Wednesday.
6:43pm.
Lower level bar at Lambert's.
Cheeseburger and Waffle Fries
$5
Modelo Especial in a Can
$1
Total Bill with Tax
$6.41
Conversation with the Lunatic Next to You
Priceless
See prior Lambert's posts for the summary
Showing posts with label Upscale Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Upscale Dinner. Show all posts
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Perla's - Austin, TX
I love this place.
Great seafood. Great raw bar. Great bar. Great cocktails. Great outdoor seating. Great place for dinner.
Now, with a thesaurus...
Great seafood. Splendiferous raw bar. Swell bar. Hunky-dory cocktails. Marvelous outdoor seating. Fabulous place for dinner.
In the second half of 2010 (2H2010 for you corporate folks) when I was commuting to Austin weekly and staying with friends down off of South Congress, I frequented this place for dinner quite a bit whenever I was feeling like seafood or a relatively healthy meal. Also, it's a fantastic place to have a solo dinner, with a spacious bar, knowledgeable bartenders, and other solo diners sitting at the bar ready to have a conversation.
The menu is huge, comprised almost entirely of seafood, split up into sections for the raw bar, which features no less than twelve different types of oysters on the half shell, appetizers, salads and soups, simple a la carte fish, seafood and non-seafood plates, sandwiches, and sides. The bartenders and waiters can tell you anything and everything about everything on the menu, and can help to get you the right meal for you.
My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo and I hit up Perla's for an early dinner last night for some drinks and some food to share, which is a great way to experience this place as it allows you to try several things. We arrived right around 5:30pm, which was clearly too late to get a table outside on this fantastic day, but in time to get $0.50 off oysters (each one) and some discounted drinks at their happy hour. I'd say there are twenty or more tables outside underneath the shade of awnings and a massive oak, and in addition is an outdoor "bar" to sit at, not an actual bar but a long, skinny concrete table which is perfect for bellying up, be you flying solo or on a date. So with the outside packed, we found two spots at the bar inside, which is my favorite place to sit for a meal here.
We started with some oysters on the half shell, and after talking with the bartender about the various oysters on the menu, decided on the Salutation Cove Oysters from Prince Edward Island. Shucked at the bar and served on a bed of crushed ice with a couple of lemon wedges, these were medium sized, slightly briny though not as salty as those from the northeast, and very good. They serve them with sides of cocktail sauce, horseradish, and vinegar/onion mignonette, all perfect complements and perfect acidity to cut through the oysters.
From the oysters we moved on to the Salt and Jalapeno Pepper Fried Calamari with Green Sauce and Marinara, which is one of the better renditions of fried calamari I've had. Not greasy at all, the rings and tentacles come out dry and crispy on the outside, plump and perfectly tender on the inside, and are mixed together with fried strips of mild peppers and okra. Both sauces are excellent, with the green sauce being a simple, smooth and creamy salsa verde with an adequate amount of heat, and the marinara being homemade with chunks of tomato and onion, served warm.
Our raw and deep fried boxes checked, we moved over to the Fresh & Simple Market Seafood section and debated between the steamed North Atlantic halibut, the pan roasted Texas coast grouper, and halibut cheeks, which were littered amongst eight to ten other simply prepared fish selections. Just for the halibut, we went for the halibut cheeks with a side of potato griddle cakes.
Let me start with the griddle cakes. These things are fantastic. Very thinly shredded potatoes, presumably with egg, cream, and mild seasoning, formed into one inch thick patties and fried before being topped with sour cream and chives. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside with just a hint of tooth from the potatoes. I strongly recommend this as a side to whatever you're having.
On to the halibut, and first an educations. These beauties are halibut cheeks:
They cut them out of this ugly sucker, pan roast these delicate morsels, resulting in a paper-thin, lightly browned and crispy crust, and a tender, mildly flavored, and incredibly delicate interior. With these simple preparations, you get a broiled lemon for squeezing, an herbed breadcrumb stuffed roma tomato, and a choice of garlic drawn butter, salsa verde, red chimichurri or homemade tartar as a sauce. I highly recommend the red chimichurri, a take on the standard South American condiment based on oil, herbs and garlic, with this one adding what tasted like oven dried tomatoes, lending a great sweetness to the dish. It's incredible, and a perfect sauce for the fish, though it can stand on its own just fine.
As I have a tendency to do, I'm going to digress. I've had fat cheeks my whole life. Growing up I was sent to the principal's office on more than one occasion for dipping in class, which I wasn't. I've been asked by cigar store employees what brand I'm chewing, which I also wasn't. But my favorite story comes after a late night of drinking, and a even later night of food poisoning. We had this tiny diner that we'd go to after the bars in school called the Pitt Grill, next to the Days Inn (that reminds me, what does La Quinta mean in English? mull it over, we'll get back to it), which was run by a massive and generally angry lady who would let us get behind the counter and do what we pleased with the griddle, the stove, the deep fryer and the toaster, leading us to some awesome late night meals and second degree burns before turning in for the night. On one such occasion they had just gotten in a batch of spoiled eggs, which we only found out a few hours later when my roommate and I both woke up in cold sweats with our bodies doing everything in their power to expel the tainted goods. After spending most of the night on the bathroom floor waiting for the health center to open up, we finally made it over to see the doctor. While my roommate vomited continuously in the waiting area, I went in to see the doctor, an old army doctor who must of at some point taken some shrapnel to the head, and explained what happened, citing specifically the undercooked and underrefrigerated eggs, my symptoms as well as my roommates, and that I've had food poisoning before. After a careful study of my body and head, this genius put his hand to his chin and this thinking cap on, thought about it for two or three minutes before informing me that nope, I didn't have food poisoning, I had a full on case of the mumps.
"Are you kidding me?" I asked. "Why the hell do you think I have the mumps? My roommate ate the same thing as me last night and is out in the hall vomiting right now."
His answer was simple. "Your cheeks have very serious swelling."
(I digress from my digression here. Answer: nexttodennys. YEAH! I'll be here all week, folks.)
Anyway I asked for a mirror, took a look at him, and informed him that's how I looked every morning when I wake up and look in the mirror, but he didn't believe me and asked if he could call my roommate in from the hallway to attest, which he did. As soon as he asked the question about my cheeks, my roommate looked at me as if to say, "is this guy for real", then vomited in the trash can he brought in with him from the hallway, then said "yeah, his cheeks look like that all the time", and then vomited again.
What could the doctor do at that point but offer a second opinion? "OK, you have food poisoning."
Thanks. True story. Don't get me started on health care overhaul.
Anyway, all that said, here's my best halibut impression.
Did that ruin your day?
Summary
Atmosphere: casual/trendy fish house and raw bar, great bar to sit at, great cocktails, great people watching, great if you're flying solo, fantastic outdoor seating and lots of it, outdoor "bar" to sit at, great place for a date, great place for a group
Food: seafood, some of the very best in town
Dog Friendly: indeed
When to Go: happy hour, dinner
Crowd: businessmen, 20somethings, 30somethings, tourists, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of guys, groups of girls and guys, scantily clads, solo diners, seafood lovers
What to Order for the First Timer: oysters on the half shell, whatever pan roasted white fish they have with red chimichurri, griddle cakes
Great seafood. Great raw bar. Great bar. Great cocktails. Great outdoor seating. Great place for dinner.
Now, with a thesaurus...
Great seafood. Splendiferous raw bar. Swell bar. Hunky-dory cocktails. Marvelous outdoor seating. Fabulous place for dinner.
In the second half of 2010 (2H2010 for you corporate folks) when I was commuting to Austin weekly and staying with friends down off of South Congress, I frequented this place for dinner quite a bit whenever I was feeling like seafood or a relatively healthy meal. Also, it's a fantastic place to have a solo dinner, with a spacious bar, knowledgeable bartenders, and other solo diners sitting at the bar ready to have a conversation.
The menu is huge, comprised almost entirely of seafood, split up into sections for the raw bar, which features no less than twelve different types of oysters on the half shell, appetizers, salads and soups, simple a la carte fish, seafood and non-seafood plates, sandwiches, and sides. The bartenders and waiters can tell you anything and everything about everything on the menu, and can help to get you the right meal for you.
My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo and I hit up Perla's for an early dinner last night for some drinks and some food to share, which is a great way to experience this place as it allows you to try several things. We arrived right around 5:30pm, which was clearly too late to get a table outside on this fantastic day, but in time to get $0.50 off oysters (each one) and some discounted drinks at their happy hour. I'd say there are twenty or more tables outside underneath the shade of awnings and a massive oak, and in addition is an outdoor "bar" to sit at, not an actual bar but a long, skinny concrete table which is perfect for bellying up, be you flying solo or on a date. So with the outside packed, we found two spots at the bar inside, which is my favorite place to sit for a meal here.
We started with some oysters on the half shell, and after talking with the bartender about the various oysters on the menu, decided on the Salutation Cove Oysters from Prince Edward Island. Shucked at the bar and served on a bed of crushed ice with a couple of lemon wedges, these were medium sized, slightly briny though not as salty as those from the northeast, and very good. They serve them with sides of cocktail sauce, horseradish, and vinegar/onion mignonette, all perfect complements and perfect acidity to cut through the oysters.
From the oysters we moved on to the Salt and Jalapeno Pepper Fried Calamari with Green Sauce and Marinara, which is one of the better renditions of fried calamari I've had. Not greasy at all, the rings and tentacles come out dry and crispy on the outside, plump and perfectly tender on the inside, and are mixed together with fried strips of mild peppers and okra. Both sauces are excellent, with the green sauce being a simple, smooth and creamy salsa verde with an adequate amount of heat, and the marinara being homemade with chunks of tomato and onion, served warm.
Our raw and deep fried boxes checked, we moved over to the Fresh & Simple Market Seafood section and debated between the steamed North Atlantic halibut, the pan roasted Texas coast grouper, and halibut cheeks, which were littered amongst eight to ten other simply prepared fish selections. Just for the halibut, we went for the halibut cheeks with a side of potato griddle cakes.
Let me start with the griddle cakes. These things are fantastic. Very thinly shredded potatoes, presumably with egg, cream, and mild seasoning, formed into one inch thick patties and fried before being topped with sour cream and chives. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside with just a hint of tooth from the potatoes. I strongly recommend this as a side to whatever you're having.
On to the halibut, and first an educations. These beauties are halibut cheeks:
They cut them out of this ugly sucker, pan roast these delicate morsels, resulting in a paper-thin, lightly browned and crispy crust, and a tender, mildly flavored, and incredibly delicate interior. With these simple preparations, you get a broiled lemon for squeezing, an herbed breadcrumb stuffed roma tomato, and a choice of garlic drawn butter, salsa verde, red chimichurri or homemade tartar as a sauce. I highly recommend the red chimichurri, a take on the standard South American condiment based on oil, herbs and garlic, with this one adding what tasted like oven dried tomatoes, lending a great sweetness to the dish. It's incredible, and a perfect sauce for the fish, though it can stand on its own just fine.
As I have a tendency to do, I'm going to digress. I've had fat cheeks my whole life. Growing up I was sent to the principal's office on more than one occasion for dipping in class, which I wasn't. I've been asked by cigar store employees what brand I'm chewing, which I also wasn't. But my favorite story comes after a late night of drinking, and a even later night of food poisoning. We had this tiny diner that we'd go to after the bars in school called the Pitt Grill, next to the Days Inn (that reminds me, what does La Quinta mean in English? mull it over, we'll get back to it), which was run by a massive and generally angry lady who would let us get behind the counter and do what we pleased with the griddle, the stove, the deep fryer and the toaster, leading us to some awesome late night meals and second degree burns before turning in for the night. On one such occasion they had just gotten in a batch of spoiled eggs, which we only found out a few hours later when my roommate and I both woke up in cold sweats with our bodies doing everything in their power to expel the tainted goods. After spending most of the night on the bathroom floor waiting for the health center to open up, we finally made it over to see the doctor. While my roommate vomited continuously in the waiting area, I went in to see the doctor, an old army doctor who must of at some point taken some shrapnel to the head, and explained what happened, citing specifically the undercooked and underrefrigerated eggs, my symptoms as well as my roommates, and that I've had food poisoning before. After a careful study of my body and head, this genius put his hand to his chin and this thinking cap on, thought about it for two or three minutes before informing me that nope, I didn't have food poisoning, I had a full on case of the mumps.
"Are you kidding me?" I asked. "Why the hell do you think I have the mumps? My roommate ate the same thing as me last night and is out in the hall vomiting right now."
His answer was simple. "Your cheeks have very serious swelling."
(I digress from my digression here. Answer: nexttodennys. YEAH! I'll be here all week, folks.)
Anyway I asked for a mirror, took a look at him, and informed him that's how I looked every morning when I wake up and look in the mirror, but he didn't believe me and asked if he could call my roommate in from the hallway to attest, which he did. As soon as he asked the question about my cheeks, my roommate looked at me as if to say, "is this guy for real", then vomited in the trash can he brought in with him from the hallway, then said "yeah, his cheeks look like that all the time", and then vomited again.
What could the doctor do at that point but offer a second opinion? "OK, you have food poisoning."
Thanks. True story. Don't get me started on health care overhaul.
Anyway, all that said, here's my best halibut impression.
Did that ruin your day?
Summary
Atmosphere: casual/trendy fish house and raw bar, great bar to sit at, great cocktails, great people watching, great if you're flying solo, fantastic outdoor seating and lots of it, outdoor "bar" to sit at, great place for a date, great place for a group
Food: seafood, some of the very best in town
Dog Friendly: indeed
When to Go: happy hour, dinner
Crowd: businessmen, 20somethings, 30somethings, tourists, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of guys, groups of girls and guys, scantily clads, solo diners, seafood lovers
What to Order for the First Timer: oysters on the half shell, whatever pan roasted white fish they have with red chimichurri, griddle cakes
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Jeffrey's - Austin, TX
My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo is headed out of town tomorrow, so we decided to take the opportunity to get a really nice dinner at a really good price by taking advantage of Jeffrey's "reverse" happy hour on Saturday night. From 9-11pm on Saturdays (and 5-7pm on all other days), the bar menu at Jeffrey's is half price, and you can sample some of their fantastic food for relatively cheap.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Jeffrey's, it is one of the nicest restaurants in Austin, and is the quintessential high-end neighborhood restaurant. Literally, it's next door to houses. The atmosphere is very, very nice, and homey. When you walk in the door, you feel like you're in a house, with the main room containing the bar having carpeted floors and a classy, but completely unpretentious, feel to it.
The bar is nice sized, with probably around ten stools, and is a good place to belly up and visit with your date, your spouse, the bartenders and the other patrons. As for the bartenders, they really know their stuff, both on wine and on spirits.
I was already a bit out of place with my flip flops (though I did at least wear pants and a nice shirt), so I opted not to embarrass MLWMG any further by taking pictures. But, I certainly wanted to show you all the great food we got, so I took a shot at drawing it on the computer, and think I really nailed it.
We decided just to split a few things from the bar menu, which had some really great options on it ranging from a cheese plate, to squid, to quail to their burger, all of which sounded innovative and fantastic.
We started with an appetizer of Burrata with Crostini, which is the famous very soft, almost runny, Italian cheese. As creamy as it gets. They put this on a bed of crushed and roasted beets, which were actually quite tasty and almost tasted a bit like red cabbage while retaining the signature earthiness of the beets. On top of this was mint and watercress, drizzled with a light sherry vinegar, which added needed acidity to the mellow flavors of the overall dish. The crostini were served fresh from the oven, and all in all, the dish was a great way to start the meal, and despite it's lightness, went very well with the northern Rhone wine we were having.
The burger, which I have been wanting to have for quite a while, was every bit as good as I thought it might be, and then some. On a normal night, this is a $20 burger that is served with their pommes frites (french fries, freedom fries, whatever, they were Wendy's-sized, very tasty and served with a malt vinegar aioli and a spicy curry ketchup), but on this night it was just $10. It is not a gutbuster by any means, and is an incredibly flavorful house ground mixture of dry-aged beef and lamb, served on house-made brioche with red romaine lettuce, and grilled Maui onions. You have the option of adding cheddar cheese, bacon and foie gras to it, which we took them up on, save for the foie gras. The burger was incredibly flavorful, and I highly recommend getting the bacon on it, which adds a very likable smokiness to the richness of the meat. The burger was juicy, the bun was soft, and the flavors worked together unbelivably. This is one of the best gourmet burgers I've had, and is a must at Jeffrey's happy hour.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Jeffrey's, it is one of the nicest restaurants in Austin, and is the quintessential high-end neighborhood restaurant. Literally, it's next door to houses. The atmosphere is very, very nice, and homey. When you walk in the door, you feel like you're in a house, with the main room containing the bar having carpeted floors and a classy, but completely unpretentious, feel to it.
The bar is nice sized, with probably around ten stools, and is a good place to belly up and visit with your date, your spouse, the bartenders and the other patrons. As for the bartenders, they really know their stuff, both on wine and on spirits.
I was already a bit out of place with my flip flops (though I did at least wear pants and a nice shirt), so I opted not to embarrass MLWMG any further by taking pictures. But, I certainly wanted to show you all the great food we got, so I took a shot at drawing it on the computer, and think I really nailed it.
We decided just to split a few things from the bar menu, which had some really great options on it ranging from a cheese plate, to squid, to quail to their burger, all of which sounded innovative and fantastic.
We started with an appetizer of Burrata with Crostini, which is the famous very soft, almost runny, Italian cheese. As creamy as it gets. They put this on a bed of crushed and roasted beets, which were actually quite tasty and almost tasted a bit like red cabbage while retaining the signature earthiness of the beets. On top of this was mint and watercress, drizzled with a light sherry vinegar, which added needed acidity to the mellow flavors of the overall dish. The crostini were served fresh from the oven, and all in all, the dish was a great way to start the meal, and despite it's lightness, went very well with the northern Rhone wine we were having.
It's also served with a homemade coarse grain mustard, which was fantastic, but I didn't think the burger needed it, so I just ate the mustard by itself.
We had the sommelier recommend a red to us that would go with the burger, and he brought us a bottle of a Crozes-Hermitage, which was dry, earthy, and hit the spot. As for the wines, they have a nice range, both by the bottle and the glass, and I was happy to see that had we opted for a glass of wine, we could have chosen a couple with a price tag under that of our meal. There is just something fundamentally wrong with the other way.
Summary
Atmosphere: upscale restaurant, great bar, homey feel, dressy
Food: upscale American
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: happy hour, dinner
Crowd: sophisticos, older, regulars, neighbors
What to Order for the First Timer: happy hour burger with cheddar and bacon
Friday, April 15, 2011
Haddington's Menu Update - Austin, TX
Stopped into Haddington's last night to have a cocktail, with the primary purpose of checking out the new menu.
I was relieved to see the menu hadn't changed all that much, it's the same high end pub food consisting primarily of meats and fish with just minor modifications.
Gone are some of the more UK items like lamb pie, lamb sandwich, rabbit fricassee, British meatballs and much to my dismay, the foie link, replaced with some more traditional additions of fish, including a fish of day, and more American meat like beef, pork and chicken. While all of those others were absolutely fantastic, I'm guessing they didn't appeal to all customers, and were therefore slow movers, so no doubt they are making room for dishes of the same quality but which may be more popular here.
The toast pots, Scotch eggs, fish and chips, and strip steaks are all still there, as well as the stew of the day and the soup of the day, so my opinion of this place hasn't changed a bit. It's still fantastic.
Also, as they do periodically, the drink menu has some new items on it, and I was happy to see Tiffany's Stranger on the Highway has officially hit the menu. A rye based concoction with marischino, bitters and a couple of other tasty ingredients, this drink is as smooth as Mr. Bean in a psych ward.
Cheers.
I was relieved to see the menu hadn't changed all that much, it's the same high end pub food consisting primarily of meats and fish with just minor modifications.
Gone are some of the more UK items like lamb pie, lamb sandwich, rabbit fricassee, British meatballs and much to my dismay, the foie link, replaced with some more traditional additions of fish, including a fish of day, and more American meat like beef, pork and chicken. While all of those others were absolutely fantastic, I'm guessing they didn't appeal to all customers, and were therefore slow movers, so no doubt they are making room for dishes of the same quality but which may be more popular here.
The toast pots, Scotch eggs, fish and chips, and strip steaks are all still there, as well as the stew of the day and the soup of the day, so my opinion of this place hasn't changed a bit. It's still fantastic.
Also, as they do periodically, the drink menu has some new items on it, and I was happy to see Tiffany's Stranger on the Highway has officially hit the menu. A rye based concoction with marischino, bitters and a couple of other tasty ingredients, this drink is as smooth as Mr. Bean in a psych ward.
Cheers.
Summary:
Atmosphere - good place for the solo traveler, good place to belly up, good place to go with a group, good place to take a date, good place to meet after work, good place to meet new people, no tvs
Food - Excellent, Upscale English
Time to Go - happy hour, for dinner, or after dinner for drinks
Crowd - primarily 20somethings and 30somethings, groups of dressed up girls, groups of dressed up guys, mixed groups, attractive affluents, hotchicks, Irish hooligans
What to Order if You're a First Timer - Foie Gras Link, Duck Meatloaf, Fish & Chips, Duck Liver Mousse Toast Pot
Dog Friendly - most likely not despite outdoor area which you have to go inside first to get to
Monday, March 7, 2011
Ola - Miami Beach, FL
Had a request from a friend traveling in Miami for a spot to eat dinner.
Much like LeBron, I too took my talents to South Beach last year...albeit for a quick stopover on a way to a better place, and despite ESPN's urging, I opted not to have my decision to connect through Miami versus New York City televised in an hour long special.
So my recommendation for one night in Miami Beach is a place that I went to late last year, a Latin American restaurant named Ola. So this place is a block up and over from the Delano in South Beach, putting it smack dab in the middle of Doucherville, USA...THE Capital of all douchebags. However, the vibe here, while trendy, which you have to be in order to make it down there, is not overly so, and doesn't come off pretentious at all, and seemed to be filled with rather normal (keep in mind relativity here, this IS Miami after all) people, generally an older crowd but not gerries, just late 30s through mid 50s, upscale and reasonable. Normal shirts for the most part, not the skin tight unch unch unch variety. The place has a decent vibe too. It's not huge, has a nice little bar to sit at, and isn't too noisy or quiet. Perfect.
The place is also very well regarded for its Latin American cuisine and its seafood, particularly the ceviches. My Lovely Wife, Mrs. Gordo and I decided to split a couple of these, and then an entree.
We did the Fire and Ice ceviche, which was cobia tossed with sour orange, thai chiles, cilantro, and fresh jalapenos, over pear granita. This one was really good, and had decent heat but I would have expected more from something with two types of chiles as this has. It wasn't quite as good in our mind as the other one we had, the Wahoo ceviche, pictured below, but a large part of that might have been my disappointment that I could still feel my tongue when I expected this second ceviche to be putting out a fire...
Thinly sliced Wahoo with watermelon jalapeno juice, basil, cantaloupe, topped with a cucumber sorbet. Yeah, it was refreshing, and I was happy to see not overly sweet. The red onion and jalapeno in it did a nice job of offsetting the sweetness of the other ingredients.
The entree we got was also very good, but a departure from the freshness and lightness that these seafood dishes exhibited. We did the Puerco Asado, or braised pork. It was served in a black bean broth with fried yucca, and a lemon / cilantro mojo. Really, really good, but if I had to do it again, I'd probably go with either a seafood or a beef dish, as we saw several of them and they looked incredible.
I'd recommend what we had, but given the reputation of this place and the quality of what we had and otherwise saw, I'd say just pick what looks best to you and go for it. You're unlikely to be disappointed.
Wait a minute. Can't forget about...DA BOMB:
Semi-sweet chocolate mousse with toasted hazelnuts covered in a caramel and chocolate sauce. Come on, I don't have to tell you that was incredible.
Good cocktails and wine list here too. We started with a pisco sour and a pomegranate mojito. The pisco sour was great, but the pomegranate mojito was too sweet for both of us. I took one for the team though and downed it quickly for MLWMG before we moved on to wine. Thank you me.
Summary
Atmosphere: trendy, but upscale and classy and about the food and not being seen, good for a date, good for a business dinner, good for a meal with friends
Food: Latin American
When to Go: dinner
Crowd: dressy, 30s, 40s and 50s, without an overabundance of chest hair and diamond cutters
What to Get for the First Timer: split a few of the ceviches and pick an entree that looks good
Much like LeBron, I too took my talents to South Beach last year...albeit for a quick stopover on a way to a better place, and despite ESPN's urging, I opted not to have my decision to connect through Miami versus New York City televised in an hour long special.
So my recommendation for one night in Miami Beach is a place that I went to late last year, a Latin American restaurant named Ola. So this place is a block up and over from the Delano in South Beach, putting it smack dab in the middle of Doucherville, USA...THE Capital of all douchebags. However, the vibe here, while trendy, which you have to be in order to make it down there, is not overly so, and doesn't come off pretentious at all, and seemed to be filled with rather normal (keep in mind relativity here, this IS Miami after all) people, generally an older crowd but not gerries, just late 30s through mid 50s, upscale and reasonable. Normal shirts for the most part, not the skin tight unch unch unch variety. The place has a decent vibe too. It's not huge, has a nice little bar to sit at, and isn't too noisy or quiet. Perfect.
The place is also very well regarded for its Latin American cuisine and its seafood, particularly the ceviches. My Lovely Wife, Mrs. Gordo and I decided to split a couple of these, and then an entree.
Thinly sliced Wahoo with watermelon jalapeno juice, basil, cantaloupe, topped with a cucumber sorbet. Yeah, it was refreshing, and I was happy to see not overly sweet. The red onion and jalapeno in it did a nice job of offsetting the sweetness of the other ingredients.
The entree we got was also very good, but a departure from the freshness and lightness that these seafood dishes exhibited. We did the Puerco Asado, or braised pork. It was served in a black bean broth with fried yucca, and a lemon / cilantro mojo. Really, really good, but if I had to do it again, I'd probably go with either a seafood or a beef dish, as we saw several of them and they looked incredible.
I'd recommend what we had, but given the reputation of this place and the quality of what we had and otherwise saw, I'd say just pick what looks best to you and go for it. You're unlikely to be disappointed.
Wait a minute. Can't forget about...DA BOMB:
Semi-sweet chocolate mousse with toasted hazelnuts covered in a caramel and chocolate sauce. Come on, I don't have to tell you that was incredible.
Good cocktails and wine list here too. We started with a pisco sour and a pomegranate mojito. The pisco sour was great, but the pomegranate mojito was too sweet for both of us. I took one for the team though and downed it quickly for MLWMG before we moved on to wine. Thank you me.
Summary
Atmosphere: trendy, but upscale and classy and about the food and not being seen, good for a date, good for a business dinner, good for a meal with friends
Food: Latin American
When to Go: dinner
Crowd: dressy, 30s, 40s and 50s, without an overabundance of chest hair and diamond cutters
What to Get for the First Timer: split a few of the ceviches and pick an entree that looks good
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Parkside - Austin, TX
I've been wanting to hit this place for a while, and finally did on Thursday night, for what is clearly one of the best happy hour deals in Austin, Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm. They do half off their bar menu, which has a good selection of foods ranging from oysters on the half shell to quail to steak to okra to an egg sandwich.
I wrapped up my last meeting of the day downtown, was by myself, saw it was 6:45, so I laced up and ran* over there, making it just in time to grab the only seat left at the bar. Let me rephrase that, there was a half a seat available at the bar. The other "half" was occupied by the belongings and half-an-ass of the incredibly inebriated girl (at 6:45 on a Thursday) at the stool next to it. And she was the better half of her date, who was a portly young lad in a blue blazer with brass buttons and a bow tie, who I expected to have an English accent, but didn't...or at least I couldn't decipher it through the spitting and slurring.
I knew I was in for it when I asked her if anyone was using the stool and couldn't understand her response except for a gesture that suggested no. That didn't prompt her to move either her posterior or her belongings though, which elicited a chuckle from the three guys to the right at the bar, who'd evidently been watching this show for a while. We got things situated, and I was a little disappointed, but also very pleased to see that Mr. and Mrs. Cocktail were wrapping things up and trying to get their bill.
I had a few minutes left on the happy hour, so wanted to put in an order quickly. I wasn't feeling like anything out of the ordinary, just wanted something simple, and I asked the bartender what the best thing on the menu was. Evidently the other half of my stool thought she was the bartender when she loudly chimed in with "Ghet sthe gah nocky."
What?
"Ghet sthe gah nocky! Sthe gah nocky is soooooooooo GHHHHOOOD!"
Gah Nocky (n) - small dumplings made from potato, semolina, or flour, usually served with a sauce. Also, usually spelled gnocchi, and pronounced with a silent G.
I didn't take her recommendation.
Instead went with one of the chef's favorite items, a fried egg sandwich with a side of fried okra, and then decided to also give the risotto fritter appetizer a go. The fried egg sandwich was good. Over easy egg that spilled out on the plate with the first bite, creating a nice little dipping sauce for the sandwich, a couple of strips of bacon, and a touch of cheese on some very light, very soft, and very thickly cut homemade bread, with a nice char on the outside to give it an initial crunch before giving in to the soft white bread that goes so well with a fried egg. Nothing fancy, just simple and good. The okra was also great. Sliced in one inch pieces on the bias and deep fried, it's got perfect crunch, is not slimy at all, and is served with a homemade "ranch" dressing which is actually a bright green herby and slightly spicy ranch spread. Very good with the okra, and very good compliments to the sandwich.
The risotto fritters. Little balls of risotto deep fried and served with a citrusy sofrito. The rice was cooked very well for the dish, leaving a little tooth left in it to give some texture underneath the thin, crispy exterior, and the sofrito did a nice job of cutting the oil in the risotto (don't get me wrong, these were not greasy at all). A nice appetizer, and well executed, but I'll probably opt for something with a little more punch next time.
So an appetizer, a sandwich, and a healthy side dose of okra, in addition to one of their signature cocktails, a tequila based Texas Negroni, ran me a whopping $13 before tip. Wow.
I'll be back for this deal for sure, and want to make sure I do so on a night when I'm in the mood for something more adventurous. What I've described above I realize makes this place sound like a diner of sorts, with a deep fryer and maybe a flat top. It's not at all, and is instead one of the best and most well regarded restaurants in town. Next Thursday I may give the fried oyster blt with green goddess aioli ($4.25) a go, or maybe the grilled bar steak with fries ($9.50) or the quail with blue cheese, apple and celery ($4.50).
This is a great place for a meal, or to stop in after work with some friends for a drink. It's a classy atmosphere, a little trendy maybe but not in a bad way, with a great, long bar to sit at, and plenty of tables in the bar as well.
I'll be back.
Summary
Atmosphere - classy with a tilt toward trend, good for a date, good for a group, good if you're flying solo, great for happy hour, and a great bar to sit at
Food - upscale new American, seafood
Dog Friendly - no
When to Go - happy hour, dinner
Crowd - dressy, trendsters, 30somethings, drunk chicks, guys with bow ties, hotchicks
*"Run", "ran", or any derivation thereof really just means "walked briskly. I don't run.
I wrapped up my last meeting of the day downtown, was by myself, saw it was 6:45, so I laced up and ran* over there, making it just in time to grab the only seat left at the bar. Let me rephrase that, there was a half a seat available at the bar. The other "half" was occupied by the belongings and half-an-ass of the incredibly inebriated girl (at 6:45 on a Thursday) at the stool next to it. And she was the better half of her date, who was a portly young lad in a blue blazer with brass buttons and a bow tie, who I expected to have an English accent, but didn't...or at least I couldn't decipher it through the spitting and slurring.
I knew I was in for it when I asked her if anyone was using the stool and couldn't understand her response except for a gesture that suggested no. That didn't prompt her to move either her posterior or her belongings though, which elicited a chuckle from the three guys to the right at the bar, who'd evidently been watching this show for a while. We got things situated, and I was a little disappointed, but also very pleased to see that Mr. and Mrs. Cocktail were wrapping things up and trying to get their bill.
I had a few minutes left on the happy hour, so wanted to put in an order quickly. I wasn't feeling like anything out of the ordinary, just wanted something simple, and I asked the bartender what the best thing on the menu was. Evidently the other half of my stool thought she was the bartender when she loudly chimed in with "Ghet sthe gah nocky."
What?
"Ghet sthe gah nocky! Sthe gah nocky is soooooooooo GHHHHOOOD!"
Gah Nocky (n) - small dumplings made from potato, semolina, or flour, usually served with a sauce. Also, usually spelled gnocchi, and pronounced with a silent G.
I didn't take her recommendation.
Instead went with one of the chef's favorite items, a fried egg sandwich with a side of fried okra, and then decided to also give the risotto fritter appetizer a go. The fried egg sandwich was good. Over easy egg that spilled out on the plate with the first bite, creating a nice little dipping sauce for the sandwich, a couple of strips of bacon, and a touch of cheese on some very light, very soft, and very thickly cut homemade bread, with a nice char on the outside to give it an initial crunch before giving in to the soft white bread that goes so well with a fried egg. Nothing fancy, just simple and good. The okra was also great. Sliced in one inch pieces on the bias and deep fried, it's got perfect crunch, is not slimy at all, and is served with a homemade "ranch" dressing which is actually a bright green herby and slightly spicy ranch spread. Very good with the okra, and very good compliments to the sandwich.
The risotto fritters. Little balls of risotto deep fried and served with a citrusy sofrito. The rice was cooked very well for the dish, leaving a little tooth left in it to give some texture underneath the thin, crispy exterior, and the sofrito did a nice job of cutting the oil in the risotto (don't get me wrong, these were not greasy at all). A nice appetizer, and well executed, but I'll probably opt for something with a little more punch next time.
So an appetizer, a sandwich, and a healthy side dose of okra, in addition to one of their signature cocktails, a tequila based Texas Negroni, ran me a whopping $13 before tip. Wow.
I'll be back for this deal for sure, and want to make sure I do so on a night when I'm in the mood for something more adventurous. What I've described above I realize makes this place sound like a diner of sorts, with a deep fryer and maybe a flat top. It's not at all, and is instead one of the best and most well regarded restaurants in town. Next Thursday I may give the fried oyster blt with green goddess aioli ($4.25) a go, or maybe the grilled bar steak with fries ($9.50) or the quail with blue cheese, apple and celery ($4.50).
This is a great place for a meal, or to stop in after work with some friends for a drink. It's a classy atmosphere, a little trendy maybe but not in a bad way, with a great, long bar to sit at, and plenty of tables in the bar as well.
I'll be back.
Summary
Atmosphere - classy with a tilt toward trend, good for a date, good for a group, good if you're flying solo, great for happy hour, and a great bar to sit at
Food - upscale new American, seafood
Dog Friendly - no
When to Go - happy hour, dinner
Crowd - dressy, trendsters, 30somethings, drunk chicks, guys with bow ties, hotchicks
*"Run", "ran", or any derivation thereof really just means "walked briskly. I don't run.
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