rev:text
| - So I really wanted to give Black Dog 3.5 stars but Yelp doesn't do half stars. Seriously, Yelp? You've been in business since 2004. Half stars can't be that hard to implement. Anyway...
So I really should love Black Dog. It's super close to my apartment. It has a separate bar/dining area and the bar area is super cozy. The dining area is a great space that filters into the City Club, should you want some inspiring, thought-provoking discussion after eating your meal. So why no love for Black Dog? I'm really confused by their food. I don't know what their schtick is. I've visited here on two separate occasions and both times I was thoroughly confused as to exactly what Black Dog is trying to be. The first time I went here the place was practically empty (lunchtime on a Saturday afternoon) and I was with a big group so I was like sweet! service should be awesome. Honestly, it was kind of slow. We were a group of six with 2 additional kids but there was seriously no one else in the restaurant. So, moving on to the food. Our appetizer was the lobster and artichoke dip. I was a little skeptical that one appetizer would feed six adults but I was pleasantly surprised. This dip is super rich and gooey but good. Order it. Moving on to the mains, two of us ordered the Orange Ginger Shrimp tacos. The description makes these sound divine. In reality, they're really bland. The ingredients all cancel each other out and what you're left with is a mix of mushy and solid textures. Not good at all. Another in our group ordered the Terminal Tower. When asked, she said it was "a salad." Guess that's all you need to know about that one. For the most part, everyone's food was pretty forgettable. It's not that it was bad it's just that no one seemed impressed. So why four stars for Black Dog, besides the fact that I can't a give a half star? I think Black Dog has great potential. The location really pumps up the neighborhood and it's a great place to catch your favorite sports teams. Beyond that, the food is not so awful that it can't be saved. If they refine their menu a bit and focus on really pulling flavor out of their dishes, they'll be golden in my book.
|