My 2nd to last day in New Orleans, I was regretting not having much of a fine dining experience in New Orleans. I decided to compromise and take myself out for a not quite fine-but above average meal. I walked around Royal Street and looked for a decent looking place, and chose Pere Antoine.
Pere Antoine is quite large, with beautiful tall windows lining the walls, and archways which give it a nice open-air feel. They offer most of the usual cuisine you will find in New Orleans, such as etoufee and po boys, with an elegant twist. I was greeted by a server who sat me down immediately. I perused the drink menu a bit, but decided on water...which took 10 minutes to come along with my actual waiter. What is it with the service? I experienced slow service in most places I dined at....
I finally decided on the Paneed Chicken ( Boneless breast of chicken dusted with Itlaian and local herbs, served with fettucine alfreso. - $12.95.) After waiting 20 minutes, it finally came.
I lost the picture of it, but I was a little surprised when it came out and it was basically a pounded chicken breast that was breaded, and pan fried. I think this is the traditional way to make it, but i was not aware it would be breaded from the description. The chicken was ok, if unremarkable. There was no complexity to it, no balance. It was just....a finely breaded, pan fried chicken breast.
The fettucine was a complete disaster. It was the single most garlic-ey thing I have EVER eaten. It was on fire with garlic. I couldn't eat more than a quarter of it, and by then I had drunk about 5 glasses of water.
I hate to give so many negative reviews lately, but I've had a string of disappointing experiences. And to me, blogging is about creatively describing things while still being accurate. So there ya have it. I don't think I am too hard to please either....especially not compared to actual critics and reviewers. I am also just a blogger, so my experience with a restaraunt is usually limited to a one time experience. I don't have the luxury for repeat visits and experimentation.
So there ya have it.
http://www.pereantoine.com/index.html
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Jax Cafe - Northeast Minneapolis
Searching for a good steak experience, Mr. C and I finally decided on Jax Cafe. Pretty much solely based on their $78 dinner for two special. It features an order of Jax Crab Rolls, A house salad, 12 ozs slow roasted certified angus beef sirloin, and a whole maine lobster with drawn butter. On the side come sweet potato or shoestring fries, and a grasshopper drink for dessert. We decided to substitute sweet potato fries for mashed potatoes.
After that, they bring out the butter, cute and appetizing nestled in it's own melting mechanism!
Meat
We traded our grasshopper drink in for a Bailey's Chocolate Cake to go because we were so full. We split it later, and it was awesome. It had that sweet creamy Bailey's tatse, and a mellow chocolate cake that was fluffy and perfect.
Overall, I was quite disappointed with this meal. I have made better things at home. Not to be a negative Nancy, but once you have had something authentically good, it is hard to be satisfied with standard things, especially if they cost you $78.
I had a hankerin' for a martini, so I went out on a limb and ordered a grey goose one. I heart grey goose, but was al ittle disappointed with this one. It was like, an ounce, maybe 2.
But I sipped away happily, as grey goose never disappoints. Shortly after, we received our salad.
Pretty standard cesaer style salad. It looks overdressed, but it actually was fine. And the croutons....omg. They were coated with sesame seeds, and were nutty and delicious!
Jax Crab Rolls
I was a little confused about what these were, since the menu contains no description. From what I can tell, cheese, crab and...sauce (?) baked inside a crust, sprinkled with sesame seeds. The first few bites were gorgeous - velvety and satisfying. After 2 of them, they became so overpowering and rich that I could not eat more. I am not a wimp either - I can take a lot of cheese and a lot of richness. These were sickeningly rich. I was disappointed.
After that, they bring out the butter, cute and appetizing nestled in it's own melting mechanism!
We waited awhile and chatted over some wine and watched the butter melt. It wasn't too long before the steak and lobster arrived.
I realized it was coming whole, but look at the inside of the body. It was soooo unappetizing, and I am already squeamish so I had to make myself not look at it. The lobster was a mixed bag. The claw meat was meaty and moist in the center, the tip was extremely dry with a strong mineral flavor. The tails were juicy and sweet, but tough and chewy.
Meat
I wasn't expecting this type of presentation. I thoguht I would get a nice hunk of meat. Admittedly, I do not know meat well. Overall, this dish was perfectly standard. The meat was kind of lukewarm, but it was not dry and not overly chewy. The savory level was maybe a 2, and the gravy reminded me a little of pot roast. The potatoes were fine, because potatoes are usually always awesome.
We traded our grasshopper drink in for a Bailey's Chocolate Cake to go because we were so full. We split it later, and it was awesome. It had that sweet creamy Bailey's tatse, and a mellow chocolate cake that was fluffy and perfect.
Overall, I was quite disappointed with this meal. I have made better things at home. Not to be a negative Nancy, but once you have had something authentically good, it is hard to be satisfied with standard things, especially if they cost you $78.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Cafe Beignet - on Bourbon in New Orleans
By my 4th day in the big easy, I still hadn't tried the coffee or eaten any beignets. This was worrying to me, so I pulled myself out of the hotel room, and hit Bourbon in search of Cafe Beignet. There are 3 different locations (as there often are with many bars or cafe's in the French Quarter) and I chose the larger location on Bourbon. Cafe Beignet is a large outdoor courtyward, with a full bar and ordering counter in the rear. At the entrance, there are bronzed statues of New Orleans music legends (Fats Domino, Pete Fountain, and Al "Jumbo" Hirt) and to the right, there is small stage where daily/nightly live music is played. It has a very spacious and relaxed feel, with tables and chairs scattered about and always buzzing with activity. Cafe Beignet offers typical cafe fare. Breakfast, sandwiches and a few Cajun dishes. I went to the ordering counter and was greeted by quite possibly the friendliest punk rock girl I have ever seen. I ordered the coffee and chicory, and 3 beignets ($2.69...for 3 of them!) My coffee came up in a few minutes, and they then instruct you to sit so the server can bring your food to you. So, I went and sat in what was the tiniest and most uncomfortable chair I've ever encountered. No big deal...when in Rome! About 10 minutes later, they arrived. 
http://www.cafebeignet.com/index.html
I have always heard these are good, but that's kind of an understatement. Being someone who doesn't have much of a sweet tooth, I greatly appreciated the balance of savory to sweet. They were warm, soft (but not too soft..) and comparable to a funnel cake (or "elephant ears") that you would get at a local fair. Being a novice beignet eater, I exhaled while eating! Even when I learned from my mistake, I still got sugar all over me. These are quite messy, but they are truly a little piece of heaven!! A must have on a day (or night) trip to the French Quarter!
http://www.cafebeignet.com/index.html
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Zea Rotisserie and Grill - New Orleans, LA
I awoke one afternoon in my hotel room in New Orleans with the gut rumble hunger usually associated with a hangover. Not wanting to leave my hotel, but desperately needing time alone and some food, I headed out. Shaded eyewear mandatory.
Not wanting to (or luckily for me, needing to) travel too far, I popped across the street to Zea Rotisserie and Grill. They are somewhat of a southern chain, but not so large they suck (kind of like Buca Di Beppo - one of my favorite Italian places.) The exterior was inviting and very modern, and I was greeted right away when I stepped inside. The area is divided with varied seating if booths and tables, and is spacious and clean. I chose a booth and studied the lunch menu, which I would rate a 4 out of 5 on my lunch menu scale.
It only took about a minute for my server to come, who was extremely friendly and accomodating. He helped me finally decide to order a small zeasar salad (siiiggghh...i know, i know) and the lunch portion of 1/2 rotisserie chicken (1/2 chicken roasted on an open flame - $14.95), and decided on the sweet and spicy chili glaze. It came with a side, so I decided on the red beans and rice so I could at least say I tried some local specialties during my trip!
I didn't get a good picture of the salad, but I literally could not even eat all of it. Not because it was so huge, but because it was SO overdressed and salty. I had a few bites, slurped down like 2 diet cokes, then hit re-set on my mind before my lunch came.
Not wanting to (or luckily for me, needing to) travel too far, I popped across the street to Zea Rotisserie and Grill. They are somewhat of a southern chain, but not so large they suck (kind of like Buca Di Beppo - one of my favorite Italian places.) The exterior was inviting and very modern, and I was greeted right away when I stepped inside. The area is divided with varied seating if booths and tables, and is spacious and clean. I chose a booth and studied the lunch menu, which I would rate a 4 out of 5 on my lunch menu scale.
It only took about a minute for my server to come, who was extremely friendly and accomodating. He helped me finally decide to order a small zeasar salad (siiiggghh...i know, i know) and the lunch portion of 1/2 rotisserie chicken (1/2 chicken roasted on an open flame - $14.95), and decided on the sweet and spicy chili glaze. It came with a side, so I decided on the red beans and rice so I could at least say I tried some local specialties during my trip!
I didn't get a good picture of the salad, but I literally could not even eat all of it. Not because it was so huge, but because it was SO overdressed and salty. I had a few bites, slurped down like 2 diet cokes, then hit re-set on my mind before my lunch came.
I started off by trying the red beans and rice, which were surprisingly hearty in a thick gravy and a good kick of spice. I know I don't have much to compare this to, but I was definitely won over by this southern classic!
The chicken was extremely moist, juicy, and even greasy. I know that dark meat with skin is usually a little greasy, but I had to ask my waiter for lots of napkins (the cloth napkins just don't cut it in these situations.) Despite it being a little messy, the chicken was flavorful and savory. The seasoning didn't add anything significant, but it didn't take away from the essence of the bird either. Overall, I ate half of my 1/2 bird, all my red beans and rice, and was stuffed.
Zea was very, very good. And since I am staying in the same hotel next time I go, I definitely will return.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Hoshun - New Orleans, LA
After a long day in the French Quarter, I was super hungry and craving something noodley. Wanting to stay near my hotel, I decided upon Hoshun right across the street from my hotel. The description is, "Asian, Japanese, and Sushi." I skimmed over the menu on display outside, and decided the price was right, so in I went.
The exterior looks modern and posh in comparison to the hundreds of smaller, older restaraunts within a 5 mile radius. The interior is no different, it is large, dim, and well decorated. I waited 10 minutes (even though the restaraunt was half empty...) and was then seated at a table. I started browsing the menu, and was disapointed to see the prices on the menu display were in fact, the lunch prices. This could have easily been an oversight on my part, but I don't recall the display as being a lunch menu only. So I felt a little tricked.
I decided against sushi (yes - shocking I know) and decided on the Crab and Crawfish Rangoon (Sweet snow crab, cream cheese & crawfish in a fried wonton - $6.25) and the Chicken Lo-Mein (Classic stir-fry lo mein with mixed veggies & a choice of chicken, roasted pork, gulf shrimp or crawfish - $9.50 for chicken.) I have only had crawfish one time, and it was years ago at a terrible restaraunt in MN. So I figured I would try it inside an already familiar food to ease myself into it.
I finished my appetizer, and 10-15 minutes later the biggest heaping pile of noodles I have ever seen was placed in front of me. It was also piping hot, with thick steam coming off it. Which is not exactly a complaint, because I know it was made right then. But by this time, I was just kinda of frustrated with all the waiting. I had to wait a good 1-2 minutes before eating each bite I pulled out of the pile. No continous eating for me at Hoshun.
Looks pretty, right? I found the Sriracha squiggles a bit annoying, being right there on the edge. I had to be very careful not to let my hair, sleeves, arm e.t.c. drag through the sauce. And when I finally did get to eat my noodles, they would drag across the sauce so the very end of the noodles got a Sriracha swipe, resulting in one big bite of noodle ends and sriracha sauce. Make of that what you will.
All complaining about Sriracha aside, it was much needed. This had to be the blandest lo-mein I have ever had. I found myself dousing it with soy sauce and putting sriracha on my chopsticks for any flavor. I can't say if my taste buds were burnt out after eating different foods, but this was only my 2nd or 3rd day there. Who knows where the blame is, but the slow service didn't help matters.
Sorry, Hoshun.
The exterior looks modern and posh in comparison to the hundreds of smaller, older restaraunts within a 5 mile radius. The interior is no different, it is large, dim, and well decorated. I waited 10 minutes (even though the restaraunt was half empty...) and was then seated at a table. I started browsing the menu, and was disapointed to see the prices on the menu display were in fact, the lunch prices. This could have easily been an oversight on my part, but I don't recall the display as being a lunch menu only. So I felt a little tricked.
I decided against sushi (yes - shocking I know) and decided on the Crab and Crawfish Rangoon (Sweet snow crab, cream cheese & crawfish in a fried wonton - $6.25) and the Chicken Lo-Mein (Classic stir-fry lo mein with mixed veggies & a choice of chicken, roasted pork, gulf shrimp or crawfish - $9.50 for chicken.) I have only had crawfish one time, and it was years ago at a terrible restaraunt in MN. So I figured I would try it inside an already familiar food to ease myself into it.
After waiting around 30 minutes (seriously...what is with the slow service in NOLA??) I got my appetizer, which was extremely hot. I figured I would be nice to my mouth, and pull off the hard, crunchy edges and eat them piece by piece while I let the filling cool. The sauce was awesome, a step above the usual goopy sweet and sour mutation. It was sweet and spicy. Once the wontons finally cooled (took about 10 minutes), I was able to dig in. I was delighted at how well the ingredients meshed together - the richness of the cream cheese against the distinctly sweet crab and crawfish. Cream cheese wontons (or crab rangoons) may seem simple, but I have had my share of bad ones. These were among the best I have had!
Chicken Lo Mein
I finished my appetizer, and 10-15 minutes later the biggest heaping pile of noodles I have ever seen was placed in front of me. It was also piping hot, with thick steam coming off it. Which is not exactly a complaint, because I know it was made right then. But by this time, I was just kinda of frustrated with all the waiting. I had to wait a good 1-2 minutes before eating each bite I pulled out of the pile. No continous eating for me at Hoshun.
Looks pretty, right? I found the Sriracha squiggles a bit annoying, being right there on the edge. I had to be very careful not to let my hair, sleeves, arm e.t.c. drag through the sauce. And when I finally did get to eat my noodles, they would drag across the sauce so the very end of the noodles got a Sriracha swipe, resulting in one big bite of noodle ends and sriracha sauce. Make of that what you will.
All complaining about Sriracha aside, it was much needed. This had to be the blandest lo-mein I have ever had. I found myself dousing it with soy sauce and putting sriracha on my chopsticks for any flavor. I can't say if my taste buds were burnt out after eating different foods, but this was only my 2nd or 3rd day there. Who knows where the blame is, but the slow service didn't help matters.
Sorry, Hoshun.
St. Charles Tavern - New Orleans, LA
On my recent trip to New Orleans, I was filled with anticipation for some good food experiences. I wanted to try a few classics, and there are no shortage of them anywhere you dine in New Orleans. So a local friend and I headed off to St. Charles Tavern, just a few blocks from my hotel.
Inside the yellow building, the decor is cheerful and airy with a continuing yellow color scheme. I found the stone tiled floor to be quite lovely, and the specials chalkboard was old fashioned and charming. Definitely no frills, but relaxing nonetheless.
The menu offers a step above standard bar-fare, and is affordable. They boast a pretty awesome breakfast (chocolate chip pancakes, chicken and andouille hash) and I have some serious remorse about not getting to try the breakfast items. Oh well..next time!
Looking at the menu, I almost immediately decided I needed to try a po' boy. They have a wide selection of them, and I had never tried one. I decided on the shrimp po' boy (hand breaded gulf shrimp, comes with fries - $9.75) and my company ordered a burger (which comes with a baked potato..)
Inside the yellow building, the decor is cheerful and airy with a continuing yellow color scheme. I found the stone tiled floor to be quite lovely, and the specials chalkboard was old fashioned and charming. Definitely no frills, but relaxing nonetheless.
The menu offers a step above standard bar-fare, and is affordable. They boast a pretty awesome breakfast (chocolate chip pancakes, chicken and andouille hash) and I have some serious remorse about not getting to try the breakfast items. Oh well..next time!
Looking at the menu, I almost immediately decided I needed to try a po' boy. They have a wide selection of them, and I had never tried one. I decided on the shrimp po' boy (hand breaded gulf shrimp, comes with fries - $9.75) and my company ordered a burger (which comes with a baked potato..)
Let me just get some complaining out of the way now so I can say how TERRIBLY SLOW the service was. Our waitress was ok, but our food took at least 30 minutes to come....and maybe that's even too kind of me.
Onto the food - I really liked the sandwich. Being that I don't have much (ok...anything) to compare it to is the only thing that prevents me from saying I loved it. Being Minnesotan, very rarely do I get to taste truly good seafood. My friend said he doesn't like po' boys because the bread is too chewy and he ends up squishing the sandwiches. I can see that. But I loved the bread - it was a little chewy, but it was also soft and light so it wasn't like you were chewing a gummy rock. It was fully dressed (mayo, lettuce, tomato) and wasn't disheveled or goopy. The shrimp inside was lovely - too often have I had fried shrimp that tastes like....fried breading. These were nice and pink, plump and toothsome; even amongst all the other components. The fries were crinkle cut, and had a good bit of seasoning (cajun?) that was a nice compliment.
Upon going to Urbanspoon to rate St. Charles Tavern, I felt stuck. I liked the food, but the service was terrible. I asked for my check, and after 20 minutes my friend ended up having to yell for it. The waitress explained they were having trouble with their machine, so she just told me my total and I paid her. This brings attention to my inner debate about food vs. service. Good food is good food, but having a bad experience can darken my outlook on a place. For now - I've decided to leave a blank vote, until I return and eat there again.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sarna's - Columbia Heights/ 2 parts.
PART ONE.
While I have the luxury of a late start time with my new job, I have been taking advantage of eating out places, specifically lunch. I've always passed by Sarna's, and decided to stop by one afternoon.
Sarna's is a very spacious and inviting space. Walking in, you are met with stone fireplaces and a little chef statue. Cozy and inviting. In the dining area, there are 2 sides, elevated and separated by a long bar down the middle. The space is airy, with light wood and high ceilings. There are plenty of booths (a little disorienting, with their granny flower-patterned fabric), and some dining and pub tables. I was seated immediately (amongst many blue haired folk) and my waitress chatted me up a minute before fetching me my diet coke. She was a little bit of a busy-body, but ultimately very friendly and not fake or annoying.
Sarna's offers your standard american cuisine. Burgers, sandwiches, meatloaf, pasta and the like. In a rare gesture, I decided to try out the Juicy Lucy (A half pound burger stuffed with bacon and cheddar cheese then served on a toasted bun-$9.) Let me just clarify now that no, I do not have a "favorite" juicy lucy. I find them to be quite overrated, when I can make them successfully at home.
My waitress even punched my lunch card twice because she swore she had "seen me before." I left with full intent to come back.
PART TWO
Sarna's has a special every night of the week. Mondays are $4 martini's (!!) and bar bingo night, e.t.c. Recently, Mr. C and I have been trying to suss out some serious steak adventures, and Sarna fit the missing piece to the puzzle. They have T-Bone steaks on special every Sunday! So, during the most recent snowmaggedon (and about the 87th one so far this winter), we slipped and slid our way to Sarna's for some steeeeaaak.
We were seated in Sarna's, de-armored ourselves, and perused some menus. To my sheer delight, not only did they have T-Bone on special (14 oz, potato and salad = $17) they ALSO have half price bottles of wine. This is awesome on it's own, but it's more awesome at Sarna's for 3 reasons. A) there are no restrictions on what type of wine you can get, B) all their bottles are like $25, and C) they have a good selection. On this particular Sunday night, they also were offering a New York Strip special (with mashed tatoes and a veggie = $16.) Ordering steak doneness in MN is a gamble. I like a medium steak, and too often are they well done when I get them. So when I ordered, I put emphasis on the medium, and Mr. C made sure to order his medium well. We tasted a sample of the Makulu Cabernet, and decided on it.(http://www.organicwinetradecompany.com/brands/wines/makulu-cabernet.html)
I know to most, a ceasar salad is just an afterthought. But to me, a salad is probably the most important part. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by the salads, and they are too often done so wrong. The ceaser here was perfect. Nicely tossed, crispy, salty and fresh. Word.
After about 10-15 minutes, the steaks came.
T-Bone
I dug in, and almost passed out from the bliss. Slender at an inch thick, and perfectly seasoned (read: not over-seasoned). I panicked a little when starting at the edges, as they were well done, though not at all dry. But I relaxed when I reached the center, as it was a perfectly cooked pink medium. The steak was juicy, savory, salty, melted in my mouth and had the perfect amount of char flavor.
The strip is a thicker cut of steak, around 2 inches thick. I found this cut to have a little more depth of savory, while the T-Bone is a more straightforward meat. The mashed potatoes were of the red bliss variety, which is my personal favorite. Even the broccoli was perfectly al dente and simple. Lasltly, I can not say enough about the importance of done-ness, and Sarna's hit it spot on. Mr. C's was indeed a slightly more well done steak, but with a kiss of pink to keep it tender. Perfect.
I'm not a big dessert person, but this is the best dessert I have had in a restaurant. Ever. The cake was warm, the chocolate was thick and gooey, and the ice cream was cold but creamy. Mr. C and I ooohed and aahhed and basically licked the plate clean.
This was hands down one of the meals AND dining experiences I have ever had. The staff is super friendly, our waitress was really cool and not annoying or bland. They have a shots menu, and one shot is called the Lindsey Lohan. We were curious, so we asked our waitress about it, who went to a manager standing nearby and asked, who then looked at us and called out "It's a red headed slut on coke!"
I am going back to Sarna's many times.
http://www.sarnas-classic-grill.com/
While I have the luxury of a late start time with my new job, I have been taking advantage of eating out places, specifically lunch. I've always passed by Sarna's, and decided to stop by one afternoon.
Sarna's is a very spacious and inviting space. Walking in, you are met with stone fireplaces and a little chef statue. Cozy and inviting. In the dining area, there are 2 sides, elevated and separated by a long bar down the middle. The space is airy, with light wood and high ceilings. There are plenty of booths (a little disorienting, with their granny flower-patterned fabric), and some dining and pub tables. I was seated immediately (amongst many blue haired folk) and my waitress chatted me up a minute before fetching me my diet coke. She was a little bit of a busy-body, but ultimately very friendly and not fake or annoying.
Sarna's offers your standard american cuisine. Burgers, sandwiches, meatloaf, pasta and the like. In a rare gesture, I decided to try out the Juicy Lucy (A half pound burger stuffed with bacon and cheddar cheese then served on a toasted bun-$9.) Let me just clarify now that no, I do not have a "favorite" juicy lucy. I find them to be quite overrated, when I can make them successfully at home.
I had all sorts of worries about this, mainly for the cheddar. Cheddar is my least favorite hot-sandwich cheese, because it's oily, doesn't melt well, or retain it's sharp flavor when melted. So I waited the standard 5 minutes and munched on some fries. The fries are nothing outstanding. I prefer a meatier fry, but these are nice and crispy. I doused my burger with K & M, and dove in.
How wrong I was. Oh how wrong. The burger was fabulous. Not too juicy/greasy, and a thick generous portion. Very simple and uncomplicated by a laundry list of spices, or a fussy bun. And when I got to the center, I was pleasantly surprised that the cheese was ooey, gooey and tasted like....cheddar! The bacon (which I feared may be soggy/non-existent) was crunchy and chopped in little bits. This is bacon cheeseburger, ultra defined. I found myself gobbling up almost all of it, savoring the cheesey/bacon/beefy/bready sensations.
My waitress even punched my lunch card twice because she swore she had "seen me before." I left with full intent to come back.PART TWO
Sarna's has a special every night of the week. Mondays are $4 martini's (!!) and bar bingo night, e.t.c. Recently, Mr. C and I have been trying to suss out some serious steak adventures, and Sarna fit the missing piece to the puzzle. They have T-Bone steaks on special every Sunday! So, during the most recent snowmaggedon (and about the 87th one so far this winter), we slipped and slid our way to Sarna's for some steeeeaaak.
We were seated in Sarna's, de-armored ourselves, and perused some menus. To my sheer delight, not only did they have T-Bone on special (14 oz, potato and salad = $17) they ALSO have half price bottles of wine. This is awesome on it's own, but it's more awesome at Sarna's for 3 reasons. A) there are no restrictions on what type of wine you can get, B) all their bottles are like $25, and C) they have a good selection. On this particular Sunday night, they also were offering a New York Strip special (with mashed tatoes and a veggie = $16.) Ordering steak doneness in MN is a gamble. I like a medium steak, and too often are they well done when I get them. So when I ordered, I put emphasis on the medium, and Mr. C made sure to order his medium well. We tasted a sample of the Makulu Cabernet, and decided on it.(http://www.organicwinetradecompany.com/brands/wines/makulu-cabernet.html)
I know to most, a ceasar salad is just an afterthought. But to me, a salad is probably the most important part. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by the salads, and they are too often done so wrong. The ceaser here was perfect. Nicely tossed, crispy, salty and fresh. Word.
After about 10-15 minutes, the steaks came.
T-Bone
I dug in, and almost passed out from the bliss. Slender at an inch thick, and perfectly seasoned (read: not over-seasoned). I panicked a little when starting at the edges, as they were well done, though not at all dry. But I relaxed when I reached the center, as it was a perfectly cooked pink medium. The steak was juicy, savory, salty, melted in my mouth and had the perfect amount of char flavor.New York Strip
The strip is a thicker cut of steak, around 2 inches thick. I found this cut to have a little more depth of savory, while the T-Bone is a more straightforward meat. The mashed potatoes were of the red bliss variety, which is my personal favorite. Even the broccoli was perfectly al dente and simple. Lasltly, I can not say enough about the importance of done-ness, and Sarna's hit it spot on. Mr. C's was indeed a slightly more well done steak, but with a kiss of pink to keep it tender. Perfect.As if we needed to eat more, the waitress convinced us into dessert. We decided on a scoop of ice cream with a molten chocolate cake, drizzled with whipped cream, chocolate and caramel sauce.
I'm not a big dessert person, but this is the best dessert I have had in a restaurant. Ever. The cake was warm, the chocolate was thick and gooey, and the ice cream was cold but creamy. Mr. C and I ooohed and aahhed and basically licked the plate clean.
This was hands down one of the meals AND dining experiences I have ever had. The staff is super friendly, our waitress was really cool and not annoying or bland. They have a shots menu, and one shot is called the Lindsey Lohan. We were curious, so we asked our waitress about it, who went to a manager standing nearby and asked, who then looked at us and called out "It's a red headed slut on coke!"
I am going back to Sarna's many times.
http://www.sarnas-classic-grill.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)