| rev:text
| - I tried to go to Beaver Choice on a Saturday night a couple of months ago, but when we arrived we were informed that they were booked solid for the night so we went elsewhere. I think it was right after they got some love from the New Times.
Yesterday, my wife and I tried again, forgetting that a reservation might be a good idea, but now, even though we are out of the height of the summer heat, no reservation was necessary. The place was only about 40% full.
The owner was sitting in the booth closest to the door and sprung up to seat us. Upon grabbing a booth, 2 glasses and a full pitcher of water was brought along with a couple of perogies with sour cream. The perogies where hot, crispy, and nicely spiced and the cooling sour cream improved it further.
The room is kinda odd ... dominated by a huge LED illuminated bar in a place I don't imagine many people go to drink. And there's a stray display case at the far end against the wall not serving any discernible purpose.
I tried to order a diet soda, but they carry RC Cola and Diet Rite is the most awful drink on the planet so i stuck with the agua.
I started looking through the menu when I saw something (actually 2 things) I don't think I've ever seen on a menu before. First, they offer a "Salmon Lasagna". Salmon with tomatoes covered in mozzarella cheese. It might actually be great, but it is the most horrible sounding dish I've seen on a menu in a while.
Secondly, almost the entire last page is taken up with "Menu Disclaimers"; the most interesting of which states that the prices and items listed on the menu might not be accurate and are not guaranteed. Huh? You're going to decide what to charge me after I order? You reserve the right to substitute pork for my chicken in the schnitzel? What if I have a dietary restriction you don't know about?
I ordered the Chicken Schnitzel Cordon Blue and my wife got the Swedish sampler with gravlax, a mini shoemakers box, and Swedish meatballs.
While we were waiting for our food, the waiter brought us a flyer showing their menu for next week's Restaurant Week promotion. At $33 pp, the Restaurant Week deal represents only about $3 off the regular menu price, assuming you'd be ordering a full app, entree, and dessert anyway. Oddly, a few minutes later, he collected the flyer back from us. I'm kinda glad I didn't spill anything on it not knowing if they'd try to charge me for it.
The food came and was absolutely excellent. The schnitzel was thin, moist, and crispy with just the right amount of breading and cheese inside. My wife's dinner was also excellent. And when the check came, the prices actually did match the menu.
After reading the other reviews here on Yelp,and judging by how empty the place now is, it would appear that the atmosphere created by the owner is finally taking its toll. As I left, the one word that came to mind was "chintzy". The entire vibe is one of the owner watching everyone like a hawk lest they "get away with something" like sharing a meal without volunteering the $5 split fee.
It's a shame. The food is very well executed and is good enough to keep this place packed on a Saturday night. I'll go back, but I can guarantee I will never order anything combining salmon and mozzarella.
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