Date
1/3/2012
Location
1 East Franklin Pike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
What I ate
Fall squash soup with marshmallow, roasted pear, and brown butter
Sea bass, "sugo alla fagioli", broccoli rabe, smoked garlic
Fig hazelnut tart
Who went
The whole family
Website
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern
Thoughts
Disclaimer - I wrote this almost 4 weeks after we actually went, so the details are a little fuzzy.
Our directions were a little screwy, but we found the Inn without too much searching. The bar area seems like a great place to hang out, a nice relaxing evening with good food. The dining room has a very cozy feel to it, complete with a fireplace. Yes, they had candles in it instead of a real fire, but that probably would've made things uncomfortably warm and unnecessarily exciting for anyone coming too close to the flames. I'm glad we were one of two families in our section of the dining room; it would've been a little cramped to have more people in there. I don't remember much about our waiter other than that he was particularly knowledgeable about the food and the area (we had to get Dan at the train station), both of which were helpful.
When we were looking for a place to go, I remember the marshmallow in soup as a pretty striking idea; it lived up to expectations. The little bit of burnt sweetness made those spoonfuls quite good. I know it's tough to balance, but I would've liked that little background sweet taste to be throughout the soup, not just the little spot where the marshmallow melted. The pear should have helped, but I couldn't detect much of that flavor. The smoked garlic was pretty strong and helped keep the broccoli interesting. The fish was well cooked; crispy fish skin is quickly becoming one of my favorite things. I'm still not entirely sure what sugo alla fagioli is, but it was mostly beans and a tasty way to make it a more filling dish. All of the things that go into that dessert are among my favorites, so I was off in my own blissful world during that course.
It looks like they do a bunch of special events, notably craft beer tastings. If you're in the area, I'd keep an eye on their calendar and find something that sounds like fun; it shouldn't be difficult.
Recap
Pros - Good food, comfortable setting
Cons - Probably not great if crowded
Overall - It was a really good meal and a great time to catch up with my grandparents. I don't know if the food alone was worth the hour-long drive, but that was because we were finding a central meeting point. If you're in the area, I definitely recommend stopping in and getting a meal.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, September 25, 2011
622 North
Date
9/25/2011
Location
North end of downtown
622 North Main Street
What I ate
Wisconsin cheddar ale soup
Linguine diavolo
Who went
Kelly, Justin, Jackie, Courtney, Curtis, Sheree, Tim, Sara, Emily, Chris
Website
622 North
Thoughts
I've driven past this place dozens of times without giving serious thought to eating there. It's a pretty unassuming location - close enough to downtown to be lumped into that strip but far enough from the more highly-trafficked areas not to get that much notice. We were in the dining area, but the bar menu looked pretty good and, while it's a bit small, the bar seems like a good place to catch a game. That said, they should clearly mark where each section is. It was a little off-putting to walk into the bar expecting a fancy dining room.
They did a good job with the decor, going for the quaint-but-fancy bistro look. We were all a little surprised at the space, rather the lack thereof. Our waiter was attentive and nice; our drinks were out quickly and quickly refilled. Our food, however, took quite a while to make it to our table. They have an impressive roster of beers and wines as well as a fun menu to read. We spent a while discussing the range of options. The 3- and 4-course tasting menus look interesting, though they aren't much of a deal compared to those items individually.
Once it arrived, the food certainly did not disappoint. My soup was really good - I'm going to have to try to turn some homebrews into something similar. Courtney got a massive salad that probably could've passed for a meal itself. My pasta was one of the better ones I've had in a while. The sauce was great - multiple people can attest to that - and the vegetables with it were surprisingly good. The corn added a good texture and the peppers were tasty, too. With any luck, the rest of the group will weigh in on what they had - there was a good variety of soups, salads, entrees, and desserts all around the table.
Recap
Good - really tasty food, nice ambiance
Bad - slow service
Overall - The food was great and it's a nice place for a good dinner out as long as your group likes conversation. I'll definitely be back.
9/25/2011
Location
North end of downtown
622 North Main Street
What I ate
Wisconsin cheddar ale soup
Linguine diavolo
Who went
Kelly, Justin, Jackie, Courtney, Curtis, Sheree, Tim, Sara, Emily, Chris
Website
622 North
Thoughts
I've driven past this place dozens of times without giving serious thought to eating there. It's a pretty unassuming location - close enough to downtown to be lumped into that strip but far enough from the more highly-trafficked areas not to get that much notice. We were in the dining area, but the bar menu looked pretty good and, while it's a bit small, the bar seems like a good place to catch a game. That said, they should clearly mark where each section is. It was a little off-putting to walk into the bar expecting a fancy dining room.
They did a good job with the decor, going for the quaint-but-fancy bistro look. We were all a little surprised at the space, rather the lack thereof. Our waiter was attentive and nice; our drinks were out quickly and quickly refilled. Our food, however, took quite a while to make it to our table. They have an impressive roster of beers and wines as well as a fun menu to read. We spent a while discussing the range of options. The 3- and 4-course tasting menus look interesting, though they aren't much of a deal compared to those items individually.
Once it arrived, the food certainly did not disappoint. My soup was really good - I'm going to have to try to turn some homebrews into something similar. Courtney got a massive salad that probably could've passed for a meal itself. My pasta was one of the better ones I've had in a while. The sauce was great - multiple people can attest to that - and the vegetables with it were surprisingly good. The corn added a good texture and the peppers were tasty, too. With any luck, the rest of the group will weigh in on what they had - there was a good variety of soups, salads, entrees, and desserts all around the table.
Recap
Good - really tasty food, nice ambiance
Bad - slow service
Overall - The food was great and it's a nice place for a good dinner out as long as your group likes conversation. I'll definitely be back.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Amelia's
Date
9/16/2011
Location
Christiansburg, just off of 460
1130 Cambria Street NE
What I ate
Chicken of Modena (with tomatoes and broccoli, balsamic vinegar sauce, over breaded eggplant)
Who went
Will, Jess, Seth, Rachel, Cassie, Jay, Laura, and Sara
Thoughts
First impressions are not always the best impressions. Amelia's is just off of 460, in a little residential area, and doesn't look that great from the outside. Not bad, just nothing special. Inside, it has all the hallmarks of "generic Italian place from home" right down to the little vending machines in the lobby. I'm fairly certain we were in the room reserved for parties, so I didn't really mind the folding tables. All of these things together were making me start to doubt the good reviews I had heard before making the trip.
The review were certainly vindicated shortly after we sat down. Our waitress was nice and willing to give honest opinions about her favorite dishes which was very helpful because a few of us were paralyzed by the paradox of choice. The menu had a bunch of interesting dishes (see: what I ate) to go along with a bunch of Italian standards. There was also a good selection of sub and pizza options. My chicken was really good, especially when I could pull together a bite of all of the elements of the dish. There was more breading than eggplant under the chicken, but eggplant wasn't the focus of the dish so I wasn't too disappointed. All in all, it was plenty of tasty food for a pretty good price.
Recap
Pros - Good food, friendly service
Cons - Nothing glaring unless you have restrictions on carbs or dairy, but then you shouldn't be getting Italian food...
Overall - Definitely worth the trip. I admittedly haven't explored many of the options around town, but I'm certain Amelia's is among the best Italian places near Blacksburg.
9/16/2011
Location
Christiansburg, just off of 460
1130 Cambria Street NE
What I ate
Chicken of Modena (with tomatoes and broccoli, balsamic vinegar sauce, over breaded eggplant)
Who went
Will, Jess, Seth, Rachel, Cassie, Jay, Laura, and Sara
Thoughts
First impressions are not always the best impressions. Amelia's is just off of 460, in a little residential area, and doesn't look that great from the outside. Not bad, just nothing special. Inside, it has all the hallmarks of "generic Italian place from home" right down to the little vending machines in the lobby. I'm fairly certain we were in the room reserved for parties, so I didn't really mind the folding tables. All of these things together were making me start to doubt the good reviews I had heard before making the trip.
The review were certainly vindicated shortly after we sat down. Our waitress was nice and willing to give honest opinions about her favorite dishes which was very helpful because a few of us were paralyzed by the paradox of choice. The menu had a bunch of interesting dishes (see: what I ate) to go along with a bunch of Italian standards. There was also a good selection of sub and pizza options. My chicken was really good, especially when I could pull together a bite of all of the elements of the dish. There was more breading than eggplant under the chicken, but eggplant wasn't the focus of the dish so I wasn't too disappointed. All in all, it was plenty of tasty food for a pretty good price.
Recap
Pros - Good food, friendly service
Cons - Nothing glaring unless you have restrictions on carbs or dairy, but then you shouldn't be getting Italian food...
Overall - Definitely worth the trip. I admittedly haven't explored many of the options around town, but I'm certain Amelia's is among the best Italian places near Blacksburg.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Al Dente
Date
7/12/2011
Location
925 2nd Street SE
Ix Building
What I ate
Asparagus cream soup
Carpaccio with arugula, parmigiano, olive oil, and truffle oil dressing
Parmigiano gnocchi with arugula and caramelized onions in a gorgonzola cream sauce
Braised leg of lamb with rosemary and figs
Who went
Kelly, Meghan, Matt, Patrick, and Miles
Website
Ristorante Al Dente
Thoughts
After missing out on three consecutive Restaurant Weeks, I finally made it back and it couldn't have been any better. I found a handful of friends who would be around or passing through and we went to place that was new to all of us. The Ix building was a little tough to find - it's easier to go by way of 6th Street - but it's a really nice spot. Al Dente is off in the corner and has a pretty garden with some trees screening your view of the construction on the other side. The restaurant itself is a nice, little space and everything, from the furniture to the silverware, is old; they make it work well. Our waiter did a great job of being around only a little bit and making light conversation when he was there, but letting us talk and eat uninterrupted most of the time. While we never wanted for a conversation topic, it did take a little while between some of the courses.
Most importantly, there was food! I need to mention how this menu is different from other RW menus (and it's not even Passover!) - not only did we get a bowl of soup in addition to the three courses, but they offer a traditional Italian dinner menu, giving us an appetizer, a pasta course, and a meat course. Sure, we missed out on dessert, but we had a lot of great food; I'll take that trade.
The big stalk of asparagus in our soup was a little cumbersome, but was a nice touch when I figured out how to cut it using my spoon and the side of the bowl. The soup itself was delicious and a really nice way to start the meal. While looking at the RW menus, it was tough to differentiate between things that looked delicious and things that looked really tasty. Then I stumbled across something that has been on my "to eat" list for a long time. The carpaccio did not disappoint! To say it tasted like the best rare roast beef I've ever had is an understatement. The bite of beef, parmigiano, and arugula with the dressing was just awesome. If I can find beef I trust around here, I'm going to try to recreate this dish. The gnocchi were quite good and, had this not been a fancy dinner, it's entirely possible I would have eaten the sauce with a spoon.
Yes, I usually talk about all of the food in one paragraph, but the lamb deserves some special attention. I've been craving figs ever since our fig trees at home started showing fruit. This hit the spot and then some. The lamb was tender, the figs were sweet and delicious, and the sauce was a great way to tie them together. There was something awesome on the side that I can only describe as a "squash hash". All in all, it was just a really tasty plate of food.
Recap
Pros - great food, relaxed but still refined atmosphere
Cons - a little too long between courses
Overall - This was such a good meal; I'd call it one of the best dinners I've had in a long time. I can't believe I hadn't found this place in 5 years of living in Charlottesville. If you live there or are just passing through, you should seek it out and have some outstanding Italian food.
P.S. Meghan had some interesting chicken-filled rice balls. They had a nice crispy texture but there wasn't that much taste to 'em. I told her I'd mention them, but you should look for her comment.
7/12/2011
Location
925 2nd Street SE
Ix Building
What I ate
Asparagus cream soup
Carpaccio with arugula, parmigiano, olive oil, and truffle oil dressing
Parmigiano gnocchi with arugula and caramelized onions in a gorgonzola cream sauce
Braised leg of lamb with rosemary and figs
Who went
Kelly, Meghan, Matt, Patrick, and Miles
Website
Ristorante Al Dente
Thoughts
After missing out on three consecutive Restaurant Weeks, I finally made it back and it couldn't have been any better. I found a handful of friends who would be around or passing through and we went to place that was new to all of us. The Ix building was a little tough to find - it's easier to go by way of 6th Street - but it's a really nice spot. Al Dente is off in the corner and has a pretty garden with some trees screening your view of the construction on the other side. The restaurant itself is a nice, little space and everything, from the furniture to the silverware, is old; they make it work well. Our waiter did a great job of being around only a little bit and making light conversation when he was there, but letting us talk and eat uninterrupted most of the time. While we never wanted for a conversation topic, it did take a little while between some of the courses.
Most importantly, there was food! I need to mention how this menu is different from other RW menus (and it's not even Passover!) - not only did we get a bowl of soup in addition to the three courses, but they offer a traditional Italian dinner menu, giving us an appetizer, a pasta course, and a meat course. Sure, we missed out on dessert, but we had a lot of great food; I'll take that trade.
The big stalk of asparagus in our soup was a little cumbersome, but was a nice touch when I figured out how to cut it using my spoon and the side of the bowl. The soup itself was delicious and a really nice way to start the meal. While looking at the RW menus, it was tough to differentiate between things that looked delicious and things that looked really tasty. Then I stumbled across something that has been on my "to eat" list for a long time. The carpaccio did not disappoint! To say it tasted like the best rare roast beef I've ever had is an understatement. The bite of beef, parmigiano, and arugula with the dressing was just awesome. If I can find beef I trust around here, I'm going to try to recreate this dish. The gnocchi were quite good and, had this not been a fancy dinner, it's entirely possible I would have eaten the sauce with a spoon.
Yes, I usually talk about all of the food in one paragraph, but the lamb deserves some special attention. I've been craving figs ever since our fig trees at home started showing fruit. This hit the spot and then some. The lamb was tender, the figs were sweet and delicious, and the sauce was a great way to tie them together. There was something awesome on the side that I can only describe as a "squash hash". All in all, it was just a really tasty plate of food.
Recap
Pros - great food, relaxed but still refined atmosphere
Cons - a little too long between courses
Overall - This was such a good meal; I'd call it one of the best dinners I've had in a long time. I can't believe I hadn't found this place in 5 years of living in Charlottesville. If you live there or are just passing through, you should seek it out and have some outstanding Italian food.
P.S. Meghan had some interesting chicken-filled rice balls. They had a nice crispy texture but there wasn't that much taste to 'em. I told her I'd mention them, but you should look for her comment.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Semolina
Date
What I ate
8” Chorizo pizza: Spanish chorizo sausage, Guindillas de Ibarra, cilantro, bittersweet Spanish paprika, red peppadews, fresh mozzarella, and San Marzano tomato sauce.
Thoughts
2010 has been the year of The Pizza in Cville. With Fry’s Spring Station (formerly a car garage), Brixx (formerly Boston Market) and Rise Pizza Works opening - not to mention classics like Christian’s Pizza - the gourmet pizza market may seem a little saturated. Semolina is a sort of branch off from Basil Mediterranean Restaurant with both having the same owner.
9/1/2010
Location
1329 W. Main St.
Location
1329 W. Main St.
Charlottesville, VA
What I ate
8” Chorizo pizza: Spanish chorizo sausage, Guindillas de Ibarra, cilantro, bittersweet Spanish paprika, red peppadews, fresh mozzarella, and San Marzano tomato sauce.
Malheur 10 golden ale
http://www.semolinacville.com/about.html
Thoughts
2010 has been the year of The Pizza in Cville. With Fry’s Spring Station (formerly a car garage), Brixx (formerly Boston Market) and Rise Pizza Works opening - not to mention classics like Christian’s Pizza - the gourmet pizza market may seem a little saturated. Semolina is a sort of branch off from Basil Mediterranean Restaurant with both having the same owner.
Walking into the restaurant, you’re ushered upstairs where the seating is with the downstairs being reserved for the kitchen and take-out service. The place is covered in World Market décor, but the food and beer is anything but cookie-cutter. Katie got there about 45 minutes after everyone and had to brave the extraordinary girth of the beer and food menus alone. This place has a serious variety of approximately 200 beers with everything from Yuengling to Barley Wines to organic beers. The beers we tried between the four of us: the previously mentioned Malheur 10, Augustijn Ale, Hacker-Pschorr Weizze, Orkney Dark Reserve, Ayinger Brau Weisse, Pinkus Organic Pilsner, and the Brewdog Hardcore (an imperial IPA). Apparently their heffeweizens are pretty good since they were out of all but the Hacker. None of them disappointed as we all took at least a sip from each, and everyone agreed that the Malheur had a way of working every different tastebud in your mouth.
The pizza. Wow. I’ve really enjoyed going to Fry’s Spring since it opened, but this place puts FSS to shame. Not only does it have more combinations, but the variety and quality of the toppings is amazing. We all seriously had a hard time narrowing it down to about 4 different pies (I kept an eye on the Venison and Blueberry as well as the Wild Boar and Cranberry pizzas). In the end Nora got a clam and bacon, Tiff the bleu cheese, and Katie the Florentine. Again, as with the beers, we all sampled one another’s and, again, a round of “yums.” The flavors of each pizza exploded on the palate. My chorizo was excellent and totally did its Spanish inspiration right.
I also love places that have a pitcher of water on the table, and it was a good thing for this place to have since it was really warm inside. About halfway through the meal, we had to ask the waiter to adjust the air conditioning. Random observation: The huge, sharp knives on the table made everyone want to put it between their teeth and swing from ropes boarding ships pirate-style.
Recap
Pros -moderate prices, ample beer list, GREAT pizza
Cons - can be a little on the warm side temperature-wise
Overall - Overall, this place is definitely worth another (and probably more) visit since there are plenty of other tasty entrees and beers to try. At one point, Nora pointed out that the place was technically just a “beer and pizza” joint, but it’s definitely somewhere you should take a friend in from out of town.
Recap
Pros -moderate prices, ample beer list, GREAT pizza
Cons - can be a little on the warm side temperature-wise
Overall - Overall, this place is definitely worth another (and probably more) visit since there are plenty of other tasty entrees and beers to try. At one point, Nora pointed out that the place was technically just a “beer and pizza” joint, but it’s definitely somewhere you should take a friend in from out of town.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
15th Street Fisheries
Date
3/9/10
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1900 SE 15th Street, Fort Lauderdale
What I ate
Grilled swordfish with mushrooms, potatoes, and broccolini
What Kelly ate
Seared diver scallops with parmesan risotto and sweet onion marmalade
Trio of creme brulees - coffee, vanilla, chocolate-tarragon (I helped!)
Who went
Kelly, Grandma, Grandpa
Website
http://www.15streetfisheries.com/index.html
Thoughts
My grandparents have started the transition to being actual snowbirds, so Kelly and I met up with them when I was down in Florida for a visit. Spending most of my time landlocked, I can't pass up the opportunity for fresh seafood and this place looked like it would fit the bill. They embrace the nautical theme and have a bunch of seafood options. That said, take a look at the menu before you go. If you aren't that fond of seafood, there are limited options. There are no vegetarian entrees. Still, if you've going for fish, it has what you seek.
Note - I'm writing this review a few months after I actually ate the food, so my memory isn't quite as vivid as some other posts.
Simply put, the food was really good. I probably could've used a slightly larger piece of fish, but that's being picky. It was well-cooked and seasoned, and the sides were good complements, albeit unspectacular on their own. I wish they had given me some of Kelly's onion marmalade instead; that was awesome. I sampled a little and, honestly, the taste of that and the chocolate-tarragon creme brulee (more on that later) are the two tastes that stand out the most in my memory. Everyone around the table spoke highly of their dishes, especially Kelly and Grandpa, both of whom had the scallops. About those creme brulees - I need to get a set of ramekins and learn to cook them. I've had a few flavored with herbs that seem like an odd idea but just taste great. The chocolate-tarragon was no exception. That said, the other two stood up really well, too. The vanilla was classic, the coffee was the tastiest, and the chocolate-tarragon was the most interesting.
As far as the non-food aspects of the dinner, they were varied. Our waitress was friendly and made good conversation, but she was a little pushy when it came to desserts. They were quite good and I can understand why they were proud of their newly-hired dessert chef, but I prefer to make that decision with less prodding. Being from out of town, I don't have a good handle on the prices. They seem expensive, but that could just be because I don't live in a city and that's what things really cost. Even still, it wasn't outlandish; I would still go there for a nice dinner out, but I wouldn't go there too regularly. The dining room is upstairs and overlooks the water, with a view of things across the way. After dinner, Kelly and I walked along the dock and admired the gaudy yachts. Some day...
Recap
Pros - delicious food, great view
Cons - limited non-seafood menu (no vegetarian option)
Overall - Definitely worth the trip. The food was great and it was pretty cool to overlook the water. Maybe the novelty isn't there for non-tourists, but it sure worked for me. It's certainly not a place to visit once a week, but if you're in the area and looking for a nice dinner out, give it a thought.
3/9/10
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1900 SE 15th Street, Fort Lauderdale
What I ate
Grilled swordfish with mushrooms, potatoes, and broccolini
What Kelly ate
Seared diver scallops with parmesan risotto and sweet onion marmalade
Trio of creme brulees - coffee, vanilla, chocolate-tarragon (I helped!)
Who went
Kelly, Grandma, Grandpa
Website
http://www.15streetfisheries.com/index.html
Thoughts
My grandparents have started the transition to being actual snowbirds, so Kelly and I met up with them when I was down in Florida for a visit. Spending most of my time landlocked, I can't pass up the opportunity for fresh seafood and this place looked like it would fit the bill. They embrace the nautical theme and have a bunch of seafood options. That said, take a look at the menu before you go. If you aren't that fond of seafood, there are limited options. There are no vegetarian entrees. Still, if you've going for fish, it has what you seek.
Note - I'm writing this review a few months after I actually ate the food, so my memory isn't quite as vivid as some other posts.
Simply put, the food was really good. I probably could've used a slightly larger piece of fish, but that's being picky. It was well-cooked and seasoned, and the sides were good complements, albeit unspectacular on their own. I wish they had given me some of Kelly's onion marmalade instead; that was awesome. I sampled a little and, honestly, the taste of that and the chocolate-tarragon creme brulee (more on that later) are the two tastes that stand out the most in my memory. Everyone around the table spoke highly of their dishes, especially Kelly and Grandpa, both of whom had the scallops. About those creme brulees - I need to get a set of ramekins and learn to cook them. I've had a few flavored with herbs that seem like an odd idea but just taste great. The chocolate-tarragon was no exception. That said, the other two stood up really well, too. The vanilla was classic, the coffee was the tastiest, and the chocolate-tarragon was the most interesting.
As far as the non-food aspects of the dinner, they were varied. Our waitress was friendly and made good conversation, but she was a little pushy when it came to desserts. They were quite good and I can understand why they were proud of their newly-hired dessert chef, but I prefer to make that decision with less prodding. Being from out of town, I don't have a good handle on the prices. They seem expensive, but that could just be because I don't live in a city and that's what things really cost. Even still, it wasn't outlandish; I would still go there for a nice dinner out, but I wouldn't go there too regularly. The dining room is upstairs and overlooks the water, with a view of things across the way. After dinner, Kelly and I walked along the dock and admired the gaudy yachts. Some day...
Recap
Pros - delicious food, great view
Cons - limited non-seafood menu (no vegetarian option)
Overall - Definitely worth the trip. The food was great and it was pretty cool to overlook the water. Maybe the novelty isn't there for non-tourists, but it sure worked for me. It's certainly not a place to visit once a week, but if you're in the area and looking for a nice dinner out, give it a thought.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Brenda's French Soul Food
Date
5/16/2010
Location
652 Polk Street, San Francisco
I'm pretty sure this is smack-dab in the middle of Tenderloin
What I ate
Sampler of beignets (regular, chocolate, apple, crawfish) with Ally and Spiller
Grillades and grits
Who went
Ally, Spiller, Melissa, Dan, Sarah, Squid
Website
http://frenchsoulfood.com/home.htm
Thoughts
First off, enormous hat tip to my friend Jeff. He's out in San Francisco working in the restaurant scene and now has 6 new friends wanting to thank him for the awesome recommendation. When I knew I needed culinary guidance, I immediately turned to him and he definitely didn't disappoint.
Let's get the boring things out of the way first. Keep reading, the fun part is just after. Yes, we had to wait. I think it was about an hour. We knew there would be a wait, but we didn't think it would be quite that long. They ended up putting the seven of us at the counter, which worked fine. The space is pretty small (max occupancy - 40) and there are a bunch of small tables. It was a little odd to be right in front of the mirror, but it actually worked out well as we could use it to see from one end of the group to the other. I can't talk about the non-food parts without talking about the great service. The beingets were out within about a minute - our waitress said they make hundreds every Sunday - but the rest of the food was out only a few minutes later. I was chatting with one of the waitresses as we were wrapping up (a fellow New Jerseyan from the county next to mine) and she passed me a sample of the delicious watermelon sweet tea. Entirely unnecessary, but greatly appreciated.
Now, the fun stuff. I knew I was in for a good food weekend from things like keeping tabs on my friend Jeff and following Mission Street Food, but I couldn't have predicted it would be this good. The beignets were little pillows of wonderful. The apple was really tasty, as was the crawfish. The little touch of spicy Old Bay made it onto the other three sweet ones, and it made things even better. The chocolate was so good I told Ally and Spiller that every day should start like this. At first, I thought I'd be fine just getting my main dish, but I'm really happy that we started with the beignets. Now, the amazing, I mean, main course. I don't have grits often, but now I think I'm about to start. The steak was so tender and the sauce was great; I think I have a new food memory to define "Creole". I had my eggs over easy - tasty, but definitely not the focus - and was able to sop everything up with the gigantic biscuit. It has been a very long time since I've had something this rich. Often, I walk away from a good meal thinking that I should learn to cook it and tweak it. With this, my goal is to try to recreate exactly the dish I had and I'm pretty sure it's going to be tough. Wow.
P.S. I don't want to say that the quality is in the same league, but I was able to check something off the life list after a visit to In-n-Out Burger - Double double, Animal style. Tasty!
Recap
Pros - amazing food, great service
Cons - beware the wait, somewhat cozy
Overall - Awesome. Go. I mean, like, right now. The food was delicious. The wait was long, but the food was entirely worth it. Just assume you'll have to wait a little bit and adjust your schedule, and you will have a great Sunday.
5/16/2010
Location
652 Polk Street, San Francisco
I'm pretty sure this is smack-dab in the middle of Tenderloin
What I ate
Sampler of beignets (regular, chocolate, apple, crawfish) with Ally and Spiller
Grillades and grits
Who went
Ally, Spiller, Melissa, Dan, Sarah, Squid
Website
http://frenchsoulfood.com/home.htm
Thoughts
First off, enormous hat tip to my friend Jeff. He's out in San Francisco working in the restaurant scene and now has 6 new friends wanting to thank him for the awesome recommendation. When I knew I needed culinary guidance, I immediately turned to him and he definitely didn't disappoint.
Let's get the boring things out of the way first. Keep reading, the fun part is just after. Yes, we had to wait. I think it was about an hour. We knew there would be a wait, but we didn't think it would be quite that long. They ended up putting the seven of us at the counter, which worked fine. The space is pretty small (max occupancy - 40) and there are a bunch of small tables. It was a little odd to be right in front of the mirror, but it actually worked out well as we could use it to see from one end of the group to the other. I can't talk about the non-food parts without talking about the great service. The beingets were out within about a minute - our waitress said they make hundreds every Sunday - but the rest of the food was out only a few minutes later. I was chatting with one of the waitresses as we were wrapping up (a fellow New Jerseyan from the county next to mine) and she passed me a sample of the delicious watermelon sweet tea. Entirely unnecessary, but greatly appreciated.
Now, the fun stuff. I knew I was in for a good food weekend from things like keeping tabs on my friend Jeff and following Mission Street Food, but I couldn't have predicted it would be this good. The beignets were little pillows of wonderful. The apple was really tasty, as was the crawfish. The little touch of spicy Old Bay made it onto the other three sweet ones, and it made things even better. The chocolate was so good I told Ally and Spiller that every day should start like this. At first, I thought I'd be fine just getting my main dish, but I'm really happy that we started with the beignets. Now, the amazing, I mean, main course. I don't have grits often, but now I think I'm about to start. The steak was so tender and the sauce was great; I think I have a new food memory to define "Creole". I had my eggs over easy - tasty, but definitely not the focus - and was able to sop everything up with the gigantic biscuit. It has been a very long time since I've had something this rich. Often, I walk away from a good meal thinking that I should learn to cook it and tweak it. With this, my goal is to try to recreate exactly the dish I had and I'm pretty sure it's going to be tough. Wow.
P.S. I don't want to say that the quality is in the same league, but I was able to check something off the life list after a visit to In-n-Out Burger - Double double, Animal style. Tasty!
Recap
Pros - amazing food, great service
Cons - beware the wait, somewhat cozy
Overall - Awesome. Go. I mean, like, right now. The food was delicious. The wait was long, but the food was entirely worth it. Just assume you'll have to wait a little bit and adjust your schedule, and you will have a great Sunday.
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