| rev:text
| - Went to Willow last night. I know about it's 4 (at present) sister restaurants downtown, and decided to try this outlier for a friend's birthday. We sat downstairs, and there was more than ample distance between tables for privacy. This is a large restaurant, and they have the nice option to sit outside on a patio.
I started with a Smoke & Honey cocktail - Vodka/Amaro/Smoked Honey/Lemon/Egg White. It was served in a martini glass, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it was truly delicious - a very unique combination, although the I think the Amaro's bitter contribution was lost.
My companion and I wanted to sample a little of the menu, and figured we'd try a "small plate." I asked the waitress about how the Lobster Roll Bites and the Fried Artichoke were served, to see which was better to split. We decided on the latter. We were each given a heavy, rectangular porcelain plate from which to serve from the main plate. The app consisted of 4 small battered artichoke heart sections and 4 squares of fried prosciutto placed upon a smear of pea puree with scattered English peas and a few small star-squirts of lemon aioli. The menu mentioned asparagus, but none was there, replaced I assume by a small vine of pea shoots. No mint as written either. Fried artichoke and fried prosciutto, which packs a very powerful tail-end salt punch, is a bit heavy-handed use of the deep fryer, but no oil was detectable. And when Willow calls this a "small" plate, they mean it. Every component was artfully arranged, but with this finger food, you'd think they could do away with the idea of separate plates. And at $10, it's priced twice what it should be.
My "large plate" entree consisted of a nice-sized square of Scottish salmon broiled perfectly, with a chip of fried salmon skin sailing on top. The seafood was placed on top of a mushroom crepe, and around the plate were scattered tiny nicely-cooked pattypan squash and baby zucchini. I would have used something a little less mushy under the fish, but it tasted fine. I could not detect the ramp pesto or pickled ramps mentioned on the menu, but this fufu veggie du jour just ends up sounding like a construction detour anyway. My companion ordered the "large plate" pork tenderloin, which consisted of 4-5 bacon wrapped medallions nicely cooked with a sweet onion emulsion, and sides of grilled succotash and "compressed" nectarine wedges.
All in all the, the dinner was fine - pretty and all. But I guess I'm starting to prefer more simple food simply prepared at better value. I can really find no fault with my dinner at Willow - service was pleasant and diligent (though my companion's request for a steak knife for her pork should have been anticipated) and meal was enjoyable. I just wasn't wowed.
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