Strange entree on the menu at Blue Plate last night: Grilled steelhead
with braised oxtails. Even after the waitress confirmed that it was
indeed a piece of grilled fish sharing the plate with several pieces
of braised meat, I went ahead and ordered it, on the theory that a
good restaurant's inventiveness is worth checking out. Sometimes that
turns out to be true.

Not this time, although it wasn't exactly a failure - more like an
interesting experiment from which one can learn something, but which
one doesn't necessarily need to repeat. Each item was fine on its own,
but they weren't meant to share such close quarters.

My friend had the excellent meatloaf and mashed potatoes. They've
replace the grilled romaine and bacon salad with a very good grilled
romaine and white anchovy salad, I hope not permanently.

Best news of all: a bottle of Kathryn Kennedy 2001 Syrah for $40, an
astounding value.

Entire meal (including wine, with no dessert and no coffee) was about
$100 pre-tip.
--
is not my email address.

evergene wrote:
>
> Strange entree on the menu at Blue Plate last night: Grilled steelhead
> with braised oxtails. Even after the waitress confirmed that it was
> indeed a piece of grilled fish sharing the plate with several pieces
> of braised meat, I went ahead and ordered it, on the theory that a
> good restaurant's inventiveness is worth checking out. Sometimes that
> turns out to be true.

Someone brought in a dessert today, which after about the second bite I
decided wasn't good. Crushed gingersnaps packed in bottom, a layer of
pineapple chunks, all topped with pistachio pudding. It was a sick green
and didn't taste of pistachios.
Oh well.
blacksalt
who remembers the ex's best experiament: hot yam mashed with butter
brickle ice cream.

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 16:34:56 -0800, evergene
> wrote:

> Strange entree on the menu at Blue Plate last night:

BLUE PLATE! I can't tell you how many times we've wanted to
eat there, but didn't because the parking is impossible....
so I haven't eaten there to date.

> Grilled steelhead
> with braised oxtails. Even after the waitress confirmed that it was
> indeed a piece of grilled fish sharing the plate with several pieces
> of braised meat, I went ahead and ordered it, on the theory that a
> good restaurant's inventiveness is worth checking out. Sometimes that
> turns out to be true.
>
You are quite the adventurer, Gene! I don't think I would
be so "brave"!

> Not this time, although it wasn't exactly a failure - more like an
> interesting experiment from which one can learn something, but which
> one doesn't necessarily need to repeat. Each item was fine on its own,
> but they weren't meant to share such close quarters.
>
> My friend had the excellent meatloaf and mashed potatoes. They've
> replace the grilled romaine and bacon salad with a very good grilled
> romaine and white anchovy salad, I hope not permanently.
>
> Best news of all: a bottle of Kathryn Kennedy 2001 Syrah for $40, an
> astounding value.
>
> Entire meal (including wine, with no dessert and no coffee) was about
> $100 pre-tip.

Just for the two of you? YEOW!!!! That's not an every day
type meal, buddy. Maybe they should call it Gold Plate
instead.

sf

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 16:44:17 -0800, kalanamak
> wrote:

> who remembers the ex's best experiament: hot yam mashed with butter
> brickle ice cream.

Are you pregnant again????

sf

evergene wrote:

> Each item was fine on its own, but they weren't meant to share such
> close quarters.

I had a similar experience at The Trellis, in Williamsburg, VA. The
restaurant has an excellent reputation, so I confidently ordered "Grilled
Farm-Raised Catfish with Dandelion Greens, Sweet Potato and Caramelized
Onion Hash, and Trellis Barbecue Sauce." Sadly, although each item was okay
on its own, the flavors just didn't work well together. The barbecue sauce
in particular seemed incongruous.

I figured I'd redeem the entree by having a dessert. The Trellis takes
great pride in its desserts, even going so far as to publish THREE
dessert cookbooks. I chose "Chocolate Temptation: Two layers of ethereal
chocolate mousse cake, red raspberry and hazelnut center, bathed with
ganache." It was well-nigh flavorless. I could SEE the chocolate, but
it sure was difficult to TASTE. In fact, the strongest flavor was from
a bitter orange syrup which had been poured around the wedge of cake.

Must have been an off-night for them.

Bob

>evergene wrote:
>
>> Each item was fine on its own, but they weren't meant to share such
>> close quarters.
>
>I had a similar experience at The Trellis, in Williamsburg, VA. The
>restaurant has an excellent reputation, so I confidently ordered "Grilled
>Farm-Raised Catfish with Dandelion Greens, Sweet Potato and Caramelized
>Onion Hash, and Trellis Barbecue Sauce." Sadly, although each item was okay
>on its own, the flavors just didn't work well together. The barbecue sauce
>in particular seemed incongruous.
>
>I figured I'd redeem the entree by having a dessert. The Trellis takes
>great pride in its desserts, even going so far as to publish THREE
>dessert cookbooks. I chose "Chocolate Temptation: Two layers of ethereal
>chocolate mousse cake, red raspberry and hazelnut center, bathed with
>ganache." It was well-nigh flavorless. I could SEE the chocolate, but
>it sure was difficult to TASTE. In fact, the strongest flavor was from
>a bitter orange syrup which had been poured around the wedge of cake.
>
>Must have been an off-night for them.
>
>Bob
>
We had a bad experience in Williamsburg. We sat in a restaurant, rather nice,
and didn't get any attention for a long time. We finally walked out.

This was during our honeymoon. We did some camping but we were clean. Other
places we visited during this trip, like Gatlinburg, Pittsburgh, Virginia
Beach, Toledo and such treated us better. I know it's not the town, but just
one bad restaurant there. But, I still have this bad feeling about
Williamsburg just because we were treated like non-people (sorry). I felt that
they didn't think we were worthy or something weird. Just because of that I
don't think we'll return there.

Now that wouldn't be the same one that tried to charge us 65 dollars
for three cups of coffee would it. {and the coffee was cold}. We went
for a meal and finally walked out because in an hour and a half we got
exactly three cups of coffee in a place that had... three groups of
people. Total bodies called customers? 9. Staff counted? 16.

Finally called the manager, said why we were leaving. He said sorry
and the coffee is on us then the ditz of a waitperson ran after us with
someone elses check. We were extremely angry. Three groups, no service
and then to try and give us someone elses check who actually HAD food.
And if it was like the service I am glad they missed us...

BTW Pizza Hut was great that night with extremely fast food or else we
were just starved for anything at that point.

Grismalkin wrote:
> >evergene wrote:
> >

> >
> We had a bad experience in Williamsburg. We sat in a restaurant,
rather nice,
> and didn't get any attention for a long time. We finally walked out.
>