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| - Ever since Hot Stone Grill opened up in the ex-Lowes shopping center in Cornelius I've been intrigued by what they offered. It's like the Melting Pot...who doesn't like the idea of cooking a bunch of fresh raw meat in front of you at your table? But Hot Stone does away with the community pot of broth and instead brings you your own personal 600 degree lava stone to cook your vittles on. It's a great concept that is executed perfectly and makes for a unique dining experience.
Let me start of by saying that Hot Stone Grill is pricey...we didn't go until we had a Groupon-esque deal AND we were celebrating a special occasion (our anniversary.) We walked in at 6:30 on a Friday night and found the place to be dead, though by the time we left at around 8:00 it was pretty hoppin'. The interior is quaint and charming, and has a fancy, intimate feel to it. The hostess greeted and seated us right away and our server was very knowledgeable. I was a bit disappointed in the wine selection, as they only offered two reds and two whites by the glass ($8 each), though they did have more to choose from by the bottle.
For an appetizer we ordered the cheese plate ($12) which had four different cheeses, some fresh fruit and hot bread. The cheeses were a decent selection, with a smokey gouda, a bacon-infused cheddar, a brie wedge and some crumbled bleu. I was a huge fan of the cheddar and gouda, and the missus really enjoyed the bleu. The brie in particular went well with the strawberries and blueberries that accompanied the plate.
Then came dinner. While there are about eight European-influenced prepared dishes on the menu, you don't come to Hot Stone Grill for fettucini alfredo or beef bourgignon...you come for the actual hot stone entrees! If you come here and don't do the hot stones then you're missing the point of coming here!!! There is a selection of meats to choose from, and they bring the meat out to you on your own personal stone along with the side veggie of your choice. The meat is mostly raw, but they do pop it on the lava stone to sear it for visual and audio effect (plus it just smells amazing too!)
I chose the lamb tenderloin ($30) and was not disappointed. The server advised us to remove the whole meat from the stone, and to then cut off and cook each bite individually. This ended up being sound advice as each bite was cooked in a matter of thirty seconds and was done to perfection. To try and cook the entire hunk of meat at once, and then eat the whole thing after, could not compare to the quality you get when cooking each bite pretty much to order based on your own personal preference. The lava rock is coated in Himalayan salt and getting that little bit of salt with each bite was amazing. There are several dipping sauces to choose from when ordering your meat and the server will be more than willing to advise you on the chef's suggested pairing. With the lamb the server had recommended the demiglaze and it was a rockstar choice, as it complimented each lamby bite so well. My lamb was nothing short of tastetacular!
The missus went the sea route and ordered the ahi tuna ($32.) The tuna consisted of two long slabs that she was able to cook to that perfectly seared rare. The fish was extremely fresh and tasty. The server recommended a lemon citrus sauce that also complimented the tuna very well. We both ordered the mashed potatoes as sides, and while they were bland at first, they grew on us as we ate more. They were not overly buttery or salty, but we couldn't stop eating them.
The Hot Stone Grill offers a great dining experience that is near impossible to find anywhere else in the area. Cooking your own meal on a hot stone is not just a novelty as it is a really satisfying experience, and not just some lame gimmick. It is a bit pricey but totally worth it if you want to celebrate or just go all out and treat yourselves. The next time we want to splurge we will definitely be having Hot Stone Grill at the forefront of our minds.
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