Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Fun Playing With Fish, Soup, Burgers, and More at Fisher's American Tavern, Solon Ohio


After 5 posts from our winter visit to Florida, it is time to briefly return to the East Side of Cleveland. The American Tavern lived on Miles Road in Solon for many years, and we had stopped visiting years ago because it was so old and tired. It sold once or twice, and changed names, but I heard of no reason to revisit it. Then, in the spring of 2018, Scott and Tami Fisher acquired the property, re-renaming it "American Tavern" but adding their name as well. They scrubbed the place from the bottom up and back down again, and refreshed it without disturbing the pub-like charm. 

Fisher's American Tavern has become a "go to" for us. We especially enjoy the fish specials, though I'd put Scott's Chicken Paprikash up against any in town. Given their very modest price points, the Fishers aren't selling the kind of high end, freshly caught fish featured in the Destin posts. Rather, working with modest food service ingredients combined with mad kitchen skills, a lifetime of experience, and a crackerjack staff, they deliver very tasty and well-prepared food and drinks at very friendly prices, in a space that has regained the feeling of a place where "everyone knows your name." The menu leans heavily on comfort food, but has something for everyone, including a nice salad selection. And they even take reservations (which you will need if you wish to dine on Friday or Saturday night without a wait)!

Chicken Noodle Soup
Fisher's has joined the ranks of so many restaurants starting their "homemade" soups with commercial bases, then adding fresh ingredients. But this one works. While I would never mistake the broth for made-from scratch, I'd happily consume this cup of goodness on a chilly Cleveland day. 

On that first visit, Bob and I each had a version of Annie's Fish and Chips. I had the half plate, plus the above cup of soup, and Bob had the full plate. 

Annie's Fish & Chips Half Plate
Annie's Fish & Chips Full Plate
Both plates begin with good quality frozen haddock filet. They end in crunchy deliciousness after being expertly beer battered and deep fried. Accompanied by a house-made slaw, this is a worthy fish fry available every day the kitchen is open, throughout the year. 

For our next visit, we landlubbered. 

Bob's Mushroom Swiss Burger
Bob's burger was topped with sauteed mushrooms, Swiss, lettuce, tomato and onion. 

Chicken Paprikash, House Made Spaetzle
Bob enjoyed his burger. The Paprikash was nicely cooked, perfectly seasoned, and served over house made Spaetzle. It melted in the mouth. I'm pretty sure that this was the "half" size order, BTW.

Our next dinner happened to be a Monday - Burger Night! $6.99 gets you a half pound Angus burger of your choice from the 8 item burger menu (except the "Tavern" and "Rodeo" burgers, which each have bacon in addition to the burger patty, and carry an upcharge on Burger Night) and one "standard side." Tuesday through Saturday, they will swap out the beef for grilled chicken or a veggie patty no charge; on Burger Night, there is a $1.49 upcharge for the swap. It is a generous deal for $7.

Bob's 
This "Italian Burger" was an off-menu special. The burger wore melty mozzarella, balsamic reduction, arugula and tomato. 

Chili Burger
My burger was topped with house made chili, cheddar cheese, diced onion and Jalapeno. I also sprung for a second side, steamed broccoli. 


Perfectly steamed, with a little toothiness yet, this was not your typical food service bag broccoli (which always tastes a little funky to me). 

We returned on a raw December night. A cheesy broccoli soup was the first order of the day for me!




Walleye Finger Appetizer
The walleye fingers came to the table so hot, crispy and fragrant that we dug in before I took a picture. Again, a naked frozen fish, deftly beer battered and handled, it's on the regular menu for $11.49.

NY Strip Steak Dinner
Bob's steak was cooked to medium as he requested, and served with potato mash and vegetable of the day. He was very happy.

Fisher's offers fish specials every weekend, year round. In the spring, they had several variations on the fish fry, and we were fortunate to get some! I stuck with a half order of the Beer Battered Haddock, but started with  a cup of soup. 

Velvet Chicken Soup
Bob's: Breaded Perch Fish Fry Dinner
Perch is Bob's favorite, and this plate did not disappoint! 

The weekend "fish frenzy" menu also includes a few drink specials available all hours for $6. In addition, they offer Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3:30pm to 6:30pm, with drink specials and half priced appetizers (except the Walleye fingers). Scott and Tami will treat you like family, which is a big reason we have so much fun playing with food at Fisher's! 

Fisher’s American Tavern
28020 Miles Road
Solon, Ohio 44139
(440) 349-3736
Open for lunch at 11am Mon-Fri (Saturday at noon)
Closes 11pm
Closed Sunday


Saturday, July 20, 2019

Fun Playing With Food at Harbor Docks, Destin FL

Though occasionally inconsistent, Harbor Docks remains our "go to" Destin restaurant for fish. Ok, the breakfast wasn't stellar, but I feel obligated to tell the truth about it - then recommend you go to Harbor Docks for lunch and dinner (especially lunch, which offers a nice value and some delightful Southeast Asian flavors). Yes, tourists go there, but it remains at its heart a locals place, located in the same space on the harbor for the last 40 years.

We dined at the Harbor Docks bar our first night in Destin. There was a boat fest on the harbor and the restaurant was jammed, but I was not going to be denied a plate of Harbor Docks after 7 years absent from Destin! Just one bite into that exquisitely fresh and well prepared fish, the tears welled up. Tears of joy.

First, though, the ubiquitous Harbor Docks salad. The only time I'll actually eat canned mandarin oranges. And like them!



BLACKENED CATCH OF THE DAY (grouper), corn chow chow, smoked gouda stone-ground grits, vegetable of the day (green beans)
Bob's Sesame Crusted Snapper was equally delicious, but too blurry to post.

As I wrote seven years ago in this post, "Our “go to” breakfast for ten years [was] the Silver Sands Breakfast at Harbor Docks." The Silver Sands’s proprietor, Mr. Ferrell Shipp, passed away in July 2011 and the Silver Sands Breakfast ended three months later. Harbor Docks initiated their own breakfast shortly after, but no one could make biscuits like Mr. Shipp and the one breakfast we sampled in 2012 was still in the development stage. Harbor Docks currently offers breakfast Friday-Sunday. I wanted so much to love it, but my advice is to enjoy lunch and dinner at Harbor Docks, but leave breakfast to the pros.

Bob's: French Toast with Conecuh Sausage
Bob's' French Toast was good but nothing to write home about. In it's defense, though, this plate was our first introduction to Conecuh Sausage. This family business began in 1947 in Evergreen, Alabama, and produces very tasty hickory smoked sausages with simple ingredient lists and interesting seasonings. We found them in local grocery stores also, but wouldn't have known to look for them but for this breakfast plate.

Mine:  Half Order of Biscuits & Sausage Gravy

Mine: Cheese Grits
The biscuits are no longer made in house, and this one wasn't very good. The gravy was ok, but no longer available without the sausage. The true sin against breakfast, however, was in the grits. Bullion cubes, to be precise. The addition of bullion cubes did not add flavor in a good way; instead it created an overly salty, artificial-flavor, funhouse-mirror effect on the palate. So, while we enjoyed several other meals at Harbor Docks, we did not return for breakfast.

Lunch was a completely different, delicious, savory story.

Bob's: Fried Grouper Fingers, Cheese Grits, Coleslaw, Hushpuppies
Fish Curry (I think it was snapper), Rice
Spring Rolls, Dipping Sauce
Bob's plate hit all the expected tasty notes, and the grits were obviously made by someone not on the breakfast crew, who knows how to make them. But mine hit the motherload - a skillful, just-spicy enough Thai style curry caressing perfectly sauteed local Snapper, plated with Jasmine Rice and accompanied by two crispy right-out-of-the-fryer, made in house, spring rolls with dipping sauce.

There would be two additional dinners at Harbor Docks. Neither hit the heights of the first dinner or lunch, but they were mostly solid, and delivered with Harbor Docks's excellent service and hospitality (hello to Ms. Sunshine, who is still serving there even after these many years!).

Bob's: Fried Grouper fingers, Fries
Mine: Grilled Tuna, Rice, Veg, Buerre Blanc.
Though Bob's fried plate was excellent, my tuna was just a little older than it wanted to be, and it couldn't compare to the exquisite tuna I cooked from Blalock's. There was something funky about the Buerre Blanc also. These things happen, the plate was enjoyable, just not stellar.

Bob's: Fried Triggerfish
Mine: Blackened Snapper, Grits, Chow Chow, Green Beans
Again, Bob's fried plate hit the spot, but mine, which was the same order from our first dinner in December, somehow lacked profundity. It may have mattered that there was a big beer tasting dinner going on in the next dining room. In any event, we love playing with food at Harbor Docks, and we will be back there upon our return to Destin!

Harbor Docks
538 Harbor Blvd.
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 837-2506
info@harbordocks.com

HOURS
Monday - Wednesday 11am - 10pm

Thursday 11am - 11pm

Friday - Saturday 7am - 11pm

Sunday 7am - 10pm

Friday, August 3, 2018

Fun Playing With Chinese Food at Aristo Bistro

We recently enjoyed a Chinese meal so good, it's driven me back to blogging! In the Cleveland area, get thee to Aristo Bistro in Westlake if you enjoy authentic Chinese food! Their one page web site describes the menu as, "Eurasian American & Authentic Chinese Aristocrat Cuisine." I call it delicious.

Our foursome met for lunch, but we ordered off of both the "regular" and "Chinese" menus. Images of those menus can be seen beginning here.

We wanted to try the Seafood King & Fish Maw Soup, but they were out of fish maw that day. So, we settled for the Seafood King Soup - rich with scallops, calamari and shrimp that actually passed the tripolyphosphate sniff test, a velvety broth accented with corn, and egg drops, with just the right kick of white pepper. 




The soup comes in this one large size only, which was more than enough for four people and a bargain at $13.95.



We ordered our meal Chinese style, meaning communal plates to be served as they are finished by the kitchen without regard to course. First up, an exquisite version of Clams with Black Bean Sauce.


Tender, sweet Manila Clams were tossed with onion and hot chilies, then bathed in the most sophisticated black bean sauce I've ever tasted. With nary a bean to be seen, the flavor and umami blast of the fermented pods were infused into a delicate, spicy sauce. This dish cried out for white rice to soak up the gravy, and the cry was answered a few moments after the plate hit the table. It was good to the last drop.

The clams were followed by a half order of sauteed Snow Pea Tips. 

The preparation of the Pea Tips was perfect. Thoroughly cooked, yet still with bite, and just the right amount of a subtle garlic sauce to round it off.

One of our party was hankering for curry, so we chose this Curry and added pork (from the choice of multiple meats or veggie options, including duck) from the "World of Noodle/Pasta" portion of the menu. The curry was pungent but not too spicy. The noodles were served on the side. 



Finally, a whole, deep fried flounder, with the "Chef's Special Sauce" on the side.

I neglected to photograph the sauce, but it was a fairly thin textured soy-based sauce that softened and soaked into the fried bits very nicely. We devoured this!

We enjoyed a pot of Po Lei tea with our meal. It is a fermented tea, produced in China's Yunnan province. I found it a little funky for my palate, but I'm glad I tried it. Other tea options are Oolong, Chrysanthemum, and Jasmine. They have a lovely bar area and say they are waiting on a liquor permit.

Finally, a photo of the "Chinese" Menu page. It is separate from the "regular" 6 page menu (which also contains a number of "authentic" dishes, including the soup we enjoyed, as well as the "Lunch Specials" page). 








Unfortunately, their website offers nothing more than the contact information. There is, however, a Facebook page with photos and a little more content. https://www.facebook.com/aristoyummy/ 

My only caveat is that they do not always open at the stated opening times. The first time we met our friends there at noon on a Saturday (which should have been the opening time per the Facebook page), it was dark and locked, and we left after about 20 minutes. Reached by phone later that day, they apologized and said they sometimes are delayed in opening by shopping for fresh product. Even the day we dined there, they opened about 45 minutes after the posted starting time of 11am. So, it may be wise to call before you go.

Our lunch composed of dinner foods ran $80 and fed the four of us with some leftovers. A bargain, given the high quality of everything, but especially the fish and seafood.

Aristo Bistro is a true "mom and pop" type operation, in a small, yet elegant and clean space with plenty of parking (though no close Handicapped designated spots). Our group thoroughly enjoyed every dish we sampled and we are eagerly looking forward to more. I'm a sucker for fresh flounder (it was a staple dinner throughout my East Coast childhood). Shirley, our delightful host and server, suggested that next time, we try their special flounder presentation, where the fillets are removed and deep fried separately, then tossed with vegetables and sauce and plated over the fried skeleton. Yes, please!! There is also kebab, and Hong Kong style Black Pepper Sauce, another favorite of mine, on the menu. But if authentic Chinese isn't your thing, there are plenty of the more familiar Americanized Chinese dishes also on the menu, as well as Schnitzel (chicken, veal, or pork), burgers (including a Ramen Burger), and a Lobster Roll. Vegetarians and Vegans are also accommodated. 

I can't wait to renew my West Side passport and visit Aristo Bistro to play with more of their Cantonese-Inspired Cuisine!

Aristo Bistro
25124 Center Ridge Road
Westlake, Ohio 44145
(440) 455-9900
Open 7 days; check their Facebook page for hours (and call first if you are going early).

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Fun Playing with Food (and friends) at Lake House Restaurant in Lakewood

September 19 is "Talk Like A Pirate Day." My Mensa friends, who love a good joke, pun or excuse to be a little silly, set up a lunch by the water (Lake Erie) to celebrate. I'd never heard of Lake House Restaurant in Lakewood before, but it was a "fun to play with" discovery yesterday! Sadly, I didn't get any photos of the attendees, some of whom sported their Pirate finest, but ARGGHH did we have a great, inexpensive meal accompanied by a four star lake view despite the gloomy weather! The restaurant is a physically old, old-school diner-like space in a mid-rise residential building, with close, free parking, that serves up classic (and a little newer school) comfort food and diner grub, with beer if desired, six days a week. 

I loved that so much of the food was made from scratch (or nearly so), though my first taste, of a Guinness Pretzel Bite served with a cheddar cheese dipping sauce ordered by a table-mate, definitely felt Sysco-y (though warm and tasty).

But it was mostly uphill from there. 

House-made Clam Chowder
Our group numbered over a dozen, so I can't really fault them for serving this lovely soup a little to the cold side. But the microwave would have rubberized the beautifully tender clam meat, so we enjoyed it as served. Nicely done.

Cajun Pasta
Bob just had four teeth extracted, and so was limited to mushy food. Lake House Restaurant offers several pasta dishes that come by default with meat and/or seafood, but which can also be ordered "plain" - this option served Bob well: penne pasta tossed with a cajun spiced alfredo sauce and tomatoes. Topped with parmesan cheese, it tasted creamy with a little bite, and "gave" nicely without being mushy. I enjoyed my bite even without the chicken that normally accompanies it.

I took a flyer on the signature dish - Fresh Lake Erie Perch: Lightly breaded and fried, served with sautéed onions & parmesan topped pierogies, and coleslaw. Experience has taught that a dish like this would either be very good or very bad. Happy to report the former!

House made cole slaw
What a difference fresh-made makes! Creamy, clean and crisp. Half came home for dinner.

Fried Perch, Pierogies, Tarter


Another perspective

Half of this portion came home for dinner; it was a lovely value at $16 plus $2 for the cup of soup. The fish glistened with freshness under it's hot, crispy coat, cleverly plated over iceberg lettuce strips to keep it from getting soggy on the plate. I didn't get to learn if the pierogies are made in house or sourced, but they were fresh not frozen and the sauteed (not deeply fried) dough had a delightful pillowy lightness, encasing freshly mashed potatoes. The onion topping was nicely caramelized and accented with grated cheese and parsley. I would return for this meal again and again if I lived nearby!

Other diners in our party sampled various diner-style comfort foods, including patty melts served with house-made chips, wraps, salads, and one peanut-butter cup encrusted dessert that looked lovely. Service was exuberant and attentive, another reason to return for more. 

Lake House Restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Tuesday-Saturday, and Breakfast and Lunch only on Sunday. A great little fun place to play with your food with a view!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Fun Playing With Food In Louisville, KY

Our travels this summer took us to Louisville for the July 4th weekend and the annual American Mensa National Convention at the Galt House. Some marvelous (and not-so-marvelous) fun was had playing with food in Louisville!

Our first stop after a long drive down I-71 was Chef Edward Lee's casual restaurant MilkWood, which is located adjacent to Actors Theatre. The Theatre, though dark for the summer, looked like a fun place to be entertained in its season. 

We arrived too late for the regular menu, but Milkwood continues to serve a limited bill of fare after 9pm. We actually arrived a few minutes before 9, but experienced some technical difficulties with the wheelchair lift (needed to accommodate a scooter-bound member of our party). After some prestidigitation, the lift was prevailed upon to deliver Brian to the dining room, and we prepared to tuck in. The restaurant treated us to two appetizers, probably because of the delay and hassle in getting us to the table. All of the food was delicious, and Brian and I enjoyed the beer selections. 

Pimento Cheese w/Spoonbill Caviar, on Pork Rinds with Ham Salt and Scallion Pesto

This was true "playing with your food" food - stuffing the chiccarone with spicy pimento cheese, making salt out of ham and topping the whole darn thing with caviar. Did I mention the Scallion Pesto (you can see it hiding under the two rinds at the far right end of the plate)?

Smoked Chicken Wings: Chili Lime Sauce, Scallion, Sesame Seeds.
These were a little hot to handle, but so tender and tasty!

Pork Burger (Organic Pork), Napa Kim Chi, Cracklins, Havarti, Remoulade, Cilantro

Simply delicious - another inspired ingredient pairing (and another pork cracklin).

Mazeman Ramen: Egg Yolk, Parmesan, Pancetta, Mint






I'd never had this "dry" style of Ramen before, and eagerly looked forward to trying it. I think the noodles were imported to KY from New York's Sun Noodle and they were lovely. The cheese was a bit incongruous with the Asian flavors, but it all worked. 

We started our first full day in Louisville at Proof on Main, an easy walk from the Galt House. Bob was experiencing use of a scooter himself for the first time (though he walked to MilkWood), which limited our mobility somewhat on this trip. The restaurant is the "house" restaurant for the 21C Hotel and Museum and the gallery behind the restaurant is pretty cool; you have to walk through it to access the restrooms. 

I especially enjoyed the iced tea service at Proof on Main:


Unsweetened tea is served with a ramekin of simple syrup, to allow the diner to sweeten the tea to taste in a manner that will actually bind with the cold tea.


"Hot Fried Chicken"
The Chicken was resplendent atop a bed of White Bread, and accompanied by Hot Pepper, Corn Relish, Bread and Butter Pickles. Finger-licking good, but a little spicy.

Hog Neck Farfalle

House-made Pasta, Locally Sourced Pork, Fennel, Pecorino, Arugula. The pasta was just a tad underdone in the very center (the folded part), but perfect otherwise, and this plate popped with porky goodness. Fun food at fair prices! And a little friend who works his/her way around the restaurant seemingly at will, but probably from a little help from the friends:


These guys show up on the top of the hotel attached to the restaurant also.

Later that evening, we hopped the free Zerobus to The Mayan Cafe, which features Mayan cuisine with a farm-to-table emphasis. We started with these refreshing beverages.

Dark & Bubbly: Paul Cheneau cava brut | Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum | Carpano Antico Sweet Vermouth | maple syrup | lime | mole bitters

Grapefruit Soda
Sikil-pak: pumpkin seed dip | roasted tomatoes | cilantro | corn tortilla chips
This appetizer resembled a hummus, made with pumpkin seeds rather than chickpeas, and packed just a little heat. We cleaned the bowl. 

The entrees were a mixed bag; Bob's rabbit dish pictured below was perfect.

Oven-roasted rabbit | pipian rojo (pumpkin seed mole) | fried plantains | grilled cactus. 
 My plate had beautiful flavors, but was served ice cold - as in not made hot and allowed to get cold, but probably never heated much over 100 degrees in the first place. The corn tamale was especially stiff and chalky.

Cochinita Pibil: slow-roasted pork | achiote sauce | pickled onions | tok-sel lima beans | brazo de reina (Yucatec tamale with tok-sel lima beans & queso fresco)
The service of cold food that was supposed to be hot became a repeated phenomenon as the trip progressed. As with most restaurant issues, the key is not whether something is served incorrectly, it is how the restaurant handles it. In this case, we had a hard time getting any servers' attention and no one had stopped by after the plates dropped to inquire. Once we got a server, the plate was hastily remade as follows:


This Cochinita Pibil was served hot, but elements were missing from the plate and the flavors didn't pop, worse, they recycled the beans from first plate, which got mushy in the reheat. I ate less than half of it. Still, I would be willing to return to Mayan, because notwithstanding these issues, they took this item off of the check with a smile. And that rabbit dish was absolutely worth the price of admission!

On Thursday July 2, we indulged in a combination food-sight seeing tour with City Taste Tours of Louisville. That will be covered in a separate blog entry, but a tasty and fun time was had by all. We were pretty well sated after the tour, and enjoyed a sausage dinner in the convention Hospitality Suite.

A lot of schedules changed over the long holiday weekend - some places closed for all or part of the weekend, and no service was available on the Zerobus on Saturday. So we took advantage of the bus on Friday to visit Harvest, A Locally Grown Restaurant for lunch. Harvest was recommended by every food board and advice-giver consulted and for good reason - this was probably the best meal of the trip!

Burgoo
This hearty stew of chicken, pork, turkey, new potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, and green beans was accompanied by pretzel croutons. Plate-licking good!

The sandwich options all came with one side of choice, and we both chose well.


Bob's: smoked brisket, mustard glaze, creamy slaw, bun, side of housemade potato chips.


Mine: southern fried chicken confit, roasted shallot, neufchatel, candied pickled jalapeno, bun, side of three cheese grits. Those were some of the finest grits I've ever tasted - toothy texture, corny taste, creamy cheesiness all perfectly balanced. Then there was the confit, which melted in the mouth. And that may look like a small portion of jalapeno in the center, but a little went a long way. We would have liked to try Harvest for dinner, but they'd be closed our last two nights in Louisville, for the holiday.

Cleveland exported its cool, dreary, wet summer weather to Louisville for the July 4 weekend (I understand it was lovely in Cleveland), so by dinner time on Friday, we didn't feel like dodging the rain and ran across the street from the office building connected to the Galt House back to MilkWood, during their "regular menu" dinner hours. Good thing we did, because I'd planned on going there Sunday for Dim Sum - but learned that they decided on Friday to close Sunday! Though this would be our second encounter with a cold dinner plate, the food overall was fabulous and the service warm.


Bob's: Organic Beef Burger: Umami Ketchup, Aged Cheddar, Bacon, Comeback Slaw. This is also on the late night menu; our friend Nora had it on Tuesday. My bites (one each time) were juicy and full of flavor without an excessively grass-fed taste.

Pork Shoulder

This lovely plate should have been perfect, but it was too cold to really enjoy. As at Mayan, it didn't seem to suffer from neglect at the pass; the components just never got up to temp before plating, The pork was accompanied by Black BBQ, Coconut Rice, Roasted Okra, and Curry Oil - the okra was perfectly cooked (though cold, like the rest of the dish).

The second try was much better, except for the okra, which was tough and stringy.


The tender shoulder was dressed in an umami-drenched BBQ sauce that matched well with the creamy coconut rice. Adding more contrast were several strips of jicama and tender green beans, which were like small soy beans. Highly recommended.

Saturday July 4 would be the toughest culinary nut to crack, because so many places closed. Though we could have taken the car, or a cab, we wanted to stay within walking distance of the Galt House. We'd enjoyed Proof on Main so much that we decided to try their brunch; being in a hotel themselves, they are reliably open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.


Bob's: Proof Benedict. Corn meal biscuit, County Ham, "Red-Eye" Hollandaise. Not my favorite, but since "red eye" gravy = coffee, this is not a big surprise. Bob enjoyed it very much.


Mine: Duck confit hash, potatoes, Sunny Egg. Well, it was supposed to be a sunny side or runny egg. My eggs were a little overcooked. Once we got someone's attention, they immediately made and brought over another egg with a runny yolk. How could duck confit hash be anything but delicious; the eggs were really a bonus. Loved Proof on Main both visits!

Hot Brown
Of course, one cannot visit Louisville without sampling at least one Hot Brown. We had ours at the Troll Pub Under the Bridge, and it was enjoyable. Toasted Sourdough Bread is topped with sliced turkey breast, Mornay sauce, bacon and tomatoes.  I mean, it has cheese sauce and bacon - what's not to like! I can't say I loved the way the bar was run; we had to wait a while for a table and getting a drink became a project. But our server was terrific.


The last meal served at our convention was Sunday lunch of Chili Mac. Bob made it his own by accompanying the chili-mac with not one, but two, powdered donuts. Breakfast of champions. Or lunch of lie-a-beds, I'm not sure which.

Our next meal illustrated brilliantly the proposition that some restaurants just shouldn't open on a holiday weekend. We'd had a bite from the Bristol Bar & Grille during our food tour, and it impressed enough that we decided to try it if the place was open on Sunday (they were closed on Saturday). Since it was indeed open on Sunday, we trundled in (I trundled, Bob scootered). We asked where they wanted the scooter parked, and got deer-in-the-headlights looks. A server came by to take our orders, then realized that he'd not given us any menus. He got us menus and fixed the wobbly table.

I was intrigued by a menu item called "Hot Brown Mac and Cheese." But first, a glass of wine. It became painfully obvious as we watched the server handle drink glasses that he was, at best, inexperienced. Since it was a holiday, though, there was no one helping, training or supervising him. When he delivered the salads with a thumb plunked into the lettuce, the deal was sealed. They shoulda just stayed home in bed.


The pre-dinner, Sysco-bag salads were pre-made and chilled on their plates to an almost sub-zero temperature. I didn't want that part where the thumb landed, anyway. But then, it got worse.


The bread was incredibly stale and not edible. Probably left overs from Friday (Bristol was closed Saturday and no one was delivering on the holiday Sunday, I'd wager).  But if that was the case and you were the manager - wouldn't you have at least toasted the bread before serving it (or skipped the bread service altogether)?


Bob's $25 Charbroiled New York Strip with Henry Bain sauce, ordered medium rare, was incinerated into shoe leather. He ate it anyway.

Hot Brown Mac N Cheese
This should have been delicious and a great play on the classic. Locally raised Marksbury Farm smoked chicken was tossed with whole wheat penne pasta in a parmesan & cheddar cream sauce, topped with diced tomatoes & bacon. For the third time this trip, the dish was served cold. Not only cold, but the dairy elements of the dish weren't even cooked; it was a sea of loose cream and cold pasta and chicken (and darned tasty chicken, for the one bite I took). I flashed for a moment on a recent episode of "Mystery Diners" where a restaurant is doing so poorly that the chef quits and the owner puts the dishwasher in charge of cooking. Who was that in the kitchen this holiday weekend? 

The manager limped over on a bad hip (we had great sympathy) and tried to make it better. Did I want something else. After tasting Bob's tough, sinewy meat, not really.


This side of cheesy grits (the manager said they made it a larger than normal portion) was the only menu item that looked remotely desirable after tasting the overcooked beef and under cooked pasta dish (our server, after checking with the kitchen, had already disclosed that the shrimp that normally goes with the grits came from Sysco). These grits were actually very good, and a suggestion of what Bristol Pub is capable of delivering when it isn't a holiday weekend. Check out my post to come on the food tour to see a really tasty bite we had from them. 

I wish that I could report that our last Louisville meal was better, but it really wasn't. After checking out of the Galt House and getting the car, we headed for the Highlands neighborhood and Jack Fry's. Actually, our first choice was quaint bed and breakfast Gralehaus, which is adjacent to Holy Grale a block from Jack Fry's. But Bob could not get up the steep stairs into Gralehaus, and the accessible entrance from Holy Grale was locked at 11am and there was no one around to help (I wasn't crazy about those steep steps either). Bad decision by that establishment.

Jack Fry's felt like it was trying to project the casual elegance of a New Orleans restaurant. We were a tad underdressed in shorts and t-shirts, and the server seemed just a bit stiff. The ice tea was infused with something I didn't care for (Constant Comment and its orange peel?) and it took way too long for lunch to be served. 

The bread service was good.


But once again, food was served cold, to both of us. After the long wait, I can't even try to explain it.

THREE-CHEESE RAVIOLI
Feta, reggiano, mozzarella, red pepper coulis, zucchini, squash, olives, tomato, fried basil. Bob's entree, which tasted house made all the way with great ingredients, would have been amazing if served hot. Even the remake was just tepid.

SHRIMP AND GRITS
After passing on shrimp and grits at several restaurants, the promise of Gulf Shrimp proved irresistible. Accompanied by red eye gravy, shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes, country ham, parmesan - this plate tasted as messy as it looks. I should have known when the server didn't know where the shrimp came from that it'd be dicey (the kitchen supposedly told him Gulf of Mexico, but the phosphate smell and taste were unmistakable). The plate was served ice cold on top of lousy shrimp and overall lousy dish. I sent it back.

PULLED CHICKEN SLIDERS
Bourbon louis dressing, pickled carrot, arugula, tobacco onions, white cheddar. This plate was served hot, but it simply lacked profundity. A disappointing end to a mostly fun playing with food vacation in Louisville. But this was the first work day after the long holiday weekend, so mileage may vary.

Overall - we had lots of fun playing with food in Louisville! Food tour post to come!