lining the walls and small bar wood tables fairly close together.  A couple of windows are on one wall that look out onto the busy street.  Lights are lowered and there is no music but the hum of a full house provides plenty of background noise to keep table conversations private.  Memorabilia line the walls along with jars of preserved foods.  The counter seats look at the salad and cold appetizer preparation are and workers there are friendly when they have a minute.  Service is efficient and helpful with fairly quick pacing.  We have visited many times but for the purposes of this entry we visited twice. Continue reading →

Macellaio, Dallas, 9/23/18

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

Macellaio was opened in the end of June 2018 by David and Jennifer Uygur, the owners of the ultra popular Lucia.  It is also in the Bishop Arts district but a more casual place with lots of small plates to share.  There are a limited number of tables available for reservations and a large bar and patio seating available for walk-ins.  Bare wood tables are set with a nice cloth napkin and the ceiling is open to expose the ductwork.  Lots of hard surfaces are ready to create a significant noise level but it was not a problem when we were there as the place wasn’t full yet.  The menu is printed daily with a good number of choices, half of which are the salumi offerings.  They do offer a family style dinner for the table where the chef will make your selections for you but we opted to pick our plates and utilized some advice from our friendly server.   Continue reading →

Cedar Lodge Steakhouse and Grille, Barnes, 9/14/18 and 10/14/18

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

Cedar Lodge Steakhouse and Grille started in 2009 in the location that used to be called “Downtown Barnes”  Owners Collen and Scott Ruhman spent a good bit of time updating and remodeling and adding to the original location.   It is a good sized building that houses a large u-shaped bar in a room that also has room for a couple tables, games and lounge furniture in front of a fireplace.  It opens into the main dining room that is fairly bright with soft background music.  The only televisions are in the bar area.  Bare wood tables are polished to a high shine and fitted with comfortable chairs.  Flat-paint plum walls work well with the copper metallic shiny ceiling.  Walls are decorated with paintings and other objects.  The full bar is available for order in the dining room and they provided a better than average wine list.  The large menu was supplemented by a daily special offering.  All dinner plates come with a trip to the salad bar that also offers a housemade soup, as well as seasonal vegetable and a choice of side dish.  Our friendly server, Denise, turned out to be the owner’s sister and helped steer our order.   Continue reading →

LYLE’S, London, 4/28/18

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

LYLE’S is a medium sized one star Michelin restaurant that served only a la carte when we were there for lunch.  At night they do a tasting menu.  They opened in April 2014 and the restaurant was named after the chef’s mother’s maiden name.  It has a large open kitchen on one side of the space and windows to the street on the opposite side.  Pop/rock music plays in the background and the bare wood tables are set with un-cushioned chairs.  It’s a casual atmosphere with white brick and tile walls, concrete floor, exposed ductwork and some seating at the bar.  The menu changes daily.  The kitchen was happy to split dishes or have you do so at the table and portion sizes lended itself to sharing.  Service was friendly and helpful.   Continue reading →

Forest & Marcy, Dublin, 12/15/17

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

exterior
exterior

Forest & Marcy is a sliver of a place with mostly counter seating and a couple tables. An open kitchen is at the end  and soft music plays in the background.  They have been open a year and a half and specialize in small plates and wine at dinner.  At the counter you can watch the preparation of numerous dishes.  We were there at lunch where they offered a 3 course tasting where you pick between two choices or a Chef’s choice 5 course menu, where the chef choses for you.  We opted for the latter choice.  Sitting at the bar is really fun as you not only get to watch the cooking show but you can interact with the chef there and as we were toward the back, those in the kitchen too.  All the staff were friendly and glad to answer questions.   Continue reading →

Forest Avenue, Dublin, 12/13/17

~ hsnixon ~ 1 Comment

exterior
exterior

Forest Avenue is medium sized 2-story place owned by a couple, Chef John Wyer and his wife Sandy Sabek Wyer.  It is named after the street were Sandy grew up on in Queens, New York, but she has now lived in Ireland for 16 years.  John is from Cork.  They have had this restaurant for a couple years and have recently opened a second place, but John cooks at this one.  Soft rock plays in the background  and a wall of windows to the street lets in nice natural light.  Bare wood tables are nicely spaced and a large part of the kitchen is open to the dining room.  Service is friendly, helpful and efficient.  The menu offers several tasting options of 2, 3 or 6 courses with wine pairings available.  Portions are fairly generous and flavor abounds in everything.  The wine list also offers a “fine wine” option for bottles.   Continue reading →

Sachet, Dallas, 12/10/17

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

exteriorSachet is a large place opened a couple months ago by the owners of Gemma (Frankie visited in June and July of 2016), where the food is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine.  About a third of the space is for the bar and the seating around it.  An open kitchen fills one end of the restaurant and a large clear cube containing wines is a focal point in the dining room.. With lots of hard surfaces the noise level is significant but tables are placed a nice distance apart to give you some ability to talk once the place fills.  The menu starts with “meze” plates which are priced in groups of 3 or 5.  They are small plates meant to be shared by the table.  Pastas are in serving sizes like appetizers but can be turned into a main plate for an upcharge.  Service is efficient and friendly and tables are turned throughout the evening.   Continue reading →

Le Roi Fou, Edinburgh, 9/23/17

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

IMG_3417
exterior

Le Roi Fou is a small 2 room restaurant serving French style food.  They opened in April of 2017 and were voted best new restaurant in Scotland in a local publication.  The front room has nice light from 2 big windows looking out on the street. The back room has nice windows but less light.  Eclectic music play in the background.  They offer a 2 course fixed price menu at lunch as well as an a la carte menu.  We chose to order from the a la carte menu.   Continue reading →

The Steelhead Diner, Seattle, 8/26/17

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

buiding
buiding

The Steelhead Diner is a large place right next to Pike Place Market.   Two walls of windows look out over the crowds of people.  Seating is in booths, bar counter and kitchen counter stools and tables.  Decorations between the booths is with acrylic encased fly fishing lures and photos of lures also decorate the walls.  On the weekend the midday menu is for brunch.  Service is efficient and friendly and the noise level is livable.  It is a great location with a lively crowd but the unexciting food lacks soul.   Continue reading →

Brigtsen’s, New Orleans, 8/8/17

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments

entrance
entrance

Opened in 1986, Brigtsen’s is located in an old house in the Garden District, about 20 minutes by cab from the French Quarter.  It is worth the trip!   Owner Marna Brigtsen greets you at the door and guides you to your seat.  Music plays in the background, lighting is low and the nicely spaced tables are appointed with lovely linens. Painted wood walls, fireplaces and many windows give the relatively small adjoined rooms a very cozy feel.  The several rooms are packed with people and tables turnover throughout the evening, but the noise level is not bad at all.  Marna’s husband and co-owner Frank Brigtsen is the chef in the kitchen.  They offer a fixed price 3 course menu, with several choices for each course, an a la carte menu and a few specials of the day.   Continue reading →

Shaya, New Orleans, 8/8/17

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

Shaya is a good sized place with additional seating available at the bar and on the patio.  A long bench seat lines one wall where most of the 2-tops are located.  The other tables are more generously spaced and all enjoy the light of spoked fixtures with silver tipped bulbs hanging from the ceiling and a wall of windows to the street.  There is background music but the noise level was low which was good considering the percentage of tables that were occupied.  Beyond the open wood-fired oven for the pita bread is the patio which was not well filled, but it was a warm day.  There is different menu at lunch than in the evening, which we looked at outside.   Continue reading →

Peche Seafood Grill, New Orleans, 8/7/17

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

Peche is a large place that’s about  a 15 minute cab ride from the French Quarter. Seating is available in 3 booths, bar counter stools and a number of well spaced tables throughout.  Windows to the street form one wall of the place and add nice natural light during the day.  Tables are of bare wood and matching unfinished beams line the ceiling while soft  rock music plays in the background.  Lots of seafood art adorns the walls and the street wall is of the natural brick. Service is exceptionally friendly and helpful.  Our waiter provided many details about how the various dishes are prepared and was nicely opinionated about how we might configure our order.  Freshness of ingredients is stressed.   Continue reading →

Dill Restaurant, Reykjavik, 7/27/17

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

entrance
entrance

Dill has been in business for 2 years and is the only Michelin starred restaurant in Iceland.  It was originally a barn and now has a small front room and 3 counter seats at the finishing kitchen as well as additional seating in another room, but that seemed to filled by a private party.  Windows to the street form one side of the main room and a large window looking out at a back garden is opposite that.  A bench seat lines one other wall with closely set tables as they also are on the main floor.  Walls are of concrete, the ceiling of wood,  a combination of candlelight and a skylight provide most of the low lighting and there was  subtle background music. The night we were there it was quite warm in the restaurant but I suspect this is not normally a problem. Continue reading →

Matur og Drykkur, Reykjavik, 7/26/17

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment

building
building

Matur og Drykkur is a medium sized place located in an old salt fish factory built in 1924 that now also houses the Saga Museum.  The name means “food and drink” and they specialize in Icelandic food with a modern twist.  American music plays in the background of this lively spot, where it was packed on a weekday evening.  The bare wood tables are slightly spaced and there are also 6 seats at a bar in front, near the open finishing kitchen. Soft warm lighting is pleasant but can effect the food colors and the nice cloth napkins are way too small. Reservations are for a 2 hour block and they did turn the tables but rushing would be difficult with the slow pacing.  Service was friendly but disorganized – they brought the wrong plates a couple times and you’d notice someone doing the same tasting menu who was behind you and then ahead as their food came out more rapidly.  They do offer 3 different tasting menus as well as an a la carte menu.   Continue reading →