I'll cut right to the chase (which, if you know me at all, is something of an exception to the norm). This place had its interesting share of ups and downs, but the food was - without a shred of a doubt - the up to rule all ups.
Showing posts with label oysters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oysters. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2013
Fukuda YES!
I'll cut right to the chase (which, if you know me at all, is something of an exception to the norm). This place had its interesting share of ups and downs, but the food was - without a shred of a doubt - the up to rule all ups.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: TOP does New Orleans
Yes, PID and I spent the past week in the one-and-only N'AWLINS, bearing the heat and humidity for the sake of our appetites. We, quite literally, ATE our way through the southern city. I can't count high enough to put a number on the amount of oysters I ate, and pickled green beans are, without a doubt, my new favorite food.
So for today's "Wordless Wednesday," I'll give you a taste of what we tasted. This way, if any of you are planning to head down there to watch our Stillers kick some Superbowl butt, you'll have an idea of where to grub!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
1796 in 2010
It's (yet again) been a while. Well, 'tis the season! PID and I have been spending all of our money on moms and dads and brothers and sisters and nephews and nieces and so we've had no time or dough for dinners out!
But we're back! And because I haven't seen you, Merry Christmas!
I hope your holiday was delicious!
I'll warn you now, this review isn't Pittsburgh based, but at least it's still Western, PA! After a feast of the seven fishes with the PID family and a weekend in Chocolatetown with mine, we decided we needed a holiday from our holiday. So we made a reservation at Bedford Springs Resort & Hotel which is just a perfect distance away from home and Pittsburgh. Smack in the middle! I'd eaten here before in the Crystal Room on the way home from an epic weekend at Penn State but never stayed the night. I remembered how breathtaking the property and hotel looked and knew I wanted to bring PID here to stay.
We pulled up in million mile per hour winds to a very helpful group of bellmen. Once we were all checked in we decided to head out on a journey to explore the resort. On the way we checked out the multiple dining options on site and asked around about options in Downtown Bedford. After quite a bit of menu reading, we decided to stay in-house and dine in the 1796 Room -- named for the year that the land was purchased to build the resort!
You don't have to be a hotel guest to dine at 1796 but reservations are definitely encouraged. Even on a Monday we weren't able to be seated until 9 p.m. but we were OK with that. We had a drink at the bar while we waited:
So what sold me on this place that couldn't seat me until 9 p.m.? I'll give you a hint:
Two of my favorite appetizers on the same menu?! That is a rare find indeed! Best thing about it is I have a wonderful boyfriend who doesn't mind feeding my vices by feeding his face and sharing. But I'm getting ahead of myself here... we did, in fact, get bread...
I'm gonna go ahead and say this was a garlic herb loaf and a rye loaf. Now they seemed fresh baked (nice and warm and dough-y), but I wasn't a giant fan of the bread. It was almost too much flavor before our meal. I needed a palate cleanser just to eat my appetizer. But I wouldn't venture so far to say it was bad. Just a bit too much for my taste!
One thing I want to mention is something I truly feel strongly about at any establishment. If things aren't up to the standards you feel they should be for the price you're paying for dinner, you need to speak up. Now, our food was wonderful, but our server was....not. We were greeted by a roaming server who delivered our bread and poured our water (after asking if we'd prefer bottled or sparkling, which we didn't). He let us know our server would be right with us. He wasn't. We waited quite a bit until he finally arrived, we placed our entire orders. We ordered two diet cokes instead of wine tonight since we had a bottle up in the room. Ten minutes later we still had no diet coke. Fifteen and I saw the table seated after us had already drunk half a bottle of their wine, so I tracked down that friendly roaming server again. He brought our sodas instantly. See? It wasn't too hard. It's very easy to simply speak up without having a harsh, demanding tone to your request. Sometimes things happen and they may be simple and easy to take care of. The longer you wait to speak up the angrier you'll get and the harsher your request will be making the server all the less interested in helping you out.
But back to the meal...
The appetizers came next...
The oysters were creamy and perfect. There was just enough cheese. The tuna...MMMMMmmmmm good! It came two ways with a tartare and a lightly seared yellow fin. There was an amazing smokiness to the yellow fin that I have never tasted before and really thought it made the dish special! This ain't your mama's tuna! The tartare was well seasoned as well though a bit al dente. Either way I loved it!
Then, although we knew going in to things it was an ambitious decision, we each ordered a bowl of Lobster Bisque because, c'mon, how could we refuse?
The bisque was thick and creamy and buttery and DELICIOUS! And with a few huge chunks of fresh lobster in the bowl, I was anything but disappointed. If I have one complaint (and really it's not much of a complaint) it's that it was very heavy. This made it taste much better, but we made the mistake of ordering two appetizers, soup and an entree and eating the bread. So even after the soup course we were feeling mighty stuffed! If you think you want the bisque, you can probably forgo appetizers altogether! It's that, well, appetizing!
Finally it was on to the entrees...
I ordered the Herb-Crusted Halibut and must pat myself on the back for making an excellent choice. The fish had an excellently flavored crust and flaked perfectly at the touch of a fork. The German potatoes were dark and well cooked, just like I like 'em. A tad too much spinach for my liking, but the tomato ragout provided a great sweetness to it.
I will say it was a bit over salted...but for me, that was a good thing. I have a salt complex in that I always want too much of it. So to me, it made me love the meal even more. But for those of you with a less salt-favoring palate, just be warned.
PID had the New York Strip with GIANT steak fries and asparagus.
The steak was cooked absolutely perfectly and held it's natural juices well. Tasted great! PID was not a fan of the steak sauce though. "Too sweet." But luckily he didn't even need it thanks to the steak being so great. The asparagus was shaved which I guess I don't really understand. Doesn't it lose flavor and substance that way? If anyone can explain the significance of shaving asparagus to me, please do.
Now PID said the fries looked incredibly tasty, but while my meal was slightly over salted, these fries -- which are supposed -- lacked salt altogether. There wasn't a single grain on them and, oddly enough, there was no salt or pepper on the table, either. They were quite bland and tasted like nothing more than sliced cooked potatoes. We considered asking our server for salt, but he had taken ages to come back with the ketchup so we figured why bother. So instead, PID decided to simply dip in the ketchup. Well that also didn't help. It was a house-made ketchup. While I generally appreciate house-made sauces and the like, I have a problem with house-made ketchup. We are in Western PA people. Heinz country. Don't mess with the good thing we've got going here. No need to get fancy. It was wayyyy too sweet (it almost tasted like raspberries?) and watery. It tasted almost nothing like ketchup.
Restaurant Info:
1796
Address: 2138 Business 220 Bedford, PA15522
Phone: 814-623-8100 (that's the hotel's number -- simply mention you're calling about 1796)
Hours: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. (dinner only)
Reservations: Strongly Encouraged
Price: $$$$
Cliffs Notes:
Beverages: 2 diet cokes @ $2.50
Appetizers: Chesapeake Bay Oysters Rockefeller @ $13
Twice the Tuna @ $9
Overall Opinion:
Though the fries and ketchup didn't exactly make the cut, the rest of the meal was delicious. Combined with the ambiance and rich history within the walls of the restaurant, the meal was quite a wonderful experience altogether. Though it's a good hour and 40 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh 1796 and, really, the entire Omni Bedford Springs Resort make a wonderful romantic evening or weekend getaway. It's like stepping in to the past and leaving behind the worries of the real world. Don't think I've ever said that about dinner before. A trip here, even just for a meal, might be an excellent Valentine's Day or Anniversary dinner so keep it in mind. My rating is based upon many things, but I must say the fries, ketchup and service made it lose a few points in my book. That doesn't mean it's still not an excellent place to check out.
<a href="http://www.menuism.com/restaurants/1796-room-at-bedford-springs-bedford-256547" title="1796 Room at Bedford Springs Restaurant Reviews"><img src="http://1.static.menuism.com/images/badges/featured-on-menuism.gif" border=0 alt="1796 Room at Bedford Springs Restaurant Reviews"/></a>
But we're back! And because I haven't seen you, Merry Christmas!
I hope your holiday was delicious!
I'll warn you now, this review isn't Pittsburgh based, but at least it's still Western, PA! After a feast of the seven fishes with the PID family and a weekend in Chocolatetown with mine, we decided we needed a holiday from our holiday. So we made a reservation at Bedford Springs Resort & Hotel which is just a perfect distance away from home and Pittsburgh. Smack in the middle! I'd eaten here before in the Crystal Room on the way home from an epic weekend at Penn State but never stayed the night. I remembered how breathtaking the property and hotel looked and knew I wanted to bring PID here to stay.
We pulled up in million mile per hour winds to a very helpful group of bellmen. Once we were all checked in we decided to head out on a journey to explore the resort. On the way we checked out the multiple dining options on site and asked around about options in Downtown Bedford. After quite a bit of menu reading, we decided to stay in-house and dine in the 1796 Room -- named for the year that the land was purchased to build the resort!
You don't have to be a hotel guest to dine at 1796 but reservations are definitely encouraged. Even on a Monday we weren't able to be seated until 9 p.m. but we were OK with that. We had a drink at the bar while we waited:
 |
| Bedford Lemonade: Bacardi Limon, Lemonade and Cranberry Juice |
 |
| Bacardi & Diet: a PID staple |
So what sold me on this place that couldn't seat me until 9 p.m.? I'll give you a hint:
Two of my favorite appetizers on the same menu?! That is a rare find indeed! Best thing about it is I have a wonderful boyfriend who doesn't mind feeding my vices by feeding his face and sharing. But I'm getting ahead of myself here... we did, in fact, get bread...
I'm gonna go ahead and say this was a garlic herb loaf and a rye loaf. Now they seemed fresh baked (nice and warm and dough-y), but I wasn't a giant fan of the bread. It was almost too much flavor before our meal. I needed a palate cleanser just to eat my appetizer. But I wouldn't venture so far to say it was bad. Just a bit too much for my taste!
One thing I want to mention is something I truly feel strongly about at any establishment. If things aren't up to the standards you feel they should be for the price you're paying for dinner, you need to speak up. Now, our food was wonderful, but our server was....not. We were greeted by a roaming server who delivered our bread and poured our water (after asking if we'd prefer bottled or sparkling, which we didn't). He let us know our server would be right with us. He wasn't. We waited quite a bit until he finally arrived, we placed our entire orders. We ordered two diet cokes instead of wine tonight since we had a bottle up in the room. Ten minutes later we still had no diet coke. Fifteen and I saw the table seated after us had already drunk half a bottle of their wine, so I tracked down that friendly roaming server again. He brought our sodas instantly. See? It wasn't too hard. It's very easy to simply speak up without having a harsh, demanding tone to your request. Sometimes things happen and they may be simple and easy to take care of. The longer you wait to speak up the angrier you'll get and the harsher your request will be making the server all the less interested in helping you out.
But back to the meal...
The appetizers came next...
The oysters were creamy and perfect. There was just enough cheese. The tuna...MMMMMmmmmm good! It came two ways with a tartare and a lightly seared yellow fin. There was an amazing smokiness to the yellow fin that I have never tasted before and really thought it made the dish special! This ain't your mama's tuna! The tartare was well seasoned as well though a bit al dente. Either way I loved it!
Then, although we knew going in to things it was an ambitious decision, we each ordered a bowl of Lobster Bisque because, c'mon, how could we refuse?
Finally it was on to the entrees...
I ordered the Herb-Crusted Halibut and must pat myself on the back for making an excellent choice. The fish had an excellently flavored crust and flaked perfectly at the touch of a fork. The German potatoes were dark and well cooked, just like I like 'em. A tad too much spinach for my liking, but the tomato ragout provided a great sweetness to it.
I will say it was a bit over salted...but for me, that was a good thing. I have a salt complex in that I always want too much of it. So to me, it made me love the meal even more. But for those of you with a less salt-favoring palate, just be warned.
PID had the New York Strip with GIANT steak fries and asparagus.
The steak was cooked absolutely perfectly and held it's natural juices well. Tasted great! PID was not a fan of the steak sauce though. "Too sweet." But luckily he didn't even need it thanks to the steak being so great. The asparagus was shaved which I guess I don't really understand. Doesn't it lose flavor and substance that way? If anyone can explain the significance of shaving asparagus to me, please do.
Now PID said the fries looked incredibly tasty, but while my meal was slightly over salted, these fries -- which are supposed -- lacked salt altogether. There wasn't a single grain on them and, oddly enough, there was no salt or pepper on the table, either. They were quite bland and tasted like nothing more than sliced cooked potatoes. We considered asking our server for salt, but he had taken ages to come back with the ketchup so we figured why bother. So instead, PID decided to simply dip in the ketchup. Well that also didn't help. It was a house-made ketchup. While I generally appreciate house-made sauces and the like, I have a problem with house-made ketchup. We are in Western PA people. Heinz country. Don't mess with the good thing we've got going here. No need to get fancy. It was wayyyy too sweet (it almost tasted like raspberries?) and watery. It tasted almost nothing like ketchup.
Restaurant Info:
1796
Address: 2138 Business 220 Bedford, PA15522
Phone: 814-623-8100 (that's the hotel's number -- simply mention you're calling about 1796)
Hours: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. (dinner only)
Reservations: Strongly Encouraged
Price: $$$$
Cliffs Notes:
Beverages: 2 diet cokes @ $2.50
Appetizers: Chesapeake Bay Oysters Rockefeller @ $13
Twice the Tuna @ $9
2 Lobster Bisques @ $11
Entrees: Herb Crusted Halibut @ $28
Prime NY Strip @ $33
Tax: 6% @ $6.07
Total for Two: $116.07
Entrees: Herb Crusted Halibut @ $28
Prime NY Strip @ $33
Tax: 6% @ $6.07
Total for Two: $116.07
Though the fries and ketchup didn't exactly make the cut, the rest of the meal was delicious. Combined with the ambiance and rich history within the walls of the restaurant, the meal was quite a wonderful experience altogether. Though it's a good hour and 40 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh 1796 and, really, the entire Omni Bedford Springs Resort make a wonderful romantic evening or weekend getaway. It's like stepping in to the past and leaving behind the worries of the real world. Don't think I've ever said that about dinner before. A trip here, even just for a meal, might be an excellent Valentine's Day or Anniversary dinner so keep it in mind. My rating is based upon many things, but I must say the fries, ketchup and service made it lose a few points in my book. That doesn't mean it's still not an excellent place to check out.
HAVE A SAFE, HAPPY AND DELICIOUS NEW YEAR!!!!!!! See ya in 2011!
<a href="http://www.menuism.com/restaurants/1796-room-at-bedford-springs-bedford-256547" title="1796 Room at Bedford Springs Restaurant Reviews"><img src="http://1.static.menuism.com/images/badges/featured-on-menuism.gif" border=0 alt="1796 Room at Bedford Springs Restaurant Reviews"/></a>
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
My Birthday Dinner Surprise
This post comes to you two weeks delayed. I've been a busy 'burgher! But I have a story to tell about the second half of my beautiful birthday adventure with PID.
After a fun filled morning in the Strip District and a delicious trip to DeLuca's, we weren't quite done! It was on to my first trip to The Warhol and my third to Phipps before my big dinner surprise! Oooooh the anticipation was building!!
So, though the soles of my feet were sore, my soul was filled with joy after a beautiful day with my beau. But it STILL wasn't over! PID assured me I had time for a quick siesta before our fiesta. So I took serious advantage before we headed out to dinner. Luckily, he HAD let me in on a part of the secret: there was a formal dress code. So I'd purchased attire for the occasion. Formal dress code? WHERE ON EARTH WERE WE GOING!?
Why Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, of course! I'd been hinting to PID for ages. I love Seafood and I love Mount Washington. This was definitely the place for me!
Valet parking was convenient, but $4 plus tip. Who charges for valet anymore when the minimum your diners are paying half a month's salary on dinner? But PID tells me it wasn't a big deal and he's the one who paid, so I digress.
I half expected to walk directly in to the restaurant from the bottom floor -- that's how the other Mt. Washington restaurants are. But Monterey Bay Fish Grotto is not located directly on the mountain. It's on the other side of Grandview Ave on the top floor of what appears to be an apartment complex. So you have to take an elevator all the way up. Though yes, the valet booth is right there the elevator boasts no direction -- we even had trouble finding the button. I was confused and it had nothing to do with my being blond.
Anyway, we made our way to the top. An absolutely breathtaking elevator ride (Literally. I'm scared of heights so I held my breath the whole time...but it was beautiful) with a perfect view of Heinz Field and downtown Pittsburgh. But when the elevator doors opened on the top floor, the view got even better!
The dining room was festive and beautiful with impossibly high ceilings and painted columns depicting palm trees reminiscent of the real Monterey Bay.
(I'll tell you now that in a dress on the arm of a man wearing a tie as we're paying $54 for a $17 bottle of wine -- I was a little too intimidated to take a lot of pictures. So many of these will come directly from their website and not from my lens.)
I felt welcomed immediately as we passed the bubbling fish tanks. By the hostess and staff, not the fish.
Our waiter was a bit on the slow side. Non alcoholic drinks came 10+ minutes after we'd ordered them and went dry on a few occasions. But the manager on duty was extremely pleasant and helpful in choosing both a wine and an entree. She was very conversational and seemed genuinely happy to have us. US, not just our money. Which she was certainly getting.
And so, it was on to the wine...
We ordered a Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cab Sav. I love Mondavi wines. At $54 for the bottle it was the cheapest on the Cab Sav portion of the extensive wine menu, but it was better than anything I'd had in a long time!
And then the appetizier...
My FAVORITE part of the meal, I have to say. Though I hate raw oysters, I sure am a sucker for Oysters Rockefeller. So far, oddly enough, the best O.R. I've had was at a tiny middle-of-nowhere roadside diner just east of Seven Springs. Until now. I of course gasped in elation when I saw they were offered and had to think no further, while PID seemed far from indecisive as he ordered his staple: calamari. The apps came almost as fast as the drinks (this would be a good thing if it hadn't been because the drinks took so doggone long to arrive). The cheese was still bubbly and after one bite I discovered the hard way that "bubbly" was synonymous with "not quite ready to eat." My tongue was burned and I actually wished it'd taken a bit longer to arrive. But once they cooled down, they were DELECTABLE. Absolutely impeccable balance between the spinach, cheese, garlic and whatever else was thrown in there. It was a hefty portion as well with 8 on the plate. I even let PID try one. Ain't I sweet? His calamari was good, but not the best I've had. I suggest getting an appetizer you can't get at Red Lobster if you go.
Next, it was time for the entree...
Here, I was stumped. I stared at the menu for what felt like hours, battling back and forth between the Sashimi style Ahi Tuna entree and the Caribbean style Chilean Sea Bass before finally settling on...neither. Instead, I went with the Jumbo Sea Scallops. PID was once again conventional in choice, but I let him slide on this one. Apparently their crab cakes are highly acclaimed, so he went with those.
My scallops melted in my mouth as they should and while some places scallop entrees leave me wanting, Monterey Bay's portions were just right. I felt satisfied, but not over served. They were stuffed to perfection with fresh shrimp and crab meat with a delicious Lobster Newburg Sauce and coleslaw-esque garnish. I have to say, I loved the garnish and wanted more. It redefined edible-art in to "art I want to keep eating." I have nothing bad to say about this entire dish. From first bite to scraping my plate I was in heaven. All too often I find myself wondering "what-if" after I've made a difficult menu decision. My mind was nowhere near my other alternatives at this point. I was, simply put, satisfied.
PID's crab cakes were excellent as well. Large chunks of fresh crab (flown in that afternoon like the rest of their fresh fish on the daily menu) drowned in a light and sweet remoulade with a perfect brown crust. Not a hint of char in sight. I still gave him heck for ordering calamari and crab cakes at one of the most elite restaurants in the city -- but who was I to criticize the man who gave me this beautiful day?
Finally, as we were waiting for our check, I caught our chatty manager whispering to our waiter and moments later, he appeared at our table with a HUGE slice of what appeared to be their chocolate truffle cake!
And would you believe it? The raspberry sauce spelled out a special message, just for me!
(this one was really mine -- I didn't steal it. I snapped the shot with my phone before quickly throwing it back in my purse...slightly embarrassed but mostly over excited to try this cake!)
They made up for charging for valet by not surprising PID with an involuntary dessert fee. I've seen it happen: you mention your birthday but don't ask for a cake. They bring it anyway and BAM! $12 on your check (Ahem....Red Lobster rises again). But not at Monterey Bay! They really treat you on your day.
It was a sweet conclusion to a perfect evening. I could not have asked for more.
Cliffs Notes:
Drinks: 2 diet cokes @ $1*
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon @ $54
Appetizer: Oysters Rockefeller @ $11.95
Fried Calamari @ $11.95
Meal: Stuffed Sea Scallops @ $35.95
Maryland Crab Cakes @ $34.95
Tax: @ 7% (Allegheny County only) $10.45
Tip: $35
Total for two: $195.29
*i'm still checking on that $1 drink thing. after adding everything up that's certainly what it looks like to me!
Overall Opinion?
Extremely delicious -- if I could afford to eat here once a week, I would. But I can't. I say LET THIS BE A LESSON TO YOU SIGNIFICANT OTHERS OUT THERE:
Don't forget about the other end of the Grandview block. Monterey Bay is the perfect romantic dining option if your sweetheart likes seafood. Of course it's pricey. What did you expect? It's Mount Washington! You're paying for the view, the ambiance and some of the most sought after chefs in the city. In this instance, I say it was worth it. But you should ask PID. His wallet took the hit. I'd love to take PID here on my dime sometime (anniversary? holiday? promotion?) but I'm sure we'll visit infrequently. Definitely a special occasion type of joint and rightfully so. Might wind up being too much of a good thing if it wasn't...
After a fun filled morning in the Strip District and a delicious trip to DeLuca's, we weren't quite done! It was on to my first trip to The Warhol and my third to Phipps before my big dinner surprise! Oooooh the anticipation was building!!
So, though the soles of my feet were sore, my soul was filled with joy after a beautiful day with my beau. But it STILL wasn't over! PID assured me I had time for a quick siesta before our fiesta. So I took serious advantage before we headed out to dinner. Luckily, he HAD let me in on a part of the secret: there was a formal dress code. So I'd purchased attire for the occasion. Formal dress code? WHERE ON EARTH WERE WE GOING!?
Why Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, of course! I'd been hinting to PID for ages. I love Seafood and I love Mount Washington. This was definitely the place for me!
Valet parking was convenient, but $4 plus tip. Who charges for valet anymore when the minimum your diners are paying half a month's salary on dinner? But PID tells me it wasn't a big deal and he's the one who paid, so I digress.
I half expected to walk directly in to the restaurant from the bottom floor -- that's how the other Mt. Washington restaurants are. But Monterey Bay Fish Grotto is not located directly on the mountain. It's on the other side of Grandview Ave on the top floor of what appears to be an apartment complex. So you have to take an elevator all the way up. Though yes, the valet booth is right there the elevator boasts no direction -- we even had trouble finding the button. I was confused and it had nothing to do with my being blond.
Anyway, we made our way to the top. An absolutely breathtaking elevator ride (Literally. I'm scared of heights so I held my breath the whole time...but it was beautiful) with a perfect view of Heinz Field and downtown Pittsburgh. But when the elevator doors opened on the top floor, the view got even better!
The dining room was festive and beautiful with impossibly high ceilings and painted columns depicting palm trees reminiscent of the real Monterey Bay.
I felt welcomed immediately as we passed the bubbling fish tanks. By the hostess and staff, not the fish.
Our waiter was a bit on the slow side. Non alcoholic drinks came 10+ minutes after we'd ordered them and went dry on a few occasions. But the manager on duty was extremely pleasant and helpful in choosing both a wine and an entree. She was very conversational and seemed genuinely happy to have us. US, not just our money. Which she was certainly getting.
And so, it was on to the wine...
We ordered a Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cab Sav. I love Mondavi wines. At $54 for the bottle it was the cheapest on the Cab Sav portion of the extensive wine menu, but it was better than anything I'd had in a long time!
And then the appetizier...
My FAVORITE part of the meal, I have to say. Though I hate raw oysters, I sure am a sucker for Oysters Rockefeller. So far, oddly enough, the best O.R. I've had was at a tiny middle-of-nowhere roadside diner just east of Seven Springs. Until now. I of course gasped in elation when I saw they were offered and had to think no further, while PID seemed far from indecisive as he ordered his staple: calamari. The apps came almost as fast as the drinks (this would be a good thing if it hadn't been because the drinks took so doggone long to arrive). The cheese was still bubbly and after one bite I discovered the hard way that "bubbly" was synonymous with "not quite ready to eat." My tongue was burned and I actually wished it'd taken a bit longer to arrive. But once they cooled down, they were DELECTABLE. Absolutely impeccable balance between the spinach, cheese, garlic and whatever else was thrown in there. It was a hefty portion as well with 8 on the plate. I even let PID try one. Ain't I sweet? His calamari was good, but not the best I've had. I suggest getting an appetizer you can't get at Red Lobster if you go.
Next, it was time for the entree...
Here, I was stumped. I stared at the menu for what felt like hours, battling back and forth between the Sashimi style Ahi Tuna entree and the Caribbean style Chilean Sea Bass before finally settling on...neither. Instead, I went with the Jumbo Sea Scallops. PID was once again conventional in choice, but I let him slide on this one. Apparently their crab cakes are highly acclaimed, so he went with those.
My scallops melted in my mouth as they should and while some places scallop entrees leave me wanting, Monterey Bay's portions were just right. I felt satisfied, but not over served. They were stuffed to perfection with fresh shrimp and crab meat with a delicious Lobster Newburg Sauce and coleslaw-esque garnish. I have to say, I loved the garnish and wanted more. It redefined edible-art in to "art I want to keep eating." I have nothing bad to say about this entire dish. From first bite to scraping my plate I was in heaven. All too often I find myself wondering "what-if" after I've made a difficult menu decision. My mind was nowhere near my other alternatives at this point. I was, simply put, satisfied.
PID's crab cakes were excellent as well. Large chunks of fresh crab (flown in that afternoon like the rest of their fresh fish on the daily menu) drowned in a light and sweet remoulade with a perfect brown crust. Not a hint of char in sight. I still gave him heck for ordering calamari and crab cakes at one of the most elite restaurants in the city -- but who was I to criticize the man who gave me this beautiful day?
Finally, as we were waiting for our check, I caught our chatty manager whispering to our waiter and moments later, he appeared at our table with a HUGE slice of what appeared to be their chocolate truffle cake!
And would you believe it? The raspberry sauce spelled out a special message, just for me!
They made up for charging for valet by not surprising PID with an involuntary dessert fee. I've seen it happen: you mention your birthday but don't ask for a cake. They bring it anyway and BAM! $12 on your check (Ahem....Red Lobster rises again). But not at Monterey Bay! They really treat you on your day.
It was a sweet conclusion to a perfect evening. I could not have asked for more.
Cliffs Notes:
Drinks: 2 diet cokes @ $1*
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon @ $54
Appetizer: Oysters Rockefeller @ $11.95
Fried Calamari @ $11.95
Meal: Stuffed Sea Scallops @ $35.95
Maryland Crab Cakes @ $34.95
Tax: @ 7% (Allegheny County only) $10.45
Tip: $35
Total for two: $195.29
*i'm still checking on that $1 drink thing. after adding everything up that's certainly what it looks like to me!
Overall Opinion?
Extremely delicious -- if I could afford to eat here once a week, I would. But I can't. I say LET THIS BE A LESSON TO YOU SIGNIFICANT OTHERS OUT THERE:
Don't forget about the other end of the Grandview block. Monterey Bay is the perfect romantic dining option if your sweetheart likes seafood. Of course it's pricey. What did you expect? It's Mount Washington! You're paying for the view, the ambiance and some of the most sought after chefs in the city. In this instance, I say it was worth it. But you should ask PID. His wallet took the hit. I'd love to take PID here on my dime sometime (anniversary? holiday? promotion?) but I'm sure we'll visit infrequently. Definitely a special occasion type of joint and rightfully so. Might wind up being too much of a good thing if it wasn't...
Friday, June 11, 2010
I Love ya, Tamari
So last week was 2010 Local Restaurant Week here in Pittsburgh. Locally owned and operated restaurants throughout the region were offering dining deals -- anywhere from three to five courses -- for $20.10. With 46 restaurants to choose from and only five days to participate, PID and I were in a real predicament. Which to choose, which to choose...
After weighing our options and remembering that we still had a few Groupons floating around for participating restaurants, we narrowed it down to three top choices:
1.) NineOnNine downtown on Penn Ave.
2.) Bistro 16 on Washington Rd. in Mt. Lebanon
3.) Tamari on Butler St. in Lawrenceville
Believe me, all will get their review in due time, but for this particular evening we battled it out over a glass of homemade Pino Noir and finally landed on Tamari on Butler street in Lawrenceville. Tapas is the new, hip thing now, isn't it? And I find it difficult to turn down anywhere that offers fresh Sashimi. Tamari was recently voted not only among Pittsburgh Magazine's Top 25 Restaurants, but the Best New Restaurant in the region as well. I thought I would see if it deserved the title.
Let's start with the not-so-obvious reason I liked Tamari. I am a public transporter. I work downtown and rely heavily on my bus pass to get me from point A to points B, C and D on a day-to-day basis. On this particular date night, I was working late and it was far more convenient for me so simply hop on a bus and meet him in Lawrenceville. Tamari was right on a number of convenient bus routes (the 64 from both Squirrel Hill and Shadyside, 77F & 77D and 81B from downtown, 500, 71A, 54C from Oakland etc.). I simply hopped on the first 77 that came my way and off I went to meet PID for a fancy dinner.
The restaurant is quaint. An intimately enclosed outdoor dining patio greets you as you arrive with black steel tables and chairs.
It was a hot, sticky evening so we thought about opting for inside dining -- although our reserved table was apparently set indoors anyway, so we weren't even faced with the decision. In typical Pittsburgh fashion, the restaurant was long and lean, extending back past the bar and open kitchen with seating all along the left wall.
I'm typically not a fan of multiple tables sharing one bench, however tables here were spaced at a comfortable enough distance apart that I didn't feel as though I was a part of our neighbors' dining experience.
And it was time for the wine:
It was with the wine that I was sorely disappointed. All of their wines (aside from the reserves, of course) are equally priced at $7.50 per glass and $28 per bottle. While that may be superb news for someone ordering a robust, aged red, I was planning on ordering seafood -- with which a nice, soft (typically less expensive) white would go quite nicely. So I settled on the Ste. Chapelle Riesling (Ste. Chapelle IDAHO mind you -- not France.)
Upon closer examination, I noticed that half of the listed labels seemed less than extravegant. Later that evening I went home and revisited the menu and searched online -- most of the bottles made available at Tamari (again, not on reserve) sold for between $9 and $20/bottle retail price. To charge $7.50 per glass for a US 2009 Riesling to me is preposterous.
Then on to the appetizer:
PID and I were intrigued by their Robata Grill selections -- a variety of meat selections served on skewers (loaded with three bite sized cutlets) accompanied by three unique dipping sauces: ponzu butter, ginger & chimichurri.
They were reasonably priced at $2-3 per skewer. PID opted for Lamb with Jalepeno, Shrimp and Bacon & Quail egg.
And finally, the main course:
We showed up completely prepared to order the $20.10 Local Restaurant Week deal: Panko Crusted Oysters served with Yuzu Aioli on a bed of a Jicama Slaw to start followed by Pan Roasted Chicken with Fingerling Potatoes and Wasabi Chimichurri. Don't speak that language? That's what I'm here for.
Panko: a variety of flaky bread crumb used in Japanese cuisine as a crunchy coating for fried foods
Yuzu: a tart Japanese citrus fruit (tasting similar to a grapefuit or mandarin orange) used to flavor dishes much like a lemon is used in the US -- yuzu know what I'm sayin?
Aioli: a garlic and olive oil based sauce which is often added to/flavored and has many variations
Jicama: pronounced HICK-kah-ma. the red-headed-step-child of the produce section, Jicama is, essentially, a high carb sweet flavored root. I like saying Jicama, don't you?
Fingerling Potatoes: small potatoes.
After careful consideration (and as a shock to both of us), PID and I veered away from our original plan to order the dining deal. .I can cook chicken any night of the week -- I want something unique when I'm paying someone else to cook for me! But those oysters sounded delicious, so I ordered them special (she charged me $9). From there we decided that, since we were in the Japanese version of a Tapas bar, that we would order Tapas style: little bit of a lot of stuff.
I was giddy with excitement when I saw that they had Tuna Tartar. I chose that and an order of the Tempura Calamari with tomatillo salsa, chipotle mayo & nuoc cham to accompany the oysters. PID went with an order of the Tuna Sashimi and the braised pork belly as his "entree" which our server immediately questioned. She shared with us some insight on the dish, that the flavors are intense and far from diners' typical expectations. PID quickly changed his order to the Beef Tenderloin.
My Tartar arrived with our skewers which was a hassle. We had to perform a balancing act on our table to fit all of the plates and it made sharing difficult. I suppose I understood since only one thing ordered between the two of us was classified as an "entree." I shouldn't have assumed our waitress understood our plan of edible attack. I started with PID the skewers first, letting him have two of the three of each selection. They were DELICIOUS!
(Let's get one thing out of the way -- I NEED A BETTER CAMERA. I know this, I apologize in advance, it will happen someday. SOME day.)
Perfectly proportioned, they provided a wonderful amuse bouche. I tried each sauce and complemented the meats in a very different, but very appropriate way. The shrimp and ponzu butter, however, stole the show for me.
And now I got to dig in to my tartar! I've mentioned before that I try tartar everywhere that serves it to experience unique recipes and accompanying attributes. Though I can't say it was the best I've ever had, I was beyond impressed with their inventive take on the dish.
The yuzu crème fraiche (which tasted like a fancy twist on cream cheese) provided an excellent texture addition to the soft, chewy tuna but took away from the taste, for me. It was almost a numbing taste rather than a complementary one. My favorite part, however, were the banana chips! Bravo, Tamari for your creativity with the tartar!
Though our waitress checked back with us with some frequency (my Pepsi only went dry for about 5 minutes), it took an absurdly long time for us to get our next round of food (which was odd since we had about 14 rounds of food and there were only about nine people total in the restaurant).
When it finally arrived, PID's sashimi was extremely fresh and, according to him (or what I could gauge from his full-mouthed mumbles) was extremely tasty. His Beef Tenderloin "entree," however, was left wanting.
Barely larger in circumference than our bite sized skewer pieces, his beef looked and smelled charred. PID admitted that it tasted delicious, but couldn't initially pinpoint what it reminded him of. We later realized it was beef jerky.
The Yuzu Aioli on my oysters was the saving grace. They were far too fried for my liking, all I tasted was Panko crumbs and the crunch was hard to overcome!
Though the Jicima provided a fresh taste to accompany it, the oysters aren't on the menu, and I would keep it that way.
Finally, our waitress brought out the calamari served in a tipped "Chinese takeout box" and overflowing in to the three sauces.
This calamari was the lightest, tastiest I've ever had. The tempura batter was not heavy and we found ourselves enjoying more squid than fried shell (which is ne'er too often the case). I couldn't even tell you which was favorite sauce. I was sneaking finger dips in what was left of all three by the time the calamari was finished!
Cliffs notes:
Appetizer: 4 Robata Grill skewers @ $3 (Lamb w/ Jalepeno, Shrimp, Beef, Bacon & Quail Egg)
After weighing our options and remembering that we still had a few Groupons floating around for participating restaurants, we narrowed it down to three top choices:
1.) NineOnNine downtown on Penn Ave.
2.) Bistro 16 on Washington Rd. in Mt. Lebanon
3.) Tamari on Butler St. in Lawrenceville
Believe me, all will get their review in due time, but for this particular evening we battled it out over a glass of homemade Pino Noir and finally landed on Tamari on Butler street in Lawrenceville. Tapas is the new, hip thing now, isn't it? And I find it difficult to turn down anywhere that offers fresh Sashimi. Tamari was recently voted not only among Pittsburgh Magazine's Top 25 Restaurants, but the Best New Restaurant in the region as well. I thought I would see if it deserved the title.
Let's start with the not-so-obvious reason I liked Tamari. I am a public transporter. I work downtown and rely heavily on my bus pass to get me from point A to points B, C and D on a day-to-day basis. On this particular date night, I was working late and it was far more convenient for me so simply hop on a bus and meet him in Lawrenceville. Tamari was right on a number of convenient bus routes (the 64 from both Squirrel Hill and Shadyside, 77F & 77D and 81B from downtown, 500, 71A, 54C from Oakland etc.). I simply hopped on the first 77 that came my way and off I went to meet PID for a fancy dinner.
The restaurant is quaint. An intimately enclosed outdoor dining patio greets you as you arrive with black steel tables and chairs.
It was a hot, sticky evening so we thought about opting for inside dining -- although our reserved table was apparently set indoors anyway, so we weren't even faced with the decision. In typical Pittsburgh fashion, the restaurant was long and lean, extending back past the bar and open kitchen with seating all along the left wall.
I'm typically not a fan of multiple tables sharing one bench, however tables here were spaced at a comfortable enough distance apart that I didn't feel as though I was a part of our neighbors' dining experience.
And it was time for the wine:
It was with the wine that I was sorely disappointed. All of their wines (aside from the reserves, of course) are equally priced at $7.50 per glass and $28 per bottle. While that may be superb news for someone ordering a robust, aged red, I was planning on ordering seafood -- with which a nice, soft (typically less expensive) white would go quite nicely. So I settled on the Ste. Chapelle Riesling (Ste. Chapelle IDAHO mind you -- not France.)
Upon closer examination, I noticed that half of the listed labels seemed less than extravegant. Later that evening I went home and revisited the menu and searched online -- most of the bottles made available at Tamari (again, not on reserve) sold for between $9 and $20/bottle retail price. To charge $7.50 per glass for a US 2009 Riesling to me is preposterous.
Then on to the appetizer:
PID and I were intrigued by their Robata Grill selections -- a variety of meat selections served on skewers (loaded with three bite sized cutlets) accompanied by three unique dipping sauces: ponzu butter, ginger & chimichurri.
They were reasonably priced at $2-3 per skewer. PID opted for Lamb with Jalepeno, Shrimp and Bacon & Quail egg.
And finally, the main course:
We showed up completely prepared to order the $20.10 Local Restaurant Week deal: Panko Crusted Oysters served with Yuzu Aioli on a bed of a Jicama Slaw to start followed by Pan Roasted Chicken with Fingerling Potatoes and Wasabi Chimichurri. Don't speak that language? That's what I'm here for.
Panko: a variety of flaky bread crumb used in Japanese cuisine as a crunchy coating for fried foods
Yuzu: a tart Japanese citrus fruit (tasting similar to a grapefuit or mandarin orange) used to flavor dishes much like a lemon is used in the US -- yuzu know what I'm sayin?
Aioli: a garlic and olive oil based sauce which is often added to/flavored and has many variations
Jicama: pronounced HICK-kah-ma. the red-headed-step-child of the produce section, Jicama is, essentially, a high carb sweet flavored root. I like saying Jicama, don't you?
Fingerling Potatoes: small potatoes.
After careful consideration (and as a shock to both of us), PID and I veered away from our original plan to order the dining deal. .I can cook chicken any night of the week -- I want something unique when I'm paying someone else to cook for me! But those oysters sounded delicious, so I ordered them special (she charged me $9). From there we decided that, since we were in the Japanese version of a Tapas bar, that we would order Tapas style: little bit of a lot of stuff.
I was giddy with excitement when I saw that they had Tuna Tartar. I chose that and an order of the Tempura Calamari with tomatillo salsa, chipotle mayo & nuoc cham to accompany the oysters. PID went with an order of the Tuna Sashimi and the braised pork belly as his "entree" which our server immediately questioned. She shared with us some insight on the dish, that the flavors are intense and far from diners' typical expectations. PID quickly changed his order to the Beef Tenderloin.
My Tartar arrived with our skewers which was a hassle. We had to perform a balancing act on our table to fit all of the plates and it made sharing difficult. I suppose I understood since only one thing ordered between the two of us was classified as an "entree." I shouldn't have assumed our waitress understood our plan of edible attack. I started with PID the skewers first, letting him have two of the three of each selection. They were DELICIOUS!
(Let's get one thing out of the way -- I NEED A BETTER CAMERA. I know this, I apologize in advance, it will happen someday. SOME day.)
Perfectly proportioned, they provided a wonderful amuse bouche. I tried each sauce and complemented the meats in a very different, but very appropriate way. The shrimp and ponzu butter, however, stole the show for me.
And now I got to dig in to my tartar! I've mentioned before that I try tartar everywhere that serves it to experience unique recipes and accompanying attributes. Though I can't say it was the best I've ever had, I was beyond impressed with their inventive take on the dish.
The yuzu crème fraiche (which tasted like a fancy twist on cream cheese) provided an excellent texture addition to the soft, chewy tuna but took away from the taste, for me. It was almost a numbing taste rather than a complementary one. My favorite part, however, were the banana chips! Bravo, Tamari for your creativity with the tartar!
Though our waitress checked back with us with some frequency (my Pepsi only went dry for about 5 minutes), it took an absurdly long time for us to get our next round of food (which was odd since we had about 14 rounds of food and there were only about nine people total in the restaurant).
When it finally arrived, PID's sashimi was extremely fresh and, according to him (or what I could gauge from his full-mouthed mumbles) was extremely tasty. His Beef Tenderloin "entree," however, was left wanting.
Barely larger in circumference than our bite sized skewer pieces, his beef looked and smelled charred. PID admitted that it tasted delicious, but couldn't initially pinpoint what it reminded him of. We later realized it was beef jerky.
The Yuzu Aioli on my oysters was the saving grace. They were far too fried for my liking, all I tasted was Panko crumbs and the crunch was hard to overcome!
Though the Jicima provided a fresh taste to accompany it, the oysters aren't on the menu, and I would keep it that way.
Finally, our waitress brought out the calamari served in a tipped "Chinese takeout box" and overflowing in to the three sauces.
This calamari was the lightest, tastiest I've ever had. The tempura batter was not heavy and we found ourselves enjoying more squid than fried shell (which is ne'er too often the case). I couldn't even tell you which was favorite sauce. I was sneaking finger dips in what was left of all three by the time the calamari was finished!
Cliffs notes:
Drinks: 1 Ste. Chapelle (IDAHO) Reisling @ $7.50 (I'm a lush and drank alone)
2 diet Pepsis @ $2.50
Meal: Panko Crusted Oysters $9
Tuna Tartar @ $9
Tempura Calamari @$8
Tuna Sashimi @ $6
Beef Tenderloin (w/ pickled ginger-cauliflower puree, rapini, bonito flakes & port wine ancho sauce) @ $18
Tip: (a little less than 20%, we sat for a while) $15
TOTAL FOR TWO: $94.72
Overall opinion?
We spent WAY too much money. At no fault but our own, I'm sure. We suffered from what I like to call EBS (eyes bigger than stomach syndrome). We said "hey, everything's small here let's just get a lot" when I didn't realize half of my items were fried which filled me up incredibly quickly, and PID didn't realize half of his items were sized for field mice which left him hungry. We planned poorly, but ate well. I would recommend Tamari strictly for the atmosphere and Robata Grill items to anyone looking for an intimate dinner setting, but not for large parties. Heavens, I have no idea where you'd sit if you came with a party of 5 or more! I also will not likely go back unless begged by out-of-towners or local newbies who are jonesing for a hip hot-spot. My income isn't suited for that kind of spending on that amount of food.
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