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| - Although I was sad to see Chautara go, I was eager to sample the fare of the space's new occupant, Crandall's, which offers Peruvian-American cuisine. First, I have to say that "Peruvian-American" is used in the loosest possible sense of the term here, since you can order an appetizer of fried Wisconsin cheese curds...And I can't say that if I had a hankering for lasagna THIS would be the first place I'd come to look for it. But there it is on the menu.
Our server was excellent, and the atmosphere was relaxed and nice--although the music selection, which included Bruno Mars, was somewhat disorienting.
I ordered the Arroz con Pollo, a very traditional Peruvian dish. I was not expecting chicken and rice to make a grand entrance on an absolutely gorgeous plate, but that's what was laid in front of me. I also appreciated the portion size, which was not overly large. On first bite, the dish struck me as hearty and savory, but a tad on the bland side. Peruvian cuisine is not as spicy as some other Latin American cuisines, after all, and as I kept eating, it suddenly hit me. The pickled red onion garnish was there FOR A REASON. So I assembled a forkful of rice, chicken, and a slice of the onion pickle. The sheer perfection of that bite was amazing: the pickled onion provided a perfect textural counterpoint and highlighted the subtle flavors of the dish. The insanely reeky onion breath two hours later was well worth it. I'll be back.
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