Restaurant week 2012. Stop #2. I'm gonna keep this short... It was an early dinner for our group of ten. There was no problem getting a reservation a few days before and the service throughout the night was on point.
First up for me was the ahi tuna carpaccio. I always expect small portions during restaurant week, but this was pretty large. It was a whole plate of thinly sliced, delicate tuna with a preserved lemon aioli and capers. Absolutely delicious.
I was all set to order the halibut for my entree but switched to the NY strip after our waiter went on about how amazing it was. The seasoning and flavor of the steak was good but the meat itself was tough. Not prime grade beef at all. But the accompanying potatoes and arugula and port reduction made up for it. Still, if I could go back, I'd order the halibut instead.
They had three tempting options for dessert but I went with the carrot cake. The presentation was beautiful and the icing was perfectly balanced and the flavor of the cake was excellent. My only complaint was that it was a touch too dense for my liking. Still, it was a very tasty end to the meal.
It was my second time to Vintner Grill and I'm still a fan.