| rev:text
| - I've been to Essex twice now, and really enjoyed both experiences. The first time, I went with a group of ladies from my book club for our holiday dinner. The second, my husband and I went during Restaurant Week.
I've tried many of their dishes and some are absolutely repeatable. Let me try to summarize the highlights -
Favorites
* Butter chicken - Their chicken is tender, and the sauce is rich and delicious. Plus, the bread they serve with it is AMAZING.
* Warm brussel sprout caesar salad - Gosh, this salad is good! I daresay it's my favorite version of a caesar salad EVER.
* Asian style skirt steak - Our server recommended this, and I'm glad we tried it! I don't typically like steak, but this preparation was tasty, and it melted in your mouth.
Other impressions
* Gambas Al Ajillo - This dish is served with plenty of rock shrimp. The sauce was good, but in comparison to the skirt steak and butter chicken, I'd probably forgo this the next time. Psst - it's also served with their delicious bread.
* Lobster tacos - This was my biggest (really, the ONLY) disappointment. The tacos needed more sauce, and the lobster was overcooked.
* Bang Bang Grouper - This was similar to Bonefish's version. My husband liked this better than me. I just found it a bit too saucy for my liking.
* Kale and Apple Salad - Normally, this would be my go-to salad. But after having the brussel caesar, I'd always choose the latter over this one.
* Essex dip trio and Mediterranean dip trio - Both were good, and perfect for sharing.
I do want to try the tuna poke tacos and shrimp and grits on our next visit. It's going to be so hard determining which of our favorites to forgo though!
I did find the drink menu to be a bit lacking. I prefer martinis and cocktails with vodka, and there weren't many options. The drinks I tried on both occasions (I honestly cannot remember them) were just ok.
Service was great on both occasions. Especially considering we had a big table during one of the visits. In terms of atmosphere, Essex has many areas for seating, but the restaurant is both lively and loud. Keep this in mind if you are looking to have an intimate conversation.
The food and service were so good that I'll definitely be back!
|