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| - Okay this is going to be a bifurcated review.
For dining - a 3.
For drinking - a 4.
Start with the dining experience. I had heard good things about this place so when that Groupon appeared, I jumped on it. So the DH, DS, and I headed down on a Wednesday for dinner.
The place was busy and it was 113 out so let's just say we were taking that inside table, even though it was at the front door. Note to hostess: if you are going to have front doors that stick open, then don't seat people at that front table - or rather than stand there with nothing to do, shut the freaking door yourself. The blasts of hot air probably are some of the most memorable moments of that night.
My DH had not even gotten butt in chair before the server asked for drink orders (seriously, he was still standing!). Uh, can we have a minute please.
Big mistake. We watched the server hop past us no less than 12 times (I started counting out of boredom) before he returned to take our order or even acknowledge our existence. But finally he returned.
The beer selection is admirable. The DH enjoyed an Alaskan Amber and started his bucket list of some other beers there on tap he wants to return and enjoy.
I however found it disappointing that in an establishment that boasts about its décor and ambiance and great food, that they only have fountain iced tea, nothing brewed. Really? Quite sad. I expect that from a cheap joint, not a nicer one. Oh wait - that's right - even McD's and Wendy's have fresh brew....
Being ravenous and having a big Groupon, we ordered an appetizer, 2 entrees, and an entrée salad.
And bets were taken - would the appetizer appear before the entrees.....
The server brought the guys their salads - it was a cute moment as he asked which one got the balsamic then gave him the Caesar anyway. yeah, I know, hard to tell them apart.
The dinner salads were served with 1/2 a pretzel roll. The salads were large but nothing special. The house salad came with few "extras". The Caesar was just a Caesar, nothing special like thinly sliced Parm.
Okay, now the curiosity is getting more intense - salads before appetizer.....would the appetizer make it before the entrees?It did - but just barely. We had not even eaten a single wing before the entrees were served.
The wings had a nice rub on them and the sauces were not bad although it was hard to tell the difference between the BBQ and the Chipotle BBQ. But grilling those wings can really dry them out - that was rather disappointing. The other thing that was so odd - most wing places will split the wing between the joint, nice and clean. Here, we found ourselves with bones cut off - which I found odd and a little messy but so be it.
DH ordered the grilled chicken with the cherry demi-glace. Again, it sort of missed the spot - the chicken had an opportunity for a nice rub but really just didn't stand up on its own for taste. he had subbed out the 3 sisters ragout for the potatoes. We were surprised that the ragout was comprised of white beans and corn - usually when you think of a veggie ragout, it is more along the lines of squash and carrots and tomatoes. next time, ask before subbing.
DS ordered the crispy skin salmon. It was not served medium rare as it should be. but he said it was tasty. he had subbed out the broccolini for the grilled asparagus. of course, he received both.
interestingly enough, they brought DS the asparagus as a side dish so he received about 3x as many spears as did DH did as part of his dinner. oops.
Now to my entrée salad. I ordered the Strawberry Salad and added grilled shrimp. I asked for the salad without the bleu crumbles and dressing on the side as I don't like much dressing. My salad came - imagine this - dressed with some cheese in it but it was so tiny and almost hidden - almost as though the greens had belonged to another's salad and just was used for mine instead. now I hate to think that - but the onion flavors in the salad which would not have had onion in it to begin with made me wonder more. The salad had what appeared to be frozen berries, not fresh berries - or maybe they were marinated but not fresh. and, to be honest, my salad was no bigger than the side salad that the guys received. but that cheese bugged me - if I had a lactose issue or allergy rather than a dislike of bleu, that salad might had ruined my evening. The shrimp added on were nice in size but a tad overgrilled as they were somewhat tough, but grilling shrimp when you are busy - I can forgive that.
Not once during the meal did water get refilled - again, not a biggie but since that was my only beverage, well, it was a biggie for me.
All in all, I think I would go back for happy hour and drinks. But I don't see myself returning for dinner anytime soon. Too many other places do it better.
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