Posts
A week later we returned (see post of 11/7/09). Our nephew loves this type of food, so we decided to return with him.
They say you can never go back and it's true. This experience was quite different than last week's. First it was very crowded, so the noise level was high compared to last time. There are two sides to the restaurant, so maybe the accoustics vary from side to side.
We were seated for a while before our server came to offer drinks. That's not a good way to start. It really seemed that she had too many big tables, so throughout the evening we were always wanting for something or sitting their with our empty plates in front of us.
The food, however, was still good except for one thing, which I'll address later.
The menu does appear to change daily. There are some staples as far as proteins, just a different preparation.
I again started with the hamachi (I'm dieting so there aren't a whole lot of other choices). The preparation was basically the same, but the price this time was $15. Again I'm going to say it's not worth it.
My husband started with abalone. He was so excited to see abalone on the menu. It's one thing he really likes that you rarely see. I even tasted it (I was a little leary), but it had a great texture and a wonderful flavor. It was served with matsutake mushrooms, delicata squash and verjus.
My nephew had the Kentucky Fried Quail which was served on top of a waffle, topped with a fried quail egg and maple syrup. Now if I weren't dieting this is what I would have ordered. I did get a taste and it was very good. The quail was actually bigger than I would have expected.
For entrees I had Pan Seared Hawaiin Uhu served with pumpkin gnocchi, french beans, pine nuts, tomato and brown butter. First, let me say the pumpkin gnocchi was unbelievable. I was really wishing that there was more on the plate. Skip the fish, let's have more gnocchi! Actually the fish was very good too, perfectly cooked. The beans were a little crispy for my liking.
My husband had the Wood-fire Grilled Elk Tenderloin served with sweet potato and foie gras bread pudding, almonds, french beans and a foie gras emulsion. He loved it, but didn't really notice any foie gras flavor. I tasted it, also liked it and I didn't notice that flavor either and I really don't care for foie gras. I was pleasantly surprised that the elk did not have any gamey taste at all.
My nephew had the Lamb Rack served with garbanzo beans and many other things he doesn't eat. So basically all he ate was the lamb. Now I really do not like lamb, but tried it and it too had no gaminess to it all all. This is where the food went wrong. He had three racks. Two were sitting on top of the third. The first two were perfectly done, very pink in the center. The third one was well done. It almost seemed as if the chef was trying to hide the well done piece under the two perfect pieces because my nephew did not notice it until the very end. He was very disappointed.
Because my nephew was with us, dessert was considered. I did not order anything but tried both things that were ordered.
There was a peanut butter tart with grape sorbet and frozen whole milk. Peanut butter & jelly! And that's exactly what it tasted like.
The other dessert we ordered was flourless chocolate cake served with ice cream, a chocolate covered pretzel, peanut butter ball and condensed milk caramel. The cake was the best part.
Even though our experience was not as good as the first time, it doesn't mean we won't give it another shot. This restaurant falls into the category of "for the prices charged it better be good every time". If not, we're done.
http://hinterlandbeer.com/
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Hinterland Erie Street Gastropub - Milwaukee, WI
We were looking for something different and found this restaurant on Open Table. I believe we have probably overlooked it because of the name. To me the name gives a certain perception, which really turned out not to be true.
The atmosphere is so inviting. When you enter there is a really nice-sized bar on the left. The actual restaurant is up a couple steps. The tables are well-spaced, which is very important to me. I really don't like sitting along a bench where they always put couples. Usually tables are so close you end up listening to the conversation at the table next to you!
The server arrived promptly after we were seated and we had drinks right away. The wine by the glass is a little pricey, but the pours were decent.
Although our service was great, we overhead another server explaining the menu and he really went into great detail about the restaurant and how/why the menu changes every day. I was sorry we didn't get the full presentation.
The menu touts that they support local farms that practice sound agriculture and sustainable farming and that all fish is fresh and delivered daily from both coasts.
All the dishes are very creative and the entrees lean towards items you don't see routinely, like boar, bison and elk.
We started with appetizers. I ordered the Hamachi Sashimi which was served with chive and a mustard miso sauce. There was four pieces of sashimi presented very nicely. It was very good, but I would not say it was worth the $13 price.
My husband started with Elk Sausage Stuffed Calamari. Now that was worth every penny of the $12 price. It was served with a Roasted Poblano Cream Sauce. The flavors went very nicely together.
For entrees I had the Seared Diver Scallops served with morel mushrooms, quinoa, braised beef short ribs and a celery root emulsion. The portions are small, so you definitely need to order at least a salad or an appetizer in addition to the main course. Everything on my plate was excellent.
My husband had the Andouille Sausage Crusted Halibut service with fingerling potato, pancetta, sweet corn and bell pepper hash, chive aioli and a red hot butter sauce. This is similar to a dish he had at a related restaurant - Whistling Swan in Door County. We didn't even know they were related until tonight. This was just as good as the preparation in Door County. I tasted it and it
was very good, maybe a little too spicy for me.
We were very happy to have found this restaurant and look forward to coming back soon. It was a great surprise.
http://hinterlandbeer.com/
The atmosphere is so inviting. When you enter there is a really nice-sized bar on the left. The actual restaurant is up a couple steps. The tables are well-spaced, which is very important to me. I really don't like sitting along a bench where they always put couples. Usually tables are so close you end up listening to the conversation at the table next to you!
The server arrived promptly after we were seated and we had drinks right away. The wine by the glass is a little pricey, but the pours were decent.
Although our service was great, we overhead another server explaining the menu and he really went into great detail about the restaurant and how/why the menu changes every day. I was sorry we didn't get the full presentation.
The menu touts that they support local farms that practice sound agriculture and sustainable farming and that all fish is fresh and delivered daily from both coasts.
All the dishes are very creative and the entrees lean towards items you don't see routinely, like boar, bison and elk.
We started with appetizers. I ordered the Hamachi Sashimi which was served with chive and a mustard miso sauce. There was four pieces of sashimi presented very nicely. It was very good, but I would not say it was worth the $13 price.
My husband started with Elk Sausage Stuffed Calamari. Now that was worth every penny of the $12 price. It was served with a Roasted Poblano Cream Sauce. The flavors went very nicely together.
For entrees I had the Seared Diver Scallops served with morel mushrooms, quinoa, braised beef short ribs and a celery root emulsion. The portions are small, so you definitely need to order at least a salad or an appetizer in addition to the main course. Everything on my plate was excellent.
My husband had the Andouille Sausage Crusted Halibut service with fingerling potato, pancetta, sweet corn and bell pepper hash, chive aioli and a red hot butter sauce. This is similar to a dish he had at a related restaurant - Whistling Swan in Door County. We didn't even know they were related until tonight. This was just as good as the preparation in Door County. I tasted it and it
was very good, maybe a little too spicy for me.
We were very happy to have found this restaurant and look forward to coming back soon. It was a great surprise.
http://hinterlandbeer.com/
Monday, October 5, 2009
Spike's Bar & Grill - Eagle Ridge Resort - Galena, IL
This restaurant was the first stop on my mother's 70th birthday celebration weekend for 11 people. We chose this restaurant for lunch because we were going to be checking in at the resort later in the day.
There were good things about the food, such as the Black and White Soup, which was a mix of black bean and potato leek soup. They put them side by side in the bowl and somehow they manage to stay separated.
The people that ordered burgers were pleased with them. A couple of us ordered the Chicken Cordon Gouda which was grilled checken breast, ham, smoked gouda, lettuce, tomato and a roasted garlic spread on marbled rye bread. I noticed how dry the whole thing as soon as I took my first bite. I immediately asked the server for more garlic spread, hoping that would help, but by the time she came with it, I was done!
All in all the food was okay, it's what happened with the tip that was not. We didn't realize until we got home that the tip was already included in the bill, so we had also tipped on top of that. We called the manager as soon as we realized and they said it was their company policy to highlight or circle the tip so it's obvious. This was not done, so they refunded the automatic tip and the tip we left. We are very happy about the way they handled this; they did what was right.
www.eagleridgeresortonline.com
There were good things about the food, such as the Black and White Soup, which was a mix of black bean and potato leek soup. They put them side by side in the bowl and somehow they manage to stay separated.
The people that ordered burgers were pleased with them. A couple of us ordered the Chicken Cordon Gouda which was grilled checken breast, ham, smoked gouda, lettuce, tomato and a roasted garlic spread on marbled rye bread. I noticed how dry the whole thing as soon as I took my first bite. I immediately asked the server for more garlic spread, hoping that would help, but by the time she came with it, I was done!
All in all the food was okay, it's what happened with the tip that was not. We didn't realize until we got home that the tip was already included in the bill, so we had also tipped on top of that. We called the manager as soon as we realized and they said it was their company policy to highlight or circle the tip so it's obvious. This was not done, so they refunded the automatic tip and the tip we left. We are very happy about the way they handled this; they did what was right.
www.eagleridgeresortonline.com
Chancery - Kenosha, WI - ONE REQUEST
Grilled Chicken Breast!
We enjoy eating here for a lower cost alternative, but it's really hard to find something healthy to order. I'd like to eat healthy and still be able to eat out. I know you have fish and it's usually very good, but please consider adding a grilled chicken breast! Sometimes I'm not so adventurous about ordering fish.
We enjoy eating here for a lower cost alternative, but it's really hard to find something healthy to order. I'd like to eat healthy and still be able to eat out. I know you have fish and it's usually very good, but please consider adding a grilled chicken breast! Sometimes I'm not so adventurous about ordering fish.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Molly Cool's Seafood Tavern - Milwaukee, WI
We had to be in Milwaukee and wanted seafood, so we searched Open Table and came across this restaurant. I had never heard anything about it before, but the menu was just what we were looking for. Lately we seem to be choosing restaurants from Open Table; we are obsessed with earning points.
The first impression of the restaurant is very nice, except it was $5 to park right in front of the restaurant and for that $5 you have to park your own car!
The server first tried to seat us in the area with all the TV monitors, but we asked to be moved. The TV free section is very nice and a totally different atmosphere.
We first learned that it was "2 for 1" Happy Hour for rail and call cocktails, tap beer and house wine. We all ordered the wine. The waiter brought us each two glasses at the same time. At first I didn't like that idea (thought I would drink it too fast), but we were three people, so how else could it have worked? The house wine is very reasonably priced, so this was a great deal!
We each ordered an appetizer and shared. We had Fried Green Tomatoes with a remoulade sauce, PEI Mussels in a champagne cream sauce and Today's Razzle Dazzle Ceviche.
The tomatoes and mussels were excellent, but the ceviche was barely edible. First I should have asked what "Today's" meant and I probably would not have ordered it. I like ceviche made from lobster and shrimp plus lots of tomatoes and cilantro. This was basically fish pieces in a tomato based sauce (very watery) and that's basically it. No onions, tomatoes or cilantro. I believe what I like is Mexican ceviche; maybe this was some other version.
We were here on Thursday night which is Crab Lover's Thursday. You can get 1-1/2 lbs. of Red King Crab Legs for $19.95. What a deal! Especially when you see how much 1-1/2 lbs really is. We dine at Bob Chinn's a lot and their crab legs run between $35 and $50 for about the same amount. They started charging a premium for getting the crab legs without the knuckles, which just drives my husband crazy. It's not that he's totally against paying $50 for crab legs without the knuckles, but if you order the cheaper ones, all you get is knuckles. (Note to Bob: please bring back the price with the combination of both).
Our guest has also had crab legs at Bob Chinn's may times and he was very pleased with these crab legs and the quantity he got. He was actually surprised that they were as good as Bob Chinn's, maybe not as big, but tasted just as great.
My husband got the Florida Stuffed Grouper with shrimp, crawfish & brie cheese served with garlic mashed potatoes. He loved it. I had a taste too and it was unbelievably good.
I ordered the Parmesan Horseradish Crusted Halibut served with mashed potatoes, asparagus and stone ground mustard beurre blanc sauce. I was worried about the sauce, but the mustard was very mild and actually the sauce was very good. I loved my choice, but I think I would have to choose the grouper next time.
Besides the great service Ben gave us, the best part of this meal was the price. For 3 people (12 glasses of wine) the total before the tip was only $127. You can't beat that and it makes paying $5 for parking much more palatable.
Can't wait to return. There is so much more to try - Lobster Lovers Sunday (1-1/4 lb lobster for $19.95) and many more appetizers.
http://www.mollycools.com/milwaukee/index.html
The first impression of the restaurant is very nice, except it was $5 to park right in front of the restaurant and for that $5 you have to park your own car!
The server first tried to seat us in the area with all the TV monitors, but we asked to be moved. The TV free section is very nice and a totally different atmosphere.
We first learned that it was "2 for 1" Happy Hour for rail and call cocktails, tap beer and house wine. We all ordered the wine. The waiter brought us each two glasses at the same time. At first I didn't like that idea (thought I would drink it too fast), but we were three people, so how else could it have worked? The house wine is very reasonably priced, so this was a great deal!
We each ordered an appetizer and shared. We had Fried Green Tomatoes with a remoulade sauce, PEI Mussels in a champagne cream sauce and Today's Razzle Dazzle Ceviche.
The tomatoes and mussels were excellent, but the ceviche was barely edible. First I should have asked what "Today's" meant and I probably would not have ordered it. I like ceviche made from lobster and shrimp plus lots of tomatoes and cilantro. This was basically fish pieces in a tomato based sauce (very watery) and that's basically it. No onions, tomatoes or cilantro. I believe what I like is Mexican ceviche; maybe this was some other version.
We were here on Thursday night which is Crab Lover's Thursday. You can get 1-1/2 lbs. of Red King Crab Legs for $19.95. What a deal! Especially when you see how much 1-1/2 lbs really is. We dine at Bob Chinn's a lot and their crab legs run between $35 and $50 for about the same amount. They started charging a premium for getting the crab legs without the knuckles, which just drives my husband crazy. It's not that he's totally against paying $50 for crab legs without the knuckles, but if you order the cheaper ones, all you get is knuckles. (Note to Bob: please bring back the price with the combination of both).
Our guest has also had crab legs at Bob Chinn's may times and he was very pleased with these crab legs and the quantity he got. He was actually surprised that they were as good as Bob Chinn's, maybe not as big, but tasted just as great.
My husband got the Florida Stuffed Grouper with shrimp, crawfish & brie cheese served with garlic mashed potatoes. He loved it. I had a taste too and it was unbelievably good.
I ordered the Parmesan Horseradish Crusted Halibut served with mashed potatoes, asparagus and stone ground mustard beurre blanc sauce. I was worried about the sauce, but the mustard was very mild and actually the sauce was very good. I loved my choice, but I think I would have to choose the grouper next time.
Besides the great service Ben gave us, the best part of this meal was the price. For 3 people (12 glasses of wine) the total before the tip was only $127. You can't beat that and it makes paying $5 for parking much more palatable.
Can't wait to return. There is so much more to try - Lobster Lovers Sunday (1-1/4 lb lobster for $19.95) and many more appetizers.
http://www.mollycools.com/milwaukee/index.html
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wine Knot - Kenosha, WI
First, let me start by saying we really do like this restaurant, just for the fact that they try to stay a little creative, but they are just not consistent enough with the quality of their food. Not just that, but many times what you actually get doesn't necessarily match what's on the menu. I don't mind a change, but the server should let you know about the change when you order.
We ate here over the summer and sat outside. It was a very nice experience and we had no complaints that day, but this particular day was terrible.
I ordered the Half Portion Caesar Salad. I forgot that I've ordered this before and really do not like it. The dressing is very bland and doesn't remind me of any type of caesar I've ever tasted before.
My husband got the crab cake, which we have had many times before. It was a little over-cooked, but no where near as bad as the rest of the meal.
For entrees my husband got the Cajun Monkfish Oscar, which is served with crawfish tails and hollandaise sauce, dirty rice and asparagus. I got the Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut served with roasted red potatoes, asparagus, lemon infused beurre blanc topped with crispy capers.
First we were quite surprised when our server put down the two plates in front of us. Mine was a good-sized portion of halibut and you could barely see the monkfish on my husband's plate. We both looked at each other in disbelief. In both entrees, the fish was ok. In other words, it was not fishy. That's always a first step for me, because I'm very choosy where I order fish from. There are some places I would never dream of ordering fish from. I've always trusted Wine Knot for fish and I've never been disappointed. The problem was not the fish, but all the sides. My roasted potatoes tasted as if they were days old and were reheated in the microwave. They were actually disgusting. The asparagus were basically raw. My husband's dirty rice also tasted as if it were reheated. It was so dry, it was barely edible. And this was a Friday night! You would expect the turnover would be such that fresh ingredients would be used - no need to reheat. Not that there is ever an excuse for reheating.
So, this tells me that the quality has really gone down. I think that's the beginning of the end.
Eventually people catch on. Will we give it another chance? Not sure. Too bad.
www.wine-knot.com
We ate here over the summer and sat outside. It was a very nice experience and we had no complaints that day, but this particular day was terrible.
I ordered the Half Portion Caesar Salad. I forgot that I've ordered this before and really do not like it. The dressing is very bland and doesn't remind me of any type of caesar I've ever tasted before.
My husband got the crab cake, which we have had many times before. It was a little over-cooked, but no where near as bad as the rest of the meal.
For entrees my husband got the Cajun Monkfish Oscar, which is served with crawfish tails and hollandaise sauce, dirty rice and asparagus. I got the Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut served with roasted red potatoes, asparagus, lemon infused beurre blanc topped with crispy capers.
First we were quite surprised when our server put down the two plates in front of us. Mine was a good-sized portion of halibut and you could barely see the monkfish on my husband's plate. We both looked at each other in disbelief. In both entrees, the fish was ok. In other words, it was not fishy. That's always a first step for me, because I'm very choosy where I order fish from. There are some places I would never dream of ordering fish from. I've always trusted Wine Knot for fish and I've never been disappointed. The problem was not the fish, but all the sides. My roasted potatoes tasted as if they were days old and were reheated in the microwave. They were actually disgusting. The asparagus were basically raw. My husband's dirty rice also tasted as if it were reheated. It was so dry, it was barely edible. And this was a Friday night! You would expect the turnover would be such that fresh ingredients would be used - no need to reheat. Not that there is ever an excuse for reheating.
So, this tells me that the quality has really gone down. I think that's the beginning of the end.
Eventually people catch on. Will we give it another chance? Not sure. Too bad.
www.wine-knot.com
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wildfire - Lincolnshire, IL
We have been to this Lettuce Entertain You restaurant many times over the year. 99% of our visits have been positive, so that's pretty good. This visit was no exception.
We made reservations through Open Table, which is just about the greatest way to make, modify and cancel reservations. I just wish every restaurant used this system.
We were three people and got seated in one of the u-shaped booths, which are my favorite. The restaurant is always so busy that I hate sitting out in the middle of the room in a regular table. It's better to be off in a corner.
We started by sharing their Spinach Salad, which I always have to have whether I'm here for dinner or lunch. It's a combination of spinach, bacon, mushrooms, radishes, eggs and a warm mustard dressing, which they toss right at the table.
I had the halibut special, which was served with a buerre blanc sauce. The fish was a good-sized portion and prepared perfectly. I chose wild rice for my side and it went well with the fish.
My husband had the Trio of Beef special, which I believe they have had everytime we've been there the last several years. I normally get this, but I was trying to make a healthier choice. This is three filets (3 oz each I believe) and you can get your choice of topping, such as a horseradish crust, mushroom, blue cheese, bernaise sauce and a few others.
One thing you can't pass up when you dine here is dessert. They all look so good when they bring you the platter and they are HUGE. My favorite is a big chocolate cookie pie served warm with ice cream on top. It's unbelievable.
Other than Lincolnshire, there are locations in Chicago, Oak Brook, Glenview, Schaumburg and one in Minnesota, Georgia and Virginia. When is Kenosha going to get a restaurant like this????
http://www.wildfirerestaurant.com/lincolnshire/menus
We made reservations through Open Table, which is just about the greatest way to make, modify and cancel reservations. I just wish every restaurant used this system.
We were three people and got seated in one of the u-shaped booths, which are my favorite. The restaurant is always so busy that I hate sitting out in the middle of the room in a regular table. It's better to be off in a corner.
We started by sharing their Spinach Salad, which I always have to have whether I'm here for dinner or lunch. It's a combination of spinach, bacon, mushrooms, radishes, eggs and a warm mustard dressing, which they toss right at the table.
I had the halibut special, which was served with a buerre blanc sauce. The fish was a good-sized portion and prepared perfectly. I chose wild rice for my side and it went well with the fish.
My husband had the Trio of Beef special, which I believe they have had everytime we've been there the last several years. I normally get this, but I was trying to make a healthier choice. This is three filets (3 oz each I believe) and you can get your choice of topping, such as a horseradish crust, mushroom, blue cheese, bernaise sauce and a few others.
One thing you can't pass up when you dine here is dessert. They all look so good when they bring you the platter and they are HUGE. My favorite is a big chocolate cookie pie served warm with ice cream on top. It's unbelievable.
Other than Lincolnshire, there are locations in Chicago, Oak Brook, Glenview, Schaumburg and one in Minnesota, Georgia and Virginia. When is Kenosha going to get a restaurant like this????
http://www.wildfirerestaurant.com/lincolnshire/menus
Thursday, September 10, 2009
David's Bistro - Antioch, IL
One day I was driving through downtown Antioch and noticed this restaurant, which I had never noticed before. Maybe it was the tables set up for outdoor dining that caught my eye. Either way, I was excited! A new restaurant to try. I immediately got on their website, which is very nice, and saw what they had for dinner. It seems that David owned this restaurant for a while, but I'm a little unclear as to what the name was.
The food looked very interesting, a little more creative than normal, so we decided to go there for dinner the following Sunday night.
There are two sides to the restaurant -one side is very bright and the other side has more subdued lighting and just has a more romantic atmosphere. We were disappointed that we were put on the "bright" side. Next time we will insist on the other side.
There are many choices for appetizers, which are very reasonably priced. For example a Crab Cake is $5.99 and a Ahi Tuna Martini is $6.99. We started with a Bacon Scallop Puff Martini, also only $6.99 and it was very good.
For my entree I had the Shrimp and Lobster Newburg (served over sticky rice with a madeira wine cream sauce). This was priced at $19.99, which I think is a reasonable price. The servings are not huge, but it was satisfying.
My husband had Lamb Chops (crusted with pine nuts and pecans with a tarragon cream sauce) also priced at $19.99. He's not a huge fan of nuts, but did enjoy this dish.
For a Sunday night, they were surprisingly busy. And because of this I thought the service suffered a little.
All in all it was a good experience and we will definitely be going back soon.
http://www.davidsbistro.com/
The food looked very interesting, a little more creative than normal, so we decided to go there for dinner the following Sunday night.
There are two sides to the restaurant -one side is very bright and the other side has more subdued lighting and just has a more romantic atmosphere. We were disappointed that we were put on the "bright" side. Next time we will insist on the other side.
There are many choices for appetizers, which are very reasonably priced. For example a Crab Cake is $5.99 and a Ahi Tuna Martini is $6.99. We started with a Bacon Scallop Puff Martini, also only $6.99 and it was very good.
For my entree I had the Shrimp and Lobster Newburg (served over sticky rice with a madeira wine cream sauce). This was priced at $19.99, which I think is a reasonable price. The servings are not huge, but it was satisfying.
My husband had Lamb Chops (crusted with pine nuts and pecans with a tarragon cream sauce) also priced at $19.99. He's not a huge fan of nuts, but did enjoy this dish.
For a Sunday night, they were surprisingly busy. And because of this I thought the service suffered a little.
All in all it was a good experience and we will definitely be going back soon.
http://www.davidsbistro.com/
Friday, September 4, 2009
Whistling Swan - Door County - Fish Creek, WI
This inn & restaurant is located in the heart of Fish Creek. We have dined here many times before, but we have never stayed at the inn. It's a charming building.
The menu is not huge, but is is very creative.
We started with Angus Beef Potstickers serviced with a sweet chili dipping sauce. They were pretty good, but did not really exhibit the creativity we've come to expect.
For entrees, we both chose fish. There are two fish items on the regular menu. My husband had the Andouille Encrusted Escolar and I had the Grilled Sturgeon.
You don't find sturgeon very often and the two or three times I have had it, I really liked the taste and texture of the fish. I just did not like it this time. Maybe it was the cut, but it seemed darker in color than I remember. It was served with a sweet potato blini, heirloom tomato, purple broccoli, dill creme fraiche and osetra caviar. The blini was the best part of the dish! The sauce was pretty good, there was not enough to help mask the taste of the fish.
I tasted the Escolar and it was outstanding. The andouille crust was not spicy at all. It was served with a corn, pepper and yukon potato succotash, chive aioli and a red hot butter sauce. My husband really liked a lot.
When we visit Door County I always say that I'm going to have dessert at least one time during our week-long trip. Bread pudding is my favorite dessert and as it always happens, it's not on the menu at many places, so I end up choosing a dessert at the last restaurant we visit before we go home.
So, here we are again, at dinner the last evening and what do you know? They have bread pudding! Unfortunately, it was Huckleberry Bread Pudding with peaches, nectarines and ice wine sabayon. The bread pudding itself was okay, but the peaches and nectarines were too big and not soft enough for my taste. Oh well, there is always next year.
www.whistlingswan.com
The menu is not huge, but is is very creative.
We started with Angus Beef Potstickers serviced with a sweet chili dipping sauce. They were pretty good, but did not really exhibit the creativity we've come to expect.
For entrees, we both chose fish. There are two fish items on the regular menu. My husband had the Andouille Encrusted Escolar and I had the Grilled Sturgeon.
You don't find sturgeon very often and the two or three times I have had it, I really liked the taste and texture of the fish. I just did not like it this time. Maybe it was the cut, but it seemed darker in color than I remember. It was served with a sweet potato blini, heirloom tomato, purple broccoli, dill creme fraiche and osetra caviar. The blini was the best part of the dish! The sauce was pretty good, there was not enough to help mask the taste of the fish.
I tasted the Escolar and it was outstanding. The andouille crust was not spicy at all. It was served with a corn, pepper and yukon potato succotash, chive aioli and a red hot butter sauce. My husband really liked a lot.
When we visit Door County I always say that I'm going to have dessert at least one time during our week-long trip. Bread pudding is my favorite dessert and as it always happens, it's not on the menu at many places, so I end up choosing a dessert at the last restaurant we visit before we go home.
So, here we are again, at dinner the last evening and what do you know? They have bread pudding! Unfortunately, it was Huckleberry Bread Pudding with peaches, nectarines and ice wine sabayon. The bread pudding itself was okay, but the peaches and nectarines were too big and not soft enough for my taste. Oh well, there is always next year.
www.whistlingswan.com
Friday, July 17, 2009
Carlos - Highland Park, IL
It's our first time back since fall of 2008. You can read our post dated 11/4/08 where I was somewhat unsure of the changes and once again there are changes.
First, let me say that the service is still excellent. The same servers have been there for years and that must say something about the restaurant.
We had reservations early in the evening and for a long time we were the only ones in the restaurant. I was worried that maybe they were not doing well during this economy, but by 7:00 the place was full.
Last time we dined here there were two degustations to choose from: meat and seafood. This time there were two to choose from - the regular degustation and a mini-degustation. The regular one is one more course than the mini. I chose the mini-degustation only because I thought the choices were much better . The price of the mini was $75, $115 with wine. The regular degustation was $100, $155 with wine.
I still miss the fact that you cannot substitute items from the other side of the menu, but everything was still very good. I do think, though, that when you used to be able to pick from the regular side of the menu, you had one entree that was really the size of an entree. This time I noticed that all the courses were small and nothing stood out as an entree.
I started with the Pan-Seared "Mano de Leon" Scallop served with Caramelized Carrot Puree (wow!) and a Coffee-Red Wine Reduction.
My next course was a Maine Lobster Saffron Tortellii with a Leek Gratin and Lobster Saffron Sauce. This sounds heavy, but it was not. I'm not big into saffron, but the flavors were great.
After the sorbet my next course was Sliced Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Fingerling Potatoes and a Rosemary Emulsion. Since I don't like cauliflower or brussel sprouts, not matter how hard I try, I gave them away leaving me with not much on my plate. Regardless, the beef was cooked perfectly and the sauce very good.
The dessert course was very good. There was something chocolate (don't remember what) and something made from figs, which was out of this world. I didn't know I could like figs so much.
I did get the wine pairing with each course and the servers were on their toes. We never had to wait for the wine.
My husband and his mother both got the regular degustation.
First, let me say that the service is still excellent. The same servers have been there for years and that must say something about the restaurant.
We had reservations early in the evening and for a long time we were the only ones in the restaurant. I was worried that maybe they were not doing well during this economy, but by 7:00 the place was full.
Last time we dined here there were two degustations to choose from: meat and seafood. This time there were two to choose from - the regular degustation and a mini-degustation. The regular one is one more course than the mini. I chose the mini-degustation only because I thought the choices were much better . The price of the mini was $75, $115 with wine. The regular degustation was $100, $155 with wine.
I still miss the fact that you cannot substitute items from the other side of the menu, but everything was still very good. I do think, though, that when you used to be able to pick from the regular side of the menu, you had one entree that was really the size of an entree. This time I noticed that all the courses were small and nothing stood out as an entree.
I started with the Pan-Seared "Mano de Leon" Scallop served with Caramelized Carrot Puree (wow!) and a Coffee-Red Wine Reduction.
My next course was a Maine Lobster Saffron Tortellii with a Leek Gratin and Lobster Saffron Sauce. This sounds heavy, but it was not. I'm not big into saffron, but the flavors were great.
After the sorbet my next course was Sliced Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Fingerling Potatoes and a Rosemary Emulsion. Since I don't like cauliflower or brussel sprouts, not matter how hard I try, I gave them away leaving me with not much on my plate. Regardless, the beef was cooked perfectly and the sauce very good.
The dessert course was very good. There was something chocolate (don't remember what) and something made from figs, which was out of this world. I didn't know I could like figs so much.
I did get the wine pairing with each course and the servers were on their toes. We never had to wait for the wine.
My husband and his mother both got the regular degustation.
They started with a Smoked Trout with Goat Cheese Gnocchi, Parmesan Cream and a Basil Pesto. I didn't try it, but they both raved about it.
They had three choices for their next course, but they both chose the Pan-Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Roasted Baby Red Beets, Beet Espuma (foam) and a Balsamic Raspberry Glaze.
Next they had the same lobster dish that I had and for their final course they had the Miso Marinated Halibut with Wild mushrooms, Artichoke hearts, Caramelized Pearl Onions and a Lemon Grass Emulsion. This I tasted and it was excellent.
This is still one of our favorites, not just for the food, but for their well-trained staff.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Prairie Grass Cafe - Northbrook, IL
We first heard about this restaurant during an interview with Bill Kurtis about his Tallgrass Beef Company. We were going to be in the area, so we decided to give it a try.
We checked out their website before going so we knew that it wasn't anything fancy inside and the dress was casual. I worried, though, before we got there because I thought we were going to be underdressed. There were many people just as casual as we were, but also many who were in suits. It was a weeknight, so possibly people came straight from work.
The place was a little different than expected. First, it was in a weird location. It seemed like it was part of an office building. They had a back corner and the front corner was empty, so when you first drive up you are not really sure if they are open or not.
There was a bar area separate from the dining area. It looked like you could eat in the bar. The main dining area had a mixture of tables, booths and tables against a banquette. We were there early in the evening so we had our choice of tables. One thing we noticed is that the wood tables were really beat-up. I would suggest covering them with tableclothes; it looks really tacky.
I have read other reviews of this restaurant and the biggest complaint is the service. We thought the service was great. As soon as we were seated our servicer came and took our drink order. To our surprise the wine list was very reasonably priced.
This restaurant uses products from local farms, which makes the menu very interesting. They make their own sausages, salad dressings and ice cream.
I chose for my appetizer the Maine "Peeky Toe" Crab Cake over Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with a Citrus Butter Sauce. I was hesitant because I really don't like grapefruit, but I decided to chance it. It was well worth it. The flavors worked really well together and I really could not taste the bitterness of the grapefruit. The crab cake on its own was one of the best I've ever had.
My husband odered the Homemade Pate in a Crock with Apples and Port Wine-Balsamic Reduction. He spread the pate on the apples and drizzed the reduction on top and he loved it!
For entrees I had the halibut which had a brioche crust and what I think was a lemon butter sauce. We were told this dish used to be a special and people liked it so much, it was permanently put on the menu. The menu online is not updated with this dish so I can't confirm what the sauce was. The fish, which was perfectly cooked, was served over a warm green bean salad in a pesto sauce. Wow, was that good. I've never had anything like it.
My husband had the Tallgrass Beef filet special. It was served with sauteed mushrooms and roasted potatoes. However, he opted to substitute the Twice Baked Potato with Caramelized Onions and Gruyere Cheese for the roasted potatoes. In fact, it was so big that we split it.
Unfortunately we had no room for dessert.
I would definitely dine here again.
http://www.prairiegrasscafe.com/
We checked out their website before going so we knew that it wasn't anything fancy inside and the dress was casual. I worried, though, before we got there because I thought we were going to be underdressed. There were many people just as casual as we were, but also many who were in suits. It was a weeknight, so possibly people came straight from work.
The place was a little different than expected. First, it was in a weird location. It seemed like it was part of an office building. They had a back corner and the front corner was empty, so when you first drive up you are not really sure if they are open or not.
There was a bar area separate from the dining area. It looked like you could eat in the bar. The main dining area had a mixture of tables, booths and tables against a banquette. We were there early in the evening so we had our choice of tables. One thing we noticed is that the wood tables were really beat-up. I would suggest covering them with tableclothes; it looks really tacky.
I have read other reviews of this restaurant and the biggest complaint is the service. We thought the service was great. As soon as we were seated our servicer came and took our drink order. To our surprise the wine list was very reasonably priced.
This restaurant uses products from local farms, which makes the menu very interesting. They make their own sausages, salad dressings and ice cream.
I chose for my appetizer the Maine "Peeky Toe" Crab Cake over Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with a Citrus Butter Sauce. I was hesitant because I really don't like grapefruit, but I decided to chance it. It was well worth it. The flavors worked really well together and I really could not taste the bitterness of the grapefruit. The crab cake on its own was one of the best I've ever had.
My husband odered the Homemade Pate in a Crock with Apples and Port Wine-Balsamic Reduction. He spread the pate on the apples and drizzed the reduction on top and he loved it!
For entrees I had the halibut which had a brioche crust and what I think was a lemon butter sauce. We were told this dish used to be a special and people liked it so much, it was permanently put on the menu. The menu online is not updated with this dish so I can't confirm what the sauce was. The fish, which was perfectly cooked, was served over a warm green bean salad in a pesto sauce. Wow, was that good. I've never had anything like it.
My husband had the Tallgrass Beef filet special. It was served with sauteed mushrooms and roasted potatoes. However, he opted to substitute the Twice Baked Potato with Caramelized Onions and Gruyere Cheese for the roasted potatoes. In fact, it was so big that we split it.
Unfortunately we had no room for dessert.
I would definitely dine here again.
http://www.prairiegrasscafe.com/
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Rip Tide - Milwaukee, WI
This particular Saturday we were looking for a seafood restaurant in Milwaukee. Many times in the past the name Rip Tide came up, but when we've read the reviews we've always decided against it. Most talk about how bad the service is.
We made reservations through Open Table. We wanted 6:30, but they only had 6:00 or 7:00 available. We chose 6:00. We were meeting another couple there and they always like to have a drink at the bar first. They arrived a few minutes before 6:00, so my husband went and checked in with the hostess, told her we were here and asked if we could have a drink at the bar first, then be seated. She said no, that they were busy and we needed to be seated right away. That was fine; we realize how important keeping to your reservation is if the restaurant is busy. In the few seconds it took all 4 of us to walk back up to the hostess station, a different hostess was there and she said we had a wait of about 20 minutes. Ahhhhh. We had just given up our bar stools!
The service was pretty bad at the bar. They had plenty of bartenders, that was not the problem. It was that they were not paying attention to the customers at the bar. We would have to try to get their attention away from their personal conversations to get any service.
I would like to point out that the bar area was extremely loud, and it was very difficult to talk. We hoped that the dining area would not be as loud, but it was. If you expect to carry on a conversation, this is not the place to go.
Once we were seated our server did come right away and take care of drinks.
We ordered appetizers first. We all shared Lobster Lettuce Wraps, Fried Grouper Bites and the "Damn Good Crab Cake". The appetizers were very good. I feel that the Lobster Lettuce Wraps needed a better description because it was actually a lobster salad (with mayo, etc.) wrapped in lettuce leaves. It was really good, but not at all what we were expecting. The crab cake was big and very good also. One of our friends didn't like it because it was made with cilantro. I guess she didn't think that was normal. The grouper bites were my least favorite, but still good.
Salad is included. It's basically a garden salad, mostly iceberg, but nothing special. The server only brought three of our salads, she forgot the dressing for one and actually it took her about 10 minutes to come back.
At this point we'd ordered another round of drinks and that took about 15 minutes. It seemed that there were not enough servers to handle the amount of people.
By the time she brought the 4th salad, the entrees were only a couple minutes after that, not giving my husband enough time to eat his salad.
I ordered Crab Stuffed Shrimp for my entree. It was served with a beurre blanc sauce and rice. It was good, but I wished I would have realized the "crab" was the same crab cake we had as an appetizer.
My husband ordered the King Crab Legs. Anytime we go to Bob Chinn's in Wheeling, Illinois, he gets the King Crab Legs. He said that Rip Tide's do not even come close and they are just as expensive. In addition, he had no accompaniments, no starch or vegetables like all the other entrees came with.
The couple ordered the Crab Stuffed Shrimp also and she really liked it. Her husband ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna, which he liked too.
Overall, though, the experience was not good at all. The food does not make up for the bad service. Because they do have a great view (Lake Michigan), it could be a really nice place to eat outside, but it's just too expensive to suffer through the bad service.
http://www.getriptide.com/
We made reservations through Open Table. We wanted 6:30, but they only had 6:00 or 7:00 available. We chose 6:00. We were meeting another couple there and they always like to have a drink at the bar first. They arrived a few minutes before 6:00, so my husband went and checked in with the hostess, told her we were here and asked if we could have a drink at the bar first, then be seated. She said no, that they were busy and we needed to be seated right away. That was fine; we realize how important keeping to your reservation is if the restaurant is busy. In the few seconds it took all 4 of us to walk back up to the hostess station, a different hostess was there and she said we had a wait of about 20 minutes. Ahhhhh. We had just given up our bar stools!
The service was pretty bad at the bar. They had plenty of bartenders, that was not the problem. It was that they were not paying attention to the customers at the bar. We would have to try to get their attention away from their personal conversations to get any service.
I would like to point out that the bar area was extremely loud, and it was very difficult to talk. We hoped that the dining area would not be as loud, but it was. If you expect to carry on a conversation, this is not the place to go.
Once we were seated our server did come right away and take care of drinks.
We ordered appetizers first. We all shared Lobster Lettuce Wraps, Fried Grouper Bites and the "Damn Good Crab Cake". The appetizers were very good. I feel that the Lobster Lettuce Wraps needed a better description because it was actually a lobster salad (with mayo, etc.) wrapped in lettuce leaves. It was really good, but not at all what we were expecting. The crab cake was big and very good also. One of our friends didn't like it because it was made with cilantro. I guess she didn't think that was normal. The grouper bites were my least favorite, but still good.
Salad is included. It's basically a garden salad, mostly iceberg, but nothing special. The server only brought three of our salads, she forgot the dressing for one and actually it took her about 10 minutes to come back.
At this point we'd ordered another round of drinks and that took about 15 minutes. It seemed that there were not enough servers to handle the amount of people.
By the time she brought the 4th salad, the entrees were only a couple minutes after that, not giving my husband enough time to eat his salad.
I ordered Crab Stuffed Shrimp for my entree. It was served with a beurre blanc sauce and rice. It was good, but I wished I would have realized the "crab" was the same crab cake we had as an appetizer.
My husband ordered the King Crab Legs. Anytime we go to Bob Chinn's in Wheeling, Illinois, he gets the King Crab Legs. He said that Rip Tide's do not even come close and they are just as expensive. In addition, he had no accompaniments, no starch or vegetables like all the other entrees came with.
The couple ordered the Crab Stuffed Shrimp also and she really liked it. Her husband ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna, which he liked too.
Overall, though, the experience was not good at all. The food does not make up for the bad service. Because they do have a great view (Lake Michigan), it could be a really nice place to eat outside, but it's just too expensive to suffer through the bad service.
http://www.getriptide.com/
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
B. J. Wentkers - Burlington, WI
We have been here many times, usually on Mondays when they offer 1/2 price bottles of wine.
Tonight we were very happy to see some new items on the menu; however, I feel they are a little expensive. Not to say that the food isn't good, because it really is, but in this economy when everyone else is lowering prices or running specials, their prices seem high.
We started with the appetizer special, which were two lobster crepes covered in a cream sauce. The price was $13, but crepes were pretty big. In fact, it could be an entree. I would like to see it permanently on the menu.
I skipped the soup/salad, but my husband had the soup, which was a tomato soup with pastrami. He thought it was just okay.
For my entree I had the Shrimp, which was prosciutto and sage wrapped shrimp on mushroom ravioli, with balsamic beurre noisette for $24. We were told that this used to be on the menu (I had never seen it before) and the chef brought it back. It was very good. The ravioli was al dente, which I am just coming to appreciate. I really could not taste the mushrooms inside, though. The sauce was also excellent. I was not familar with the term noisette, but have looked it up. I think there are a couple meanings, but I'm going to assume the definition of hazelnut is correct. I did not notice a hazelnut flavor though. I am not a big prosciutto fan, so after eating a few shrimps it became too much, so I started removing it. It was just a good without it. I would definitely order this again.
My husband had the Drunken Ribeye, which is marinated in beer and brown sugar, grilled, with caramelized onions, on a beer mustard sauce and served with Rofumo mashed potatoes, also for $24. The meat was very chewy. This is unusual, because I have ordered this before and it was never chewy. Very disappointing.
Nevertheless, we have had many good meals here and will definitely come back.
http://www.foodspot.com/bjwentkers/menu.html
Tonight we were very happy to see some new items on the menu; however, I feel they are a little expensive. Not to say that the food isn't good, because it really is, but in this economy when everyone else is lowering prices or running specials, their prices seem high.
We started with the appetizer special, which were two lobster crepes covered in a cream sauce. The price was $13, but crepes were pretty big. In fact, it could be an entree. I would like to see it permanently on the menu.
I skipped the soup/salad, but my husband had the soup, which was a tomato soup with pastrami. He thought it was just okay.
For my entree I had the Shrimp, which was prosciutto and sage wrapped shrimp on mushroom ravioli, with balsamic beurre noisette for $24. We were told that this used to be on the menu (I had never seen it before) and the chef brought it back. It was very good. The ravioli was al dente, which I am just coming to appreciate. I really could not taste the mushrooms inside, though. The sauce was also excellent. I was not familar with the term noisette, but have looked it up. I think there are a couple meanings, but I'm going to assume the definition of hazelnut is correct. I did not notice a hazelnut flavor though. I am not a big prosciutto fan, so after eating a few shrimps it became too much, so I started removing it. It was just a good without it. I would definitely order this again.
My husband had the Drunken Ribeye, which is marinated in beer and brown sugar, grilled, with caramelized onions, on a beer mustard sauce and served with Rofumo mashed potatoes, also for $24. The meat was very chewy. This is unusual, because I have ordered this before and it was never chewy. Very disappointing.
Nevertheless, we have had many good meals here and will definitely come back.
http://www.foodspot.com/bjwentkers/menu.html
Friday, April 17, 2009
Chez Jacques - Milwaukee, WI
This restaurant came recommended to us by a friend who knows we like French style cooking, so we decided to give it a try.
I'm only familar with certain areas of downtown Milwaukee and assumed that's where this place was. When we pulled up to the front, it just didn't seem like it was where a restaurant should be, but I got over it once we walked in. They are located on South First St., one block north of teh Allen-Bradley clock)
It's a cute little place, nothing fancy on the inside, but you feel comfortable right away, which is important. They have all the typical items you would expect to find - Steak frites, Boeuf Bourguignon, Bouillabaisse and even Croque-Monsieur.
We started with Bouchee a la reine (puffed pastry filled w/Crepes, veal and cream sauce). Very good.
I had Coquille Saint-Jacques, which is sea scallops in a vermouth sauce. This is actually the first time I had Coquille Saint-Jacques, so I don't know how to compare it, but it was good.
My husband had the rabbit special, which was also very good. Plus, it was a treat for him, because not a lot of places serve rabbit.
This place is very reasonably priced. My only complaint is that it went too fast. I know it's a fine line between too fast and too slow, but some places just know how to get it right.
http://chezjacques.com/
I'm only familar with certain areas of downtown Milwaukee and assumed that's where this place was. When we pulled up to the front, it just didn't seem like it was where a restaurant should be, but I got over it once we walked in. They are located on South First St., one block north of teh Allen-Bradley clock)
It's a cute little place, nothing fancy on the inside, but you feel comfortable right away, which is important. They have all the typical items you would expect to find - Steak frites, Boeuf Bourguignon, Bouillabaisse and even Croque-Monsieur.
We started with Bouchee a la reine (puffed pastry filled w/Crepes, veal and cream sauce). Very good.
I had Coquille Saint-Jacques, which is sea scallops in a vermouth sauce. This is actually the first time I had Coquille Saint-Jacques, so I don't know how to compare it, but it was good.
My husband had the rabbit special, which was also very good. Plus, it was a treat for him, because not a lot of places serve rabbit.
This place is very reasonably priced. My only complaint is that it went too fast. I know it's a fine line between too fast and too slow, but some places just know how to get it right.
http://chezjacques.com/
Pierrot Gourmet - Peninsula Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
We have been to this restaurant many times, but only for breakfast. It is located at the Peninsula Hotel and we discovered it when we stayed there because the price is very reasonable compared to the main restaurant. You actually do have to go outside the hotel and walk a few steps to get there.
This is a cafe style restaurant, similar to what you would find in Paris. If you are a social person you might want to share one of the large family style tables with strangers. Not us, we always get a table for two.
Today we both ordered the Breakfast Bread Pudding. They have two kinds and we both got the one with ham, leeks and gruyere cheese. It is really good! The other bread pudding is made with bacon, potato and cheddar cheese. That one is good too (we've had it in the past), but we are both fans of gruyere cheese. It is similar to a regular bread pudding, but it's savory rather than sweet. It is served with a light salad on the side.
My wife is a tea drinker and whenever she has ordered milk on the side for her tea, they bring it heated. She loved that small touch, however, this time they did not do that. They were too busy to ask for it to be heated. That bring up the subject of service. It's not the greatest; it too reminds you of a Paris cafe. No one is in any big hurry.
Anyway, this is a great place to get a creative, inexpensive breakfast.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Umami Moto - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This was our first visit to this restaurant and we were very satisfied with our choice of the evening.
We'll start off talking about the decor; someone went to a lot of trouble. It reminded us of many restaurants we have eaten at in Japan. Our only issue we have is with how they seat tables of two. They are all right next to each other. We have complained about this in other posts. We know they are trying to put as many people into the space, but if we got stuck at a table like that, we would walk out. Fortunately this night we were given a booth. If you make reservations here, request a booth or a table near the window.
Okay, the important part, the food. We have absolutely nothing to say but good things; this place is terrific. We started with their Strauss Veal Wonton, which comes with wild plum gastrique and parsnips. The flavors were perfect and complemented each other. My wife is not a big fan of veal and she loved it.
For the main course my wife had Sea Bass prepared with a tangy miso and served on top of bamboo rice and yuzu. The bamboo rice was very much like a risotto. This really was a wonderful dish.
I had the Diver Scallops which came with a cauliflower puree and a lobster salad. If we go back I would hate to not have this again; that is how much I liked it.
There are many more dishes to try, so we will be for sure going back.
There is one strange thing, though. Along the back wall, where our booth was, is a huge screen. At the time we were there, they were playing the movie, Enter the Dragon with Bruce Lee. Well, this movie has a few breast shots. So I don't know how you would feel about bringing kids. Otherwise the experience was great!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Avenues at the Peninsula Hotel - Chicago, IL
This restaurant is located in the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago and has had a new chef for about a year, Curtis Duffy. He replaced Graham Elliot Bowles and comes to Avenues from Alinea. Previous to Alinea he worked at Trio and Charlie Trotter's.
We dined at this restaurant a couple years ago when Graham Elliot Bowles was the chef and to be quite honest, I did not see what the big deal was. Not impressed at all.
This was a totally different experience. Before the atmosphere did not seem fitting to a restaurant of its caliber, but now it does. The atmosphere was great and the service was unbelievable. I think I've only experienced service this excellent once before. We never wanted for anything.
There were three different choices on the menu based on the number of courses. We chose the largest degustation, which was 17 courses and $140 per person. Most of the courses were just a taste, but there were a couple courses that were a little larger than just a taste. Each course was very creative and absolutely delicious. A little of the Alinea style came through in a couple courses, but I would not say they are similar. This is a very different experience.
I won't go into all the courses (especially since I can't remember what they all were), but some favorites:
Dover Sole with caper berry seeds, apple milk, whipped chlorophyll (this was unbelievable)
Iberico Pork Belly made with cocoa, smoked bread, miner's lettuce (very creative, excellent flavors)
Wagyu Beef Cheek with black sesame, sudachi, shiso and blooms. (Sudachi is is a small, round, green citrus fruit that is relatively unknown outside Japan)
I wasn't overly impressed with the dessert courses, but they were very interesting. There were 5 dessert courses and it was the 4th one before we saw any chocolate!
During the meal they bring you different types of breads, which were really good (even though we really didn't need the bread, I can never pass it up. The bread was served with three types of butter - one was basil, regular butter and goat's milk butter. Warning to those who don't like goat cheese (me); the butter tastes exactly like goat cheese.
The dinner took about 2-1/2 hours and it flew by. What a great experience!
You can't see the menu online, but here's some info:
http://www.peninsula.com/Chicago/en/Dining/default.aspx#/Chicago/en/Dining/Avenues/
We dined at this restaurant a couple years ago when Graham Elliot Bowles was the chef and to be quite honest, I did not see what the big deal was. Not impressed at all.
This was a totally different experience. Before the atmosphere did not seem fitting to a restaurant of its caliber, but now it does. The atmosphere was great and the service was unbelievable. I think I've only experienced service this excellent once before. We never wanted for anything.
There were three different choices on the menu based on the number of courses. We chose the largest degustation, which was 17 courses and $140 per person. Most of the courses were just a taste, but there were a couple courses that were a little larger than just a taste. Each course was very creative and absolutely delicious. A little of the Alinea style came through in a couple courses, but I would not say they are similar. This is a very different experience.
I won't go into all the courses (especially since I can't remember what they all were), but some favorites:
Dover Sole with caper berry seeds, apple milk, whipped chlorophyll (this was unbelievable)
Iberico Pork Belly made with cocoa, smoked bread, miner's lettuce (very creative, excellent flavors)
Wagyu Beef Cheek with black sesame, sudachi, shiso and blooms. (Sudachi is is a small, round, green citrus fruit that is relatively unknown outside Japan)
I wasn't overly impressed with the dessert courses, but they were very interesting. There were 5 dessert courses and it was the 4th one before we saw any chocolate!
During the meal they bring you different types of breads, which were really good (even though we really didn't need the bread, I can never pass it up. The bread was served with three types of butter - one was basil, regular butter and goat's milk butter. Warning to those who don't like goat cheese (me); the butter tastes exactly like goat cheese.
The dinner took about 2-1/2 hours and it flew by. What a great experience!
You can't see the menu online, but here's some info:
http://www.peninsula.com/Chicago/en/Dining/default.aspx#/Chicago/en/Dining/Avenues/
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Ashling on the Lough - Kenosha, WI
This is the newest restaurant in Kenosha. It's a great location near the waterfront downtown. Apparently the bar opened in January and the restaurant a couple months later, so very recently. Service was only fair; which is expected of a new restaurant. I don't agree, but it's expected.
We started with Molly Malone Mussels, which were mussels steamed with tomoatoes, garlic, fennel, white wine and cream. I'm not a big mussel fan, like my husband is, but they tasted pretty good for mussels. He thought they were very good and the sauce was very good.
We then had a house salad, which was nothing special, but typical.
They have many traditional Irish choices for entrees, such as Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew and the list goes on and on.
I had the Gaelic Steak, which is a pan seared beef tenderloin with a honey mustard, mushroom cream sauce. The sauce was excellent! I only wish there were more mushrooms. The beef was very tender and for the price of $20, it was well worth it.
My husband had the Pot Roast which was served with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes covered with Guinness gravy. He loved it and the price of $12.
My only complaint is the bar is very loud and the noise spills over into the restaurant as it's really not totally closed off. But the view is great and it was a great meal.
http://www.ashlingonthelough.com/
We started with Molly Malone Mussels, which were mussels steamed with tomoatoes, garlic, fennel, white wine and cream. I'm not a big mussel fan, like my husband is, but they tasted pretty good for mussels. He thought they were very good and the sauce was very good.
We then had a house salad, which was nothing special, but typical.
They have many traditional Irish choices for entrees, such as Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew and the list goes on and on.
I had the Gaelic Steak, which is a pan seared beef tenderloin with a honey mustard, mushroom cream sauce. The sauce was excellent! I only wish there were more mushrooms. The beef was very tender and for the price of $20, it was well worth it.
My husband had the Pot Roast which was served with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes covered with Guinness gravy. He loved it and the price of $12.
My only complaint is the bar is very loud and the noise spills over into the restaurant as it's really not totally closed off. But the view is great and it was a great meal.
http://www.ashlingonthelough.com/
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Country Squire - Grayslake, IL
We went to this restaurant on a Saturday night and it was the first time we had been there in a long time, maybe 10 years.
We had been there a few times for Mother's Day brunch over the years and a couple times for dinner. This particular day we happened to be done in the area around dinner time, so thought we would try it again (we had not been that impressed the last time).
They were very busy, but we managed to get a table right away, with a nice view of the garden.
We started with the Shrimp De Jonghe, which was very good. All entrees come with a choice of a spinach salad, specialty salad or caesar salad. We both had the spinach salad, which was also very good.
For entrees I had the special, which was scallops and shrimp served in a baking dish with carmelized onions. The taste was outstanding and really like nothing I'd ever had before. I love when there's something different to try!
My husband had the Maryland Crab Cake made with lump crab meat served with an orange marmalade horseradish sauce. You wouldn't think that sounds good, but it really was.
We were a little worried when we noticed that they had a wedding in their banquet room. We thought maybe service would suffer, but the service was exceptional. Apparently they can take care of both the dining room and the banquet room.
I'm glad we gave this place another try. We will definitely go back. It was a great value for what we paid, which was very reasonable.
http://www.csquire.com/
We had been there a few times for Mother's Day brunch over the years and a couple times for dinner. This particular day we happened to be done in the area around dinner time, so thought we would try it again (we had not been that impressed the last time).
They were very busy, but we managed to get a table right away, with a nice view of the garden.
We started with the Shrimp De Jonghe, which was very good. All entrees come with a choice of a spinach salad, specialty salad or caesar salad. We both had the spinach salad, which was also very good.
For entrees I had the special, which was scallops and shrimp served in a baking dish with carmelized onions. The taste was outstanding and really like nothing I'd ever had before. I love when there's something different to try!
My husband had the Maryland Crab Cake made with lump crab meat served with an orange marmalade horseradish sauce. You wouldn't think that sounds good, but it really was.
We were a little worried when we noticed that they had a wedding in their banquet room. We thought maybe service would suffer, but the service was exceptional. Apparently they can take care of both the dining room and the banquet room.
I'm glad we gave this place another try. We will definitely go back. It was a great value for what we paid, which was very reasonable.
http://www.csquire.com/
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Eddie's Steakhouse & Bistro - Kenosha, WI
This restaurant is in the former Dakota Steakhouse location. This was our third trip to this restaurant since they opened. The first time we ate here was shortly after it opened. We liked it; they seemed more creative than the ususal. Then several months later we tried it again and were very disappointed and vowed never to return. At that time, the food did not seem fresh and the service was not great. Plus no one was there and you never feel good about eating at an empty restaurant.
So this week we had a coupon and like everyone else, we are looking for a good value in this economy. We don't want to give up eating out; we just have to carefully choose where we are going.
First, the bread was great, perfectly heated too. We did not have an appetizer as the selection is not the greatest. We both chose the house salad rather than the soup. As salads go, it was not great. I'm not a fan of the mix that comes in a bag and that's what this seemed like. Too much iceberg lettuce and shredded carrots.
I ordered the sauteed chicken with mushrooms in a wine sauce and chose risotto as my side. The chicken was lightly floured and satueed and tasted great. My only complaint is not enough mushrooms!
My husband ordered the ribeye, which was cooked to medium rare as requested, but the outside was very charred. He is not a sauce person, but asked for horseradish sauce to kill the taste of the charring.
They have a good size pour as far as wine goes, but I wish, as always, that there was more than one choice for Chardonnay. With all the people that drink wine these days, you would think there would be a couple choices.
So, with the coupon, this turned out to be a good value for the money paid.
http://www.eddiessteakhouse.com/
So this week we had a coupon and like everyone else, we are looking for a good value in this economy. We don't want to give up eating out; we just have to carefully choose where we are going.
First, the bread was great, perfectly heated too. We did not have an appetizer as the selection is not the greatest. We both chose the house salad rather than the soup. As salads go, it was not great. I'm not a fan of the mix that comes in a bag and that's what this seemed like. Too much iceberg lettuce and shredded carrots.
I ordered the sauteed chicken with mushrooms in a wine sauce and chose risotto as my side. The chicken was lightly floured and satueed and tasted great. My only complaint is not enough mushrooms!
My husband ordered the ribeye, which was cooked to medium rare as requested, but the outside was very charred. He is not a sauce person, but asked for horseradish sauce to kill the taste of the charring.
They have a good size pour as far as wine goes, but I wish, as always, that there was more than one choice for Chardonnay. With all the people that drink wine these days, you would think there would be a couple choices.
So, with the coupon, this turned out to be a good value for the money paid.
http://www.eddiessteakhouse.com/
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Savanna House Restaurant & Bar - Wadsworth, IL
We were out for a weekend drive and we saw this restaurant. The only reason we even saw it was because we were trying to avoid construction on the Illinois tollway.
The place is relatively new, they have been open for less than a year. It is clean and very comfortable.
The bar area where they have live music on occasion takes up most of the building, the restaurant is mainly on what they call a sun room. Don't let the bar atmosphere deter you from visiting, it is not the main attraction.
What impressed us was the excellent service and the fantastic home-cooked food. Unless they were fooling us, it did appear that everything coming from the kitchen seemed extremely fresh and well prepared. Home cooking really would describe the food the best.
We have now been there twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. For lunch I had their Chunky Chili and their Build a Burger. For my burger I chose the small 1/4 lb size, which was more than enough. The burger reminded me of ones I use to get at a grill when I was a kid. It was fantastic. My wife had the French Onion Crock and a Turkey Burger, which she gave me a taste of. I am not a big fan of turkey burgers, they are usually dry and flavorless. This one was really good and I might even pick it over beef next time.
For dinner we shared their crab cake appetizer, which is not a what I would call a normal crab cake, but it was really good. I then had the ribs and my wife had the barbecue chicken. The barbecue Chicken was really good, but to tell you the truth, I would pas s on the ribs. They were a little cold and the meat was very dry and hard to get off the bone. Maybe I just hit them on a bad night.
We are very happy 94 is under construction, it gave us a chance to go to a new restaurant that we really did enjoy.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The HobNob - Kenosha, Wisconsin
The HobNob has been around for a very long time. It opened on August 11, 1954 and it has been running as a Supper Club ever since. The decor is what you would expect of a 50's style steak house, but what really is amazing is the view of Lake Michigan.
The food is well prepared and the service is excellent. All dinners served with your choice of a tossed salad or spinach salad, and soup,
choice of potatoes, and bread basket.
This evening my wife ordered the Crab Gratin Mushrooms appetizer. The taste was really good, but the mushrooms were small and you only got 4. I wish we had ordered the crab cakes, though. Next time we will.
For a main course I had the Prime Rib "Regular Cut". I ordered a side of horseradish sauce and Bearnaise. I also had a backed potato, it was excellent.
My wife had shrimp de jonghe which she really enjoyed.
We thought the prices were a little high for the way the economy is, but we had a nice evening and the restaurant had a decent crowd. Also, the wine pours were small, we would recomend you buy a bottle.
If you are in the mood for a good steak and a trip into the past, plan a few hours to enjoy a good meal and have a few drinks.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Cafe Pyrenees - Libertyville, IL
We have been going to this restaurant since they first opened in 1990 in Vernon Hills, IL. They have sinced moved to Libertyville into a larger space. Af first I didn't like the new place - I thought they had expanded too fast. It seemed more casual than before and I thought the service really suffered.
Now I really feel that they have their act together and I really like the feel of the restaurant now. You can go in jeans and really feel comfortable.
Mainly their food is French influenced. My favorite thing about this restaurant is their creativeness. They have theme nights, like Tapas on Thursday or a night for crepes. They also have Wild Wine Wednesday where a specific brand of wine will be $3 per glass or $8 per bottle. How can you beat that!
Today we went because it was Wednesday and we were happy to discover it was March Madness. Everything on the regular menu was 50% off. So, not only can you have wine for $3, your meal is 50% off! We were so excited because this economy has forced us to eat at home more and this made it very affordable.
You can always count on a great fish special each night. It's a little pricey, but very good.
This is definitely a restaurant you should try.
http://www.cafepyrenees.com/
Now I really feel that they have their act together and I really like the feel of the restaurant now. You can go in jeans and really feel comfortable.
Mainly their food is French influenced. My favorite thing about this restaurant is their creativeness. They have theme nights, like Tapas on Thursday or a night for crepes. They also have Wild Wine Wednesday where a specific brand of wine will be $3 per glass or $8 per bottle. How can you beat that!
Today we went because it was Wednesday and we were happy to discover it was March Madness. Everything on the regular menu was 50% off. So, not only can you have wine for $3, your meal is 50% off! We were so excited because this economy has forced us to eat at home more and this made it very affordable.
You can always count on a great fish special each night. It's a little pricey, but very good.
This is definitely a restaurant you should try.
http://www.cafepyrenees.com/
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant - Milwaukee, WI
I had a craving for a cassoulet and my wife scoured the internet and found one at a restaurant called Fratellos in Milwaukee. It was late in the day, so we used OpenTable.com to get a quick reservation and we were off.
There is valet parking, so make it easy on yourself and use it. Parking can be a pain in the Third Ward.
Anyway, we started our dinner with their Savory Cupcakes, a BLT and a Club cupcake. Just so you know, they are really cupcakes and they are quite good. I don't think we would get them again, but you really should try them. I think they could have used a little more bacon.
I had the Braised Short Ribs that came on a bed of white bean and fingerling potato cassoulet. I loved it and will get it again. My wife had the grilled bruschetta chicken. She also really enjoyed her meal.
Both our meals were under $20 so for a good dinner it was pretty reasonable. We will be returning.
There is valet parking, so make it easy on yourself and use it. Parking can be a pain in the Third Ward.
Anyway, we started our dinner with their Savory Cupcakes, a BLT and a Club cupcake. Just so you know, they are really cupcakes and they are quite good. I don't think we would get them again, but you really should try them. I think they could have used a little more bacon.
I had the Braised Short Ribs that came on a bed of white bean and fingerling potato cassoulet. I loved it and will get it again. My wife had the grilled bruschetta chicken. She also really enjoyed her meal.
Both our meals were under $20 so for a good dinner it was pretty reasonable. We will be returning.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Forge Club - Vernon Hills, IL
If you live in the area and you are not a member, you are really missing out. We received a membership at the club for as a wedding gift and we have been going ever since.
The club has been around since 1969 and is known for elegant dining in a very rustic atmosphere. You are greeted at the door where you check in, then you are not presented with a bill till the end of the evening. The big thing about this restaurant is the fantastic food, but what we like most is the atmosphere. The service is never rushed, we have been the only people in the restaurant and we could have stayed all night. Nobody is ever trying to turn tables.
We usually start the evening with a drink (or two) in the bar. Once we make it to the dining area you can relax as long as you wish, or you can jump right in. When the menus come, only the host is given prices. This is nice when you are entertaining, your guests will not freak out about the prices and ordered the grilled cheese.
The menu changes frequently, but some of our favorite staples are Steak Diane, Dover Sole, Veal Chop and the Rack of Lamb. Last night the specials were Sea Bass, which one of our guests had and she loved it. Another, which a second guest had, was a 22oz Kansas City Bone-in Rib eye. I was lucky enough to get a taste of each and I have to tell you it was impressive. I was surprised when my guest ate all 22oz.
The meal is somewhat expensive, but if you really want to have a special night out this is the place to go.
Just so you know, not all the meals are expensive. Lunch is a great bargain and very creative, Sunday dinner, which they are now calling "Dinner with Grandma" is quite reasonable and there is something for everyone's taste.
If you want to go somewhere where you feel like family and are treated with the respect you so deserve, then join the club and start enjoying something very special.
http://www.forgeclub.com/
The club has been around since 1969 and is known for elegant dining in a very rustic atmosphere. You are greeted at the door where you check in, then you are not presented with a bill till the end of the evening. The big thing about this restaurant is the fantastic food, but what we like most is the atmosphere. The service is never rushed, we have been the only people in the restaurant and we could have stayed all night. Nobody is ever trying to turn tables.
We usually start the evening with a drink (or two) in the bar. Once we make it to the dining area you can relax as long as you wish, or you can jump right in. When the menus come, only the host is given prices. This is nice when you are entertaining, your guests will not freak out about the prices and ordered the grilled cheese.
The menu changes frequently, but some of our favorite staples are Steak Diane, Dover Sole, Veal Chop and the Rack of Lamb. Last night the specials were Sea Bass, which one of our guests had and she loved it. Another, which a second guest had, was a 22oz Kansas City Bone-in Rib eye. I was lucky enough to get a taste of each and I have to tell you it was impressive. I was surprised when my guest ate all 22oz.
The meal is somewhat expensive, but if you really want to have a special night out this is the place to go.
Just so you know, not all the meals are expensive. Lunch is a great bargain and very creative, Sunday dinner, which they are now calling "Dinner with Grandma" is quite reasonable and there is something for everyone's taste.
If you want to go somewhere where you feel like family and are treated with the respect you so deserve, then join the club and start enjoying something very special.
http://www.forgeclub.com/
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Miramar - Highwood, Illinois
We first tried this restaurant for lunch during the summer. We ate outside on the sidewalk and had a leisurely lunch. We decided when the opportunity arose, we would make sure to try dinner.
Well it took us awhile, but when we did make it for dinner we really enjoyed it. The new chef, Roland Liccioni, has worked at fine restaurants such as Carlos, Les Nomades and the late Le Francais.
We started with the Escargot with Garlic & Pernod Butter and both of us had the special Sea Bass with lobster sauce. As Escargot goes, this was very good, but the sea bass was exceptional.
We can't wait to go back and try many of the other fine dishes.
http://www.miramarbistro.com/
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Mangia Trattoria - Kenosha, WI
Mangia is an Italian resturant, but more northern Italian type food. We have been going to this restaurant for many years, but only for dinner. It is one of the nicer restaurants in the Kenosha area and it is not overly expensive. We had a business associate come in from Finland and we wanted to have a good lunch so we decided to give Mangia a try.
We had the PANINO DI POLLO ~ $13.95 Diced chicken breast with mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and basil on grilled Tuscan bread and the PANINO DI BISTECCA ~ $14.95 Grilled ribeye with herb mayo, spinach and caramelized onions on grilled Tuscan bread. Both were excellent, though the ribeye meat was cut too large and you could not bite through it and keep it on the bread. The flavor was great, but it was very messy. I doubt we will have this again.
Next time I go I am getting the ORECCHIETTE CON SALSICCIA ~ $15.95 Ear shaped pasta with Pinn-Oak ground lamb sausage, broccoli rabe, garlic, goat cheese and chili flakes. I hope it taste as good as it sounds.
http://www.kenoshamangia.com/
We had the PANINO DI POLLO ~ $13.95 Diced chicken breast with mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and basil on grilled Tuscan bread and the PANINO DI BISTECCA ~ $14.95 Grilled ribeye with herb mayo, spinach and caramelized onions on grilled Tuscan bread. Both were excellent, though the ribeye meat was cut too large and you could not bite through it and keep it on the bread. The flavor was great, but it was very messy. I doubt we will have this again.
Next time I go I am getting the ORECCHIETTE CON SALSICCIA ~ $15.95 Ear shaped pasta with Pinn-Oak ground lamb sausage, broccoli rabe, garlic, goat cheese and chili flakes. I hope it taste as good as it sounds.
http://www.kenoshamangia.com/
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Le Bistro - Norwegian Perl (Western Caribbean)
We have been on two Norwegian ships, the Pearl and two years before on the sister ship the Jewel. We liked the Jewel better, the service seemed to be of a higher caliber. Maybe due to the world financial situation Norwegian is cutting corners.
Anyway, we are not here to talk about the ship, we are here to talk about Le Bistro, which is the French restaurant on board.
On a cruise you expect to eat buffet food more or less. Most meals all come from the same kitchen, so in the end things start to seem the same. Most food is poorly seasoned and it is rushed to be put in front of you. This is not true of Le Bistro.
The service is what you would expect from a 5 start restaurant in any major city. The food was exceptional and well-seasoned.
I can't find the copy of the menu, and we had a large group, so I'll just go over the highlights.
For appetizers, get the escargot, it was unique in its preparation and very rich. For the main course, I would have to recommend the lamb, it was cooked perfectly. Others had the fish special which everyone cleaned their plate, so it must have been good. Two of us shared their version of Chateaubriand and it was excellent
We had the creme brulee for desert; it was not the best we have every had, but it ranked right up there.
Off all the restaurants on the ship this was the best. The second best would be the Italian restaurant.
If you happen to be on either of these ships, pay the extra $15 to go to Le Bistro, we hope your experience is as enjoyable as ours.
www.ncl.com
Anyway, we are not here to talk about the ship, we are here to talk about Le Bistro, which is the French restaurant on board.
On a cruise you expect to eat buffet food more or less. Most meals all come from the same kitchen, so in the end things start to seem the same. Most food is poorly seasoned and it is rushed to be put in front of you. This is not true of Le Bistro.
The service is what you would expect from a 5 start restaurant in any major city. The food was exceptional and well-seasoned.
I can't find the copy of the menu, and we had a large group, so I'll just go over the highlights.
For appetizers, get the escargot, it was unique in its preparation and very rich. For the main course, I would have to recommend the lamb, it was cooked perfectly. Others had the fish special which everyone cleaned their plate, so it must have been good. Two of us shared their version of Chateaubriand and it was excellent
We had the creme brulee for desert; it was not the best we have every had, but it ranked right up there.
Off all the restaurants on the ship this was the best. The second best would be the Italian restaurant.
If you happen to be on either of these ships, pay the extra $15 to go to Le Bistro, we hope your experience is as enjoyable as ours.
www.ncl.com
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