Susie "Carlestondiner" G.'s Profile
Date
If you would have told me that I would be as excited as I was at a "hot dog place" I would have told you that it was crazy - true, but crazy.
We stopped in at Perfectly Franks on a Friday for lunch. It was about 1:00 p.m. and the place was packed. Although not a very large restaurant, it was impeccably clean and incredibly well run, and did I mention, packed...
The service system is simple. You place your order at a counter and your meal is brought to you. No one told us that there would be at least 25 people ahead of us trying to do the same thing. Be that as it may the ordering process went quickly and I camped out at a table waiting for lunch.
Even with the incredible line (which continued throughout our stay there), our lunch was ready in about 5 minutes. It was awesome.
Although I am certain that you can order any hot dog that you'd like, many on the menu are named after a "Frank". My "Frank Thomas" was their replica of a Chicago Dog, minus the poppy seeded roll. Relish, sauerkraut, mustard, hot peppers, mustard, celery salt and tomato slices topped the roll. Be aware too that it's not just a hot dog roll. There are just too many toppings to squeeze into a plain old hot dog roll!! The roll is much larger and easily holds your hot dog delight!
My husband ordered two dogs. The Frank 'Cuda was named after the owner, Perry 'Cuda and was something to see. A dog topped with blue cheese, cole slaw, fried onion strings and chili was a decadent hot dog display. And he didn't stop there.
The "Frank Morgan" was a hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese. Yes, you've read this correctly, mac 'n cheese. What appeared to be Velvetta laden mac' n cheese covered the dog and although my husband was full from his first dog, he kept on going... It was simply irresistible.
We did also split an order of fries, although very good, they were somewhat lost in the mix - our lunch total - $14.00. No surprise that the line of 20 - 25 people waiting to order continued throughout our stay. It was crazy good.
We have always liked Jack's Cosmic dogs but after our visit to Perfectly Frank's it's safe to say that there really is no comparison. Perfectly Franks is simply, perfect.
We stopped in at Perfectly Franks on a Friday for lunch. It was about 1:00 p.m. and the place was packed. Although not a very large restaurant, it was impeccably clean and incredibly well run, and did I mention, packed...
The service system is simple. You place your order at a counter and your meal is brought to you. No one told us that there would be at least 25 people ahead of us trying to do the same thing. Be that as it may the ordering process went quickly and I camped out at a table waiting for lunch.
Even with the incredible line (which continued throughout our stay there), our lunch was ready in about 5 minutes. It was awesome.
Although I am certain that you can order any hot dog that you'd like, many on the menu are named after a "Frank". My "Frank Thomas" was their replica of a Chicago Dog, minus the poppy seeded roll. Relish, sauerkraut, mustard, hot peppers, mustard, celery salt and tomato slices topped the roll. Be aware too that it's not just a hot dog roll. There are just too many toppings to squeeze into a plain old hot dog roll!! The roll is much larger and easily holds your hot dog delight!
My husband ordered two dogs. The Frank 'Cuda was named after the owner, Perry 'Cuda and was something to see. A dog topped with blue cheese, cole slaw, fried onion strings and chili was a decadent hot dog display. And he didn't stop there.
The "Frank Morgan" was a hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese. Yes, you've read this correctly, mac 'n cheese. What appeared to be Velvetta laden mac' n cheese covered the dog and although my husband was full from his first dog, he kept on going... It was simply irresistible.
We did also split an order of fries, although very good, they were somewhat lost in the mix - our lunch total - $14.00. No surprise that the line of 20 - 25 people waiting to order continued throughout our stay. It was crazy good.
We have always liked Jack's Cosmic dogs but after our visit to Perfectly Frank's it's safe to say that there really is no comparison. Perfectly Franks is simply, perfect.
I have to say that I love to see a local guy or gal do well in a restaurant endeavor, so we thought we'd give it a go and hoped for the best.
We arrived at about 7:00 on a Friday night and we were one of two tables. Not a good sign, but in the spirit of March Madness, let's give it the college try.
Our server was friendly and knowledgeable and the restaurant itself is quite pleasant with a nice take on featuring mason jars throughout - lights, garnishes, pickled items, etc. Cute.
The menu is limited but they offer many blackboard specials. We decided to try one of them - a tossed salad with local greens, herbs, watermelon radishes and fried cheese. My husband also selected their slow braised pork belly over jalapeno creamed corn and lemon arugula salad. That dish sounded very intriguing.
Here's where it started to go south. Don't forget that there were one of TWO tables in the restaurant... My salad was incredibly overdressed and over-herbed which was a shame. Although the fried cheese was tasty it was cold and when I inquired if it was supposed to be hot the server said, "Yes". Not so much.
The pork belly was this small lump of browned pork sitting in corn chowder like dish. For someone that NEVER complains about meals this was one that was a challenge for even my husband. The odd thing with both dishes was that they were so bland, zero flavor. This was quite disappointing but not far from where our dinners fared.
When our server delivered our meals they looked very good. My Mahi however, smelled so incredibly fishy that I was a bit concerned that it would be okay. It was served with an interesting combo of jasmine rice, corn and spinach, and a spicy carrot relish, it could have been a contendah. Unfortunately the rice was undercooked and the dish itself was lukewarm. How does this happen when there are four people in the restaurant for goodness sake?
The Slow Braised Short Ribs served over a pistachio, white bean and dumpling ragout sounded terrific, but again failed to deliver. They were also just warm and the ragout was a cool, lumpy, flavorless mess.
A gentleman that we believe to be the chef stopped by to see what we thought of our dinner. Our comments were honest, but probably not what he wanted to hear. He was kind to discount our dinner, which was really not necessary, but appreciated.
I also thought for the meal we had at $59.00 plus tip ($12.00), it was pricey, and not worth it. Not a place to again be on our list restaurant visits, but I wish them well.
We arrived at about 7:00 on a Friday night and we were one of two tables. Not a good sign, but in the spirit of March Madness, let's give it the college try.
Our server was friendly and knowledgeable and the restaurant itself is quite pleasant with a nice take on featuring mason jars throughout - lights, garnishes, pickled items, etc. Cute.
The menu is limited but they offer many blackboard specials. We decided to try one of them - a tossed salad with local greens, herbs, watermelon radishes and fried cheese. My husband also selected their slow braised pork belly over jalapeno creamed corn and lemon arugula salad. That dish sounded very intriguing.
Here's where it started to go south. Don't forget that there were one of TWO tables in the restaurant... My salad was incredibly overdressed and over-herbed which was a shame. Although the fried cheese was tasty it was cold and when I inquired if it was supposed to be hot the server said, "Yes". Not so much.
The pork belly was this small lump of browned pork sitting in corn chowder like dish. For someone that NEVER complains about meals this was one that was a challenge for even my husband. The odd thing with both dishes was that they were so bland, zero flavor. This was quite disappointing but not far from where our dinners fared.
When our server delivered our meals they looked very good. My Mahi however, smelled so incredibly fishy that I was a bit concerned that it would be okay. It was served with an interesting combo of jasmine rice, corn and spinach, and a spicy carrot relish, it could have been a contendah. Unfortunately the rice was undercooked and the dish itself was lukewarm. How does this happen when there are four people in the restaurant for goodness sake?
The Slow Braised Short Ribs served over a pistachio, white bean and dumpling ragout sounded terrific, but again failed to deliver. They were also just warm and the ragout was a cool, lumpy, flavorless mess.
A gentleman that we believe to be the chef stopped by to see what we thought of our dinner. Our comments were honest, but probably not what he wanted to hear. He was kind to discount our dinner, which was really not necessary, but appreciated.
I also thought for the meal we had at $59.00 plus tip ($12.00), it was pricey, and not worth it. Not a place to again be on our list restaurant visits, but I wish them well.
In the course of about two weeks five people have mentioned Two Boroughs Larder, a restaurant that opened last August just outside of King Street. All of them have said, "You'd love it there." So this was our restaurant of choice for a quick bite before a neighborhood event this evening.
The restaurant is easy to find on Coming Street but parking is next to nothing. We circled a few times and then found a spot. We were lucky because it was Saturday and the Residential Parking only is lifted.
About the name which to me is a bit confusing. They are close to two Boroughs in Charleston, Cannonborough and Elliotborough. Okay, that part is pretty easy, but what's with the Larder? In sleuthing a "Larder" on http://Webster.com was defined as a "Cooling area to store food prior to use. Larders were commonplace in houses before the widespread use of refrigerators. Mystery solved. Interesting stories but nowhere in the restaurant were these fun facts displayed and I think that could add value to your visit.
One site called the design of the restaurant "Industrial Chic" which I thought is spot on. Refurbished wood and steel are creatively used to form tables, their "Family Table", the bar and its stools. Kitschy, but it works very well.
The owners also are all about sourcing local foods and respecting the food that they source, which is nothing new here in the Low Country, but still appreciated.
On this lazy Saturday we walked in for a very late lunch and there were a few people seated in the various tables. We were told to sit where we wanted and got a great table by the window. Our server quickly stopped by.
No generic "diet coke" at this place. I ordered a crafted lo-cal root beer and my husband got a Mexican Coca-Cola. 'Don't know why the funky drinks, but they were good nonetheless.
There were two menus on the day we arrived. A small, five item brunch menu and their regular, all-day menu. Both were very interesting. No meat and potatoes at this place!! The menu is a unique combination of creative and just over the edge.
We took the recommendation of our server who recommended the Carbonara (only served with Brunch), and the Chicken Skin Fried Rice. How unique is that??
And then we waited. And waited. And waited. I don't know how we get so lucky but with so few people in the restaurant, three line cooks on in a very tiny kitchen (visible from the dining room), why would lunch ever have to take 30-35 minutes?? It did though, unfortunately.
When it finally arrived the server said, "The kitchen says their sorry for the delay." Thank you, I thought, but after all this time this lunch better rock.
The Chicken Skin Fried Rice with Szechuan peppercorns, fried farm egg, Palmetto sweets, Mepkin Abbey mushrooms, peanut puree, Carolina Gold Rice and Togarashi (a Japanese Chili Sauce) was outstanding. Crispy skins mixed with dark meat chicken and richly seasoned. A real treat. Then there was my dish.
I was so disappointed. Carbonara is one of my favorite dishes and I rarely order it since it's so laden with calories. The server spoke so highly of it I couldn't resist. The last time I had it was in the North End in Boston, a true Italian section of the city and I can still remember it.
This Carbonara was made with Bucatini pasta (a thick spaghetti-like pasta), bacon and Grana Padao Cheese. Right away it looked puny. Not for nothing but for $15.00 give a sister some pasta, this bowl was skimpy.
All in all the pasta was cooked perfectly but the sauce lacked flavor and it was very, very thin. Slices of uncooked, unappetizing garlic dotted the bowl. I had to get up to find our server to ask for some salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. I thought that it would help, but in hindsight it wasn't much of an improvement.
I didn't ask to have it "fixed" as I thought that this was their recipe and I would just get another duplicate version.
All 'n all I liked Two Boroughs Larder and will give it another chance. The atmosphere is funky and the service was good. I just know to avoid the Carbonara.
They are having a dinner on April 11th which is 5 courses for $55, which actually sounds interesting and something that we might try.
The restaurant is easy to find on Coming Street but parking is next to nothing. We circled a few times and then found a spot. We were lucky because it was Saturday and the Residential Parking only is lifted.
About the name which to me is a bit confusing. They are close to two Boroughs in Charleston, Cannonborough and Elliotborough. Okay, that part is pretty easy, but what's with the Larder? In sleuthing a "Larder" on http://Webster.com was defined as a "Cooling area to store food prior to use. Larders were commonplace in houses before the widespread use of refrigerators. Mystery solved. Interesting stories but nowhere in the restaurant were these fun facts displayed and I think that could add value to your visit.
One site called the design of the restaurant "Industrial Chic" which I thought is spot on. Refurbished wood and steel are creatively used to form tables, their "Family Table", the bar and its stools. Kitschy, but it works very well.
The owners also are all about sourcing local foods and respecting the food that they source, which is nothing new here in the Low Country, but still appreciated.
On this lazy Saturday we walked in for a very late lunch and there were a few people seated in the various tables. We were told to sit where we wanted and got a great table by the window. Our server quickly stopped by.
No generic "diet coke" at this place. I ordered a crafted lo-cal root beer and my husband got a Mexican Coca-Cola. 'Don't know why the funky drinks, but they were good nonetheless.
There were two menus on the day we arrived. A small, five item brunch menu and their regular, all-day menu. Both were very interesting. No meat and potatoes at this place!! The menu is a unique combination of creative and just over the edge.
We took the recommendation of our server who recommended the Carbonara (only served with Brunch), and the Chicken Skin Fried Rice. How unique is that??
And then we waited. And waited. And waited. I don't know how we get so lucky but with so few people in the restaurant, three line cooks on in a very tiny kitchen (visible from the dining room), why would lunch ever have to take 30-35 minutes?? It did though, unfortunately.
When it finally arrived the server said, "The kitchen says their sorry for the delay." Thank you, I thought, but after all this time this lunch better rock.
The Chicken Skin Fried Rice with Szechuan peppercorns, fried farm egg, Palmetto sweets, Mepkin Abbey mushrooms, peanut puree, Carolina Gold Rice and Togarashi (a Japanese Chili Sauce) was outstanding. Crispy skins mixed with dark meat chicken and richly seasoned. A real treat. Then there was my dish.
I was so disappointed. Carbonara is one of my favorite dishes and I rarely order it since it's so laden with calories. The server spoke so highly of it I couldn't resist. The last time I had it was in the North End in Boston, a true Italian section of the city and I can still remember it.
This Carbonara was made with Bucatini pasta (a thick spaghetti-like pasta), bacon and Grana Padao Cheese. Right away it looked puny. Not for nothing but for $15.00 give a sister some pasta, this bowl was skimpy.
All in all the pasta was cooked perfectly but the sauce lacked flavor and it was very, very thin. Slices of uncooked, unappetizing garlic dotted the bowl. I had to get up to find our server to ask for some salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. I thought that it would help, but in hindsight it wasn't much of an improvement.
I didn't ask to have it "fixed" as I thought that this was their recipe and I would just get another duplicate version.
All 'n all I liked Two Boroughs Larder and will give it another chance. The atmosphere is funky and the service was good. I just know to avoid the Carbonara.
They are having a dinner on April 11th which is 5 courses for $55, which actually sounds interesting and something that we might try.
Although I realize that we live in a city with a never ending supply of great, not just good, but great restaurants every once and awhile one of them surprises me and reminds me of just what makes up a great dining experience. Hank's did just that the other night.
Designed to look like a Charleston Fish House of the 1940's Hank's Seafood Restaurant is as charming as it gets. We have not been to Hank's in about eight years when we first started to visit Charleston. I remember that we liked it, but that was about it. After reading an article in Southern Living Magazine that featured Hank's it made me want to return. The photos of their food were so inviting.
We arrived for our 6:45 reservation and were very thankful that we had called ahead. The place was PACKED with a line out the door. We were quickly escorted to our table and had a few minutes to people watch as we waited for our server to arrive.
Our server was knowledgeable and helpful as he walked us through the menu and told us of the evening's specials.
Although not a particularly large restaurant it has a great energy and feel to it. It's not a quiet restaurant by any stretch of the word, but that was something that quite frankly, I liked about it.
Our appetizers were out in no time and they were great. We were having dinner with a couple that likes to sample many things so this course was for us, almost like a tapas meal, which was a treat.
The Belgian Endive Salad with Blue Cheese, Arugula and Beets was absolutely beautiful and it tasted great. I personally love beets, but they are not a household favorite, so it's nice to have them when I can.
The Crispy Rock Shrimp and Calamari with Spicy Tomato Remoulade Sauce were cooked perfectly. Lightly battered, crispy as described and oh, so tender. The "spicy" sauce was not-so-spicy but we liked it nonetheless.
The Oyster Sampler with local and oysters from North Carolina and Washington State was a nice surprise. I like oysters, but don't love them. These however were delicious. Small, sweet and tender. It was at this point that I was very hopeful that dinner would be great.
The White Bean Soup of the Day was really something. Filled with veggies in a light broth and very tasty. Boy, had we picked a winner for a restaurant this evening.
Dinner arrived and it was spectacular. I had the evening's dinner special which was monk fish served in a light broth with a variety of beans, mussels and shrimp. The fish was perfectly cooked and the broth and its' accompaniments were just delightful. As I think of the dish it alone makes me want to go back to the restaurant...
My husband had the Curried Shrimp. I don't care for curry that much so it rarely makes an appearance in our kitchen. He loved this dish! It was a coconut/curry sauce with bananas, mango, leeks, and sweet onion served over delicate white rice. The tails had been removed from the shrimp making it less work to enjoy. Despite my aversion to curry, I did give this dish a try and really liked it. It had a nice balance of spices and a hint of curry. Maybe I should rethink curry after all...
The Roast Grouper dish was not available (out of season) and had been replaced with triggerfish served over Pea and Lobster Risotto with a Shrimp Basil Butter Jus. As much as I liked my entrée I had entrée envy. This dish was to die for. The fish was cooked perfectly and the risotto was a masterpiece. Simply perfect.
I did not taste the Pan Seared Sea Scallops but they were a hit with the rest of the table. Served with Shitake Mushrooms, Seasonal Greens, Fried Mashed Potatoes (maybe I should have had those...), and a Ginger Lime Coriander Vinaigrette everyone thought that they were terrific. Large, plump scallops that were impeccably cooked dotted the plate. Everyone raved about them.
I really can't find one thing that I didn't like about Hank's. The service, atmosphere and menu items were simply stellar. Can't wait to return.
Designed to look like a Charleston Fish House of the 1940's Hank's Seafood Restaurant is as charming as it gets. We have not been to Hank's in about eight years when we first started to visit Charleston. I remember that we liked it, but that was about it. After reading an article in Southern Living Magazine that featured Hank's it made me want to return. The photos of their food were so inviting.
We arrived for our 6:45 reservation and were very thankful that we had called ahead. The place was PACKED with a line out the door. We were quickly escorted to our table and had a few minutes to people watch as we waited for our server to arrive.
Our server was knowledgeable and helpful as he walked us through the menu and told us of the evening's specials.
Although not a particularly large restaurant it has a great energy and feel to it. It's not a quiet restaurant by any stretch of the word, but that was something that quite frankly, I liked about it.
Our appetizers were out in no time and they were great. We were having dinner with a couple that likes to sample many things so this course was for us, almost like a tapas meal, which was a treat.
The Belgian Endive Salad with Blue Cheese, Arugula and Beets was absolutely beautiful and it tasted great. I personally love beets, but they are not a household favorite, so it's nice to have them when I can.
The Crispy Rock Shrimp and Calamari with Spicy Tomato Remoulade Sauce were cooked perfectly. Lightly battered, crispy as described and oh, so tender. The "spicy" sauce was not-so-spicy but we liked it nonetheless.
The Oyster Sampler with local and oysters from North Carolina and Washington State was a nice surprise. I like oysters, but don't love them. These however were delicious. Small, sweet and tender. It was at this point that I was very hopeful that dinner would be great.
The White Bean Soup of the Day was really something. Filled with veggies in a light broth and very tasty. Boy, had we picked a winner for a restaurant this evening.
Dinner arrived and it was spectacular. I had the evening's dinner special which was monk fish served in a light broth with a variety of beans, mussels and shrimp. The fish was perfectly cooked and the broth and its' accompaniments were just delightful. As I think of the dish it alone makes me want to go back to the restaurant...
My husband had the Curried Shrimp. I don't care for curry that much so it rarely makes an appearance in our kitchen. He loved this dish! It was a coconut/curry sauce with bananas, mango, leeks, and sweet onion served over delicate white rice. The tails had been removed from the shrimp making it less work to enjoy. Despite my aversion to curry, I did give this dish a try and really liked it. It had a nice balance of spices and a hint of curry. Maybe I should rethink curry after all...
The Roast Grouper dish was not available (out of season) and had been replaced with triggerfish served over Pea and Lobster Risotto with a Shrimp Basil Butter Jus. As much as I liked my entrée I had entrée envy. This dish was to die for. The fish was cooked perfectly and the risotto was a masterpiece. Simply perfect.
I did not taste the Pan Seared Sea Scallops but they were a hit with the rest of the table. Served with Shitake Mushrooms, Seasonal Greens, Fried Mashed Potatoes (maybe I should have had those...), and a Ginger Lime Coriander Vinaigrette everyone thought that they were terrific. Large, plump scallops that were impeccably cooked dotted the plate. Everyone raved about them.
I really can't find one thing that I didn't like about Hank's. The service, atmosphere and menu items were simply stellar. Can't wait to return.
I have to say that the Morgan Creek Grill Brunch had tremendous potential. It was a gorgeous day, they are located on a beautiful, waterfront spot and we were with good friends. And then, we ate there.
Our visit started a bit bumpy. We arrived at noon for brunch and were told that there was a 20 minute wait, not bad. The wait went on to 35 minutes though, and get this... there were 15 open tables.
So I of course, have to inquire. I said, "If there are 15 open tables why have we been waiting for 35 minutes." THEN the hostess begins this wacky explanation. "It's our service philosophy." She said. I said, "It's your philosophy to make people wait when they shouldn't have to? It appears that you're understaffed." The servers that were on were running around like mad for a restaurant that wasn't busy.
She then tells me that if I'd like further clarification regarding their 'philosophy' that I could talk to a manager. Since she had given me a ton of attitude, I decided to see what the manager would say.
I posed the same question and was met with a quick, "I have reservations for all of these tables." "All of them?" I asked. She said "Yes". I told her that I was glad that business was so good and that that she was still understaffed and they were in my opinion on a false wait. Just sayin'.
We were finally seated at a great table that had a tremendous water view. We then waited 10 minutes for our server to arrive and when she did she was no picnic.
We ordered a few beverages and she scampered off to get them. After quite a wait she returned with half of them. Apparently six drinks on a tray was her tipping point. We waited a bit more for the rest to arrive. It was at this time that I had ZERO confidence in our brunch being anything but just OK.
We placed our order and enjoyed the view and the company of our friends. Tick Tock... 25 minutes later our brunch arrived. Although 25 minutes doesn't sound like a long time, the restaurant was barely half full. Those "reservations" for the cast of Ben Hur never materialized.
The kid's meals, chicken fingers and a hot dog were enjoyed, but there's really not much you can do to mess up those meals. The Swiss and mushroom omelet with grits was a fan favorite. The cheeseburger that was explained to be cooked medium to medium well was over well done. The Filet Benedict was also tasty, but way past the medium temp which was ordered. Apparently the only temperature that the broil cook can muster is well done.
And then there was my sandwich. A very dead-sat-in-the-window-too-long Reuben with cold fries. I know that I often get comments that I should speak of at the time of the issue, but I felt it would really put a damper on the meal. At certain times some things are better left unsaid.
Morgan Creek Grill still remained a place with incredible views, so come for that and hope for the best with food.
Our visit started a bit bumpy. We arrived at noon for brunch and were told that there was a 20 minute wait, not bad. The wait went on to 35 minutes though, and get this... there were 15 open tables.
So I of course, have to inquire. I said, "If there are 15 open tables why have we been waiting for 35 minutes." THEN the hostess begins this wacky explanation. "It's our service philosophy." She said. I said, "It's your philosophy to make people wait when they shouldn't have to? It appears that you're understaffed." The servers that were on were running around like mad for a restaurant that wasn't busy.
She then tells me that if I'd like further clarification regarding their 'philosophy' that I could talk to a manager. Since she had given me a ton of attitude, I decided to see what the manager would say.
I posed the same question and was met with a quick, "I have reservations for all of these tables." "All of them?" I asked. She said "Yes". I told her that I was glad that business was so good and that that she was still understaffed and they were in my opinion on a false wait. Just sayin'.
We were finally seated at a great table that had a tremendous water view. We then waited 10 minutes for our server to arrive and when she did she was no picnic.
We ordered a few beverages and she scampered off to get them. After quite a wait she returned with half of them. Apparently six drinks on a tray was her tipping point. We waited a bit more for the rest to arrive. It was at this time that I had ZERO confidence in our brunch being anything but just OK.
We placed our order and enjoyed the view and the company of our friends. Tick Tock... 25 minutes later our brunch arrived. Although 25 minutes doesn't sound like a long time, the restaurant was barely half full. Those "reservations" for the cast of Ben Hur never materialized.
The kid's meals, chicken fingers and a hot dog were enjoyed, but there's really not much you can do to mess up those meals. The Swiss and mushroom omelet with grits was a fan favorite. The cheeseburger that was explained to be cooked medium to medium well was over well done. The Filet Benedict was also tasty, but way past the medium temp which was ordered. Apparently the only temperature that the broil cook can muster is well done.
And then there was my sandwich. A very dead-sat-in-the-window-too-long Reuben with cold fries. I know that I often get comments that I should speak of at the time of the issue, but I felt it would really put a damper on the meal. At certain times some things are better left unsaid.
Morgan Creek Grill still remained a place with incredible views, so come for that and hope for the best with food.
It's funny... every once and awhile a restaurant in the Low Country surprises me. Our visit to Iacofano's last night did just that and what a pleasant surprise it was.
Iaocfano's has been newly renovated, a fresh coat of paint, some new furnishings, etc. I have to say that the changes are noteworthy. We were there during restaurant week in January and unfortunately our experience wasn't a great one. The place was dated and the food just OK. Not so last night!
We noticed through their website that they were advertising a 3 for $30.00 menu to promote their new changes. We found out that this is only offered Monday through Thursday during the month of March. No problem, their menu is moderately priced and the entrees are worth the money.
We met some friends of ours for a casual Friday night dinner. I was just expecting a so-so experience but the company is always great so it really wouldn't have mattered that much.
Our server explained that this was the first night of their new menu. They're changing the menu seasonally now. We asked what he would recommend for starters. He quickly rattled off a number of things, all of which sounded interesting. We decided to take his lead and ordered the Grilled Calamari and the House Made Mozzarella as appetizers.
This part of our meal was spectacular. The House Made Mozzarella was accompanied with grilled Roma tomatoes and freshly made pesto. I have heard that a great, `fresh made mozzarella should feel as soft as "mouse ears" and this dish definitely delivered. The warm, grilled focaccia was also a delightful touch and we all tried to "sop up" the pesto with the bread that they had originally served to the table that was tremendous.
The Grilled Calamari was an interesting spin on an old favorite. The combination of grilled (not fried), calamari, pickled cherry peppers, Sicilian oregano and sweet chili threads gave this dish an incredible, subtle heat that really enhanced the dish.
Since our appetizers were such a win we decided to ask our server what he would recommend for dinner. He suggested the pork chop, the hanger steak and the local flounder. We took the bait and ordered each of these dishes.
I have to say that I can't cook a pork chop on a dare. I don't know what it is, but it is either delivered as a raw science project or a brick. So I was the one that ordered the pork chop, just to see what would happen.
Perfection is an understatement. The server mentioned that the chef recommended that it be served medium, so seeing that my history with chops is poor at best, I went with his recommendation.
Although the restaurant was fairly busy our meals were served quickly. Chef John Iacofano actually delivered our meals with a few of his team members. I was impressed. He again stopped by to see if we were enjoying our dinner, which we were.
My pork chop was fabulous - lightly seasoned, tender as can be, just wonderful. Although I'm not a big spinach fan their sautéed spinach was great. A bit of garlic and a bit of spice made the dish very enjoyable. Unfortunately the oven roasted potatoes were a tad too roasted, but tasted good nonetheless.
The guys both enjoyed their hanger steak dishes. Both dishes were cooked perfectly. The hangar steak was served over polenta which is not one of my husband's favorites. He's not a fan because it's usually either grainy or pasty. Tonight it was creamy, soft and delicate. The only issue with the dish was the rather large sautéed onion that was on the side of the polenta. It seemed out of place for the dish.
The local flounder was beautiful. Lightly battered, tender and served with a unique slaw and pea risotto - it won rave reviews.
All in our dinner was much better than we anticipated. We will definitely be back and wish them well on their new look and menu.
Iaocfano's has been newly renovated, a fresh coat of paint, some new furnishings, etc. I have to say that the changes are noteworthy. We were there during restaurant week in January and unfortunately our experience wasn't a great one. The place was dated and the food just OK. Not so last night!
We noticed through their website that they were advertising a 3 for $30.00 menu to promote their new changes. We found out that this is only offered Monday through Thursday during the month of March. No problem, their menu is moderately priced and the entrees are worth the money.
We met some friends of ours for a casual Friday night dinner. I was just expecting a so-so experience but the company is always great so it really wouldn't have mattered that much.
Our server explained that this was the first night of their new menu. They're changing the menu seasonally now. We asked what he would recommend for starters. He quickly rattled off a number of things, all of which sounded interesting. We decided to take his lead and ordered the Grilled Calamari and the House Made Mozzarella as appetizers.
This part of our meal was spectacular. The House Made Mozzarella was accompanied with grilled Roma tomatoes and freshly made pesto. I have heard that a great, `fresh made mozzarella should feel as soft as "mouse ears" and this dish definitely delivered. The warm, grilled focaccia was also a delightful touch and we all tried to "sop up" the pesto with the bread that they had originally served to the table that was tremendous.
The Grilled Calamari was an interesting spin on an old favorite. The combination of grilled (not fried), calamari, pickled cherry peppers, Sicilian oregano and sweet chili threads gave this dish an incredible, subtle heat that really enhanced the dish.
Since our appetizers were such a win we decided to ask our server what he would recommend for dinner. He suggested the pork chop, the hanger steak and the local flounder. We took the bait and ordered each of these dishes.
I have to say that I can't cook a pork chop on a dare. I don't know what it is, but it is either delivered as a raw science project or a brick. So I was the one that ordered the pork chop, just to see what would happen.
Perfection is an understatement. The server mentioned that the chef recommended that it be served medium, so seeing that my history with chops is poor at best, I went with his recommendation.
Although the restaurant was fairly busy our meals were served quickly. Chef John Iacofano actually delivered our meals with a few of his team members. I was impressed. He again stopped by to see if we were enjoying our dinner, which we were.
My pork chop was fabulous - lightly seasoned, tender as can be, just wonderful. Although I'm not a big spinach fan their sautéed spinach was great. A bit of garlic and a bit of spice made the dish very enjoyable. Unfortunately the oven roasted potatoes were a tad too roasted, but tasted good nonetheless.
The guys both enjoyed their hanger steak dishes. Both dishes were cooked perfectly. The hangar steak was served over polenta which is not one of my husband's favorites. He's not a fan because it's usually either grainy or pasty. Tonight it was creamy, soft and delicate. The only issue with the dish was the rather large sautéed onion that was on the side of the polenta. It seemed out of place for the dish.
The local flounder was beautiful. Lightly battered, tender and served with a unique slaw and pea risotto - it won rave reviews.
All in our dinner was much better than we anticipated. We will definitely be back and wish them well on their new look and menu.
Just off King Street on Cannon Street is one of Charleston's newest restaurants, The Grocery. If I am capturing this correctly The Grocery is designed to reflect grocery stores of long ago. Where people came to chat, set a spell, break bread together, share stories, food and visit. We did just that.
Joined by another couple all four of us were a tad nervous when we entered the restaurant and there were just a few tables seated. Ut-oh, we thought, this could have been a bad choice. An empty restaurant is never a good sign. Boy, were we mistaken.
I have to say that our server was one of the most knowledgeable that we've come across here in the Low Country. She had a casual, easy going style while suggesting menu items, but certainly didn't push us, which was nice. After she explained The Grocery's concept we started to review the menu to see what we would "share" at the table.
The menu is divided into "snacks", "bites", "tastes", "plates", "table", and "side" options. As you go through the options they escalate in price. We decided to choose a few things from the "snacks" ($4-$13) and "bites" ($9-$13). Our server explained that the portions would be on the small side, which good to know.
When our appetizers arrived it was nice to see that a lot of thought was put into what they would be served in. No white plate ware at this place. The plating on crocks, old fashioned coke bottles and casserole dishes did not go unnoticed. It actually was a great touch.
We were all hungry and ordered several appetizers. The Charred Onion Dip with Kettle Chips was outstanding - a great flavor, but not over powering. The homemade kettle chips were also terrific.
The Fried Oysters were also a plus. Placed back in their shells with a spicy deviled egg sauce and topped with sweet house made pickles was a great compliment. The 'Piggy Plate' though, stole the show.
On a small 'pig shaped' cutting board arrived some of the best items of the evening. House made 'City Ham', pork cheeks, mortadella, and pates along with sweet and sour pickles, pickled radishes, crostini and hearty grain mustard were to die for. This is an item I would highly recommend since we almost fought over the last pieces.
Unfortunately the 'Crispy Pimento Cheese' was overcooked, small cheese balls that were mostly breading and not-much cheese. I would pass on this bite. They had zero flavor at best.
Our entrees were selected from the "tastes" section of the menu. Again the presentation was impressive. I had the Pappardelle, Pancetta, Parsley and Poached Egg dish which was served in a small crock like dish and looked beautiful.
For some reason I thought that the egg would be incorporated into the dish but it wasn't and it sat on top of the pasta. Our server told us that it was "their take on a carbonara" and to mix the egg into the pasta. Being not my cup of tea I passed on this option. Although flavorful the dish was over seasoned with pepper and the pasta was overcooked.
The Tile Fish special dish of the evening was perfectly cooked and served with brussel sprouts. Although the server informed us that the "tastes" section of the menu would be "about 4 ounces" that's a lot smaller than you'd think. Our entrees, though tasty, were also tiny for the price.
The Beef Short Ribs were fall-off-the bone tender, though miniscule. The bone marrow served on the side did not receive any positive reviews, but that's just a matter of personal taste.
Lastly, the 'suggestion' of Lamb Shoulder with Chick Peas and Sautéed Greens was flavorful, but again, very small (mostly shoulder and not a lot of lamb). There was also a piece of house made sausage on the plate that was very good, but didn't seem to be a good match for the dish.
I guess you could say that about all of our dishes. The accompanying items to our entrees made us wonder how they "fit" with the main items on the plate. Not that they didn't taste good, they just didn't seem to fit with the entrees.
We also shared a Cauliflower Casserole and Roasted Root Vegetables as side dishes that were ample for the table - pricey, but ample ($8.00 each).
All in all I liked The Grocery a bunch. I do, however feel that their "Tastes" section of the menu are overpriced. The Tile Fish special was smaller than a deck of cards and my pasta was about of a cup. My advice would be to stick with the "Snacks" and "Bites".
BTW our concerns when we first arrived and the restaurant was empty were quickly squashed. By the time we left the restaurant was packed and on a wait list. Add The Grocery to your list of restaurants to try!!
Joined by another couple all four of us were a tad nervous when we entered the restaurant and there were just a few tables seated. Ut-oh, we thought, this could have been a bad choice. An empty restaurant is never a good sign. Boy, were we mistaken.
I have to say that our server was one of the most knowledgeable that we've come across here in the Low Country. She had a casual, easy going style while suggesting menu items, but certainly didn't push us, which was nice. After she explained The Grocery's concept we started to review the menu to see what we would "share" at the table.
The menu is divided into "snacks", "bites", "tastes", "plates", "table", and "side" options. As you go through the options they escalate in price. We decided to choose a few things from the "snacks" ($4-$13) and "bites" ($9-$13). Our server explained that the portions would be on the small side, which good to know.
When our appetizers arrived it was nice to see that a lot of thought was put into what they would be served in. No white plate ware at this place. The plating on crocks, old fashioned coke bottles and casserole dishes did not go unnoticed. It actually was a great touch.
We were all hungry and ordered several appetizers. The Charred Onion Dip with Kettle Chips was outstanding - a great flavor, but not over powering. The homemade kettle chips were also terrific.
The Fried Oysters were also a plus. Placed back in their shells with a spicy deviled egg sauce and topped with sweet house made pickles was a great compliment. The 'Piggy Plate' though, stole the show.
On a small 'pig shaped' cutting board arrived some of the best items of the evening. House made 'City Ham', pork cheeks, mortadella, and pates along with sweet and sour pickles, pickled radishes, crostini and hearty grain mustard were to die for. This is an item I would highly recommend since we almost fought over the last pieces.
Unfortunately the 'Crispy Pimento Cheese' was overcooked, small cheese balls that were mostly breading and not-much cheese. I would pass on this bite. They had zero flavor at best.
Our entrees were selected from the "tastes" section of the menu. Again the presentation was impressive. I had the Pappardelle, Pancetta, Parsley and Poached Egg dish which was served in a small crock like dish and looked beautiful.
For some reason I thought that the egg would be incorporated into the dish but it wasn't and it sat on top of the pasta. Our server told us that it was "their take on a carbonara" and to mix the egg into the pasta. Being not my cup of tea I passed on this option. Although flavorful the dish was over seasoned with pepper and the pasta was overcooked.
The Tile Fish special dish of the evening was perfectly cooked and served with brussel sprouts. Although the server informed us that the "tastes" section of the menu would be "about 4 ounces" that's a lot smaller than you'd think. Our entrees, though tasty, were also tiny for the price.
The Beef Short Ribs were fall-off-the bone tender, though miniscule. The bone marrow served on the side did not receive any positive reviews, but that's just a matter of personal taste.
Lastly, the 'suggestion' of Lamb Shoulder with Chick Peas and Sautéed Greens was flavorful, but again, very small (mostly shoulder and not a lot of lamb). There was also a piece of house made sausage on the plate that was very good, but didn't seem to be a good match for the dish.
I guess you could say that about all of our dishes. The accompanying items to our entrees made us wonder how they "fit" with the main items on the plate. Not that they didn't taste good, they just didn't seem to fit with the entrees.
We also shared a Cauliflower Casserole and Roasted Root Vegetables as side dishes that were ample for the table - pricey, but ample ($8.00 each).
All in all I liked The Grocery a bunch. I do, however feel that their "Tastes" section of the menu are overpriced. The Tile Fish special was smaller than a deck of cards and my pasta was about of a cup. My advice would be to stick with the "Snacks" and "Bites".
BTW our concerns when we first arrived and the restaurant was empty were quickly squashed. By the time we left the restaurant was packed and on a wait list. Add The Grocery to your list of restaurants to try!!
5070 International Blvd
North Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 747-4949
North Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 747-4949
Big Billys Burger Joint
Category:
Burgers
From the owners of the Noisy Oyster comes their newest concept, Big Billy's Burger Joint in N. Charleston near the Tanger Outlets. Unfortunately, I found it disappointing. It's not like we didn't give it a try, this is our 3rd time here. I just didn't write about the other two thinking they were new and had to work the kinks out. Now, not so new, many kinks remain.
When you enter the restaurant the first thing you see is an incredibly large tiki hut that graces the entire center of the building. The theme here is 'margaritaville' and Jimmy Buffet's music is the mainstay. But hey, can you ever hear too much of 'Wasted Away in Margaritaville?' The answer is yes.
There were very few patrons either at the table or bar area and our service was swift. We decided to start with the Baked Jalapeno Cheese Dip as we looked through the menu.
Billy's is not a fancy place and the menu is simple. Sandwiches, Salads, Wraps, all of the usual suspects dot the pages. There is a "build your own" burger, chicken sandwich and salad section that caught our eye and we quickly placed our order for a chicken sandwich and a burger.
Our dip took quite some time to arrive and when it did it was burnt. From the picture you can see that I'm not exaggerating. So here's what I don't understand. The line cook takes it out of the broiler, sees that it's burnt and sets it in the window. The manager, who is also expediting, sees that it's burnt and hands it off to our server, who also sees that it's burnt and brings it to our table. Really? We sent it back for a second try. The second one was better and pretty tasty. But returning it made our lunch a disaster.
We sat and watched our lunch dying in the window as our appetizer was served. Again the manager pulled our lunch items, cold as they were, handed them to a server and they were sent out to our table just a couple minutes after our appetizer (round 2) was served. Since they were DOA when they hit the table, we sent these back as well.
In a restaurant that seems like it has such a simple formula - burgers, fries, salads, etc., how does is go so wrong so quickly? Apathy perhaps... it's really hard to say.
When our lunch (round 2) finally did arrive (we probably had been at the restaurant for close to an hour by now), it was actually okay. Not great by any stretch, but okay. My husband's burger was close to mooing, it was so rare and it had been ordered medium. My chicken sandwich was AOK and the tater tots that accompanied it were perfect.
Billy's serves their side items, fries, tots, etc., in mini fry baskets which is really a cute touch. But if you're a place that's supposed to be all about burgers for goodness sake, at least get those right. This is one place that I'll be skipping in the future.
When you enter the restaurant the first thing you see is an incredibly large tiki hut that graces the entire center of the building. The theme here is 'margaritaville' and Jimmy Buffet's music is the mainstay. But hey, can you ever hear too much of 'Wasted Away in Margaritaville?' The answer is yes.
There were very few patrons either at the table or bar area and our service was swift. We decided to start with the Baked Jalapeno Cheese Dip as we looked through the menu.
Billy's is not a fancy place and the menu is simple. Sandwiches, Salads, Wraps, all of the usual suspects dot the pages. There is a "build your own" burger, chicken sandwich and salad section that caught our eye and we quickly placed our order for a chicken sandwich and a burger.
Our dip took quite some time to arrive and when it did it was burnt. From the picture you can see that I'm not exaggerating. So here's what I don't understand. The line cook takes it out of the broiler, sees that it's burnt and sets it in the window. The manager, who is also expediting, sees that it's burnt and hands it off to our server, who also sees that it's burnt and brings it to our table. Really? We sent it back for a second try. The second one was better and pretty tasty. But returning it made our lunch a disaster.
We sat and watched our lunch dying in the window as our appetizer was served. Again the manager pulled our lunch items, cold as they were, handed them to a server and they were sent out to our table just a couple minutes after our appetizer (round 2) was served. Since they were DOA when they hit the table, we sent these back as well.
In a restaurant that seems like it has such a simple formula - burgers, fries, salads, etc., how does is go so wrong so quickly? Apathy perhaps... it's really hard to say.
When our lunch (round 2) finally did arrive (we probably had been at the restaurant for close to an hour by now), it was actually okay. Not great by any stretch, but okay. My husband's burger was close to mooing, it was so rare and it had been ordered medium. My chicken sandwich was AOK and the tater tots that accompanied it were perfect.
Billy's serves their side items, fries, tots, etc., in mini fry baskets which is really a cute touch. But if you're a place that's supposed to be all about burgers for goodness sake, at least get those right. This is one place that I'll be skipping in the future.
Venture off the beaten path of the highly trafficked Charleston tourist crowd, turn on to 98 Broad Street and you will discover a local restaurant staple that has been doing business here for well over 25 years.
Gaulart & Maliclet, known to locals as "Fast and French" is simply charming. It's a small shot gun space that has bar and very limited high top seating. If there is a space to be had there is a chair and some sort of make shift seating in place. If you're looking for something roomy, this is not the place!
We arrived on a damp and dreary day for lunch. Although I didn't know what to expect I did know that friends of ours actually met at the restaurant while having lunch and were married a few months later. How romantic is that?
We were quickly seated in the back of the restaurant and perused the menu. For a tiny, tiny place the menu is extensive. Lunch specials, soups, salads, lunch plates, vegetarian options... you have quite the selection.
Our server stopped by quickly to see if we were ready to order and we actually needed a few minutes to decide. It was the only time that we would have expeditious service as our service became spotty at best. Be that as it may, we were ready to place our order.
My husband chose a simple Croissant with Turkey and Brie. It was to be served with your choice of soup or salad. They offered two cold and three hot soup options and he landed on the lentil soup. I choose the O'Rye which was toasted Canadian rye bread, pate, blue cheese and your choice of soup or salad. Wouldn't you know it, the day I order this they are out of blue cheese.
The server suggested that I either get two pates or a sampling of Morbier Cheese which she described as "stinky cheese". It's actually known as the funny French cheese with a black streak running through it. It sounded interesting, but I opted for the pates.
The kitchen is on their game here and our lunch arrived in no time. Service is scant though as we never saw our server again except to bring us our check.
Lunch was good but not what was ordered. My husband received a ham and cheese croissant, albeit tasty, not what he ordered. We weren't able to get mustard, etc. to add to the sandwich because our server remained MIA. This was disappointing.
My lunch was good but the Roquefort dressing was thin and watery and not very flavorful, which surprised me. The pate however was outstanding and quickly snapped up. I did finally flag down a server and asked for an additional side of Morbier cheese. It was served with 3 slices of French bread and it did not disappoint in its' taste or aroma.
The checkout process can be a bit laborious. Your check is taken to the cashier at the front of the restaurant. It took us as long to get our lunch as it did to cash out our bill. This was a bit of a drag after a nice lunch.
All in all, I'd recommend Gaulart & Maliclet. I'm interested in trying their dinner offerings and will be sure to go back there soon.
Gaulart & Maliclet, known to locals as "Fast and French" is simply charming. It's a small shot gun space that has bar and very limited high top seating. If there is a space to be had there is a chair and some sort of make shift seating in place. If you're looking for something roomy, this is not the place!
We arrived on a damp and dreary day for lunch. Although I didn't know what to expect I did know that friends of ours actually met at the restaurant while having lunch and were married a few months later. How romantic is that?
We were quickly seated in the back of the restaurant and perused the menu. For a tiny, tiny place the menu is extensive. Lunch specials, soups, salads, lunch plates, vegetarian options... you have quite the selection.
Our server stopped by quickly to see if we were ready to order and we actually needed a few minutes to decide. It was the only time that we would have expeditious service as our service became spotty at best. Be that as it may, we were ready to place our order.
My husband chose a simple Croissant with Turkey and Brie. It was to be served with your choice of soup or salad. They offered two cold and three hot soup options and he landed on the lentil soup. I choose the O'Rye which was toasted Canadian rye bread, pate, blue cheese and your choice of soup or salad. Wouldn't you know it, the day I order this they are out of blue cheese.
The server suggested that I either get two pates or a sampling of Morbier Cheese which she described as "stinky cheese". It's actually known as the funny French cheese with a black streak running through it. It sounded interesting, but I opted for the pates.
The kitchen is on their game here and our lunch arrived in no time. Service is scant though as we never saw our server again except to bring us our check.
Lunch was good but not what was ordered. My husband received a ham and cheese croissant, albeit tasty, not what he ordered. We weren't able to get mustard, etc. to add to the sandwich because our server remained MIA. This was disappointing.
My lunch was good but the Roquefort dressing was thin and watery and not very flavorful, which surprised me. The pate however was outstanding and quickly snapped up. I did finally flag down a server and asked for an additional side of Morbier cheese. It was served with 3 slices of French bread and it did not disappoint in its' taste or aroma.
The checkout process can be a bit laborious. Your check is taken to the cashier at the front of the restaurant. It took us as long to get our lunch as it did to cash out our bill. This was a bit of a drag after a nice lunch.
All in all, I'd recommend Gaulart & Maliclet. I'm interested in trying their dinner offerings and will be sure to go back there soon.
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Nestled in the sleepy Elliotsborough neighborhood is Trattoria Luca. So nestled that if you didn't know if was there you would pass it. We went with friends whose husband is a native Charlestonian and he didn't even know where it was. Parking is a bit challenging since it's mostly residential, but with a bit of patience we found a spot.
The menu at Trattoria Luca changes quite frequently to utilize all of the many local and in-season products that the chef chooses. Many of items on the menu that we saw on-line were not being offered that evening. No worries, this menu was even better than the one we looked at!
They offer three varieties of appetizers - "Verdure" which was their small plates of vegetables, "Formaggi", cheese and "Salumi", meats. You have the option of Uno (1), Piccolo (3) or Grande (5). Depending on the selection of items, each of these varies in price.
We selected the Wild Boar Salami, Dried Fig with Sheep and Cow Lombardy and The Warm Cauliflower Sformatino. I had no idea what a Sformatino was, let alone pronounce it, but I was up for the adventure. Our server told us that the dish would take a little longer to cook. No problem since before us was brought freshly in-house made bread and an incredible white bean dip. It was a slice of heaven.
Our friends selected a vegetable medley. Verdicchio Braised Foraged Mushrooms, Local Spring Asparagus and Golden Beets.
As we chatted at the table it was mentioned that Chef Ken Verdinski used to be the Executive Chef at The Woodlands. It was under his tenure that they were awarded the prestigious "5 Star" rating, the only 5 star rating awarded in the Low Country. Without previously knowing it, we were about to enjoy a culinary masterpiece.
First, I'd like to say that the food presentation is second to none. As Steven Tyler says on American Idol, "It was beautiful". Different shaped white plates arrived and we quickly dug in to our appetizers.
The cauliflower dish was indescribable. Although it mentioned a Soft, Farm Egg in its description, I thought it was part of the recipe, but it wasn't. As you cut into this warmed, soufflé-like dish a small amount of egg yolk oozed out making this dish simply, a fantasy.
The Wild Boar Salami was cut paper thin and served with dried figs, cheese and Melba toast. Each item complimented one another and they were quite tasty.
The vegetable items that our friends ordered were equally impressive. The Golden Beet dish was not only beautiful but the beets and the side of pickled garlic, tangerine, smoked ricotta and walnuts went perfectly together.
The Foraged Mushrooms and the Local Spring Asparagus were also items that we enjoyed and chatted about. Could dinner be this good?
Yes.
I don't know even where to begin with these items... The Ricotta Gnudi (all pasta is made in house), with Homemade "Duck" Italian Sausage, "Nona Volpe's Tomato Sugo" was melt-in-your mouth tender, unlike any I've ever had. Although we were all trying to sample each of the dishes my husband was hard pressed to give any of this up!
My Scallopini of Naturally Raised Veal, Trumpet Mushrooms, Roasted Cauliflower "Agro Dolce" was the by far the best veal I have ever tasted. This was no-knife-needed veal that melted once it left the fork. I realized after my first bite why my husband was holding back on the gnudi.
Both of our friend's pasta dishes - Bucatini, Flash Seared North Carolina Calico Scallops, Herb Brodo and the Pacheri with Crushed Local Broccoli, Pine Nuts, Ragusano, Olio Verde were music to our mouths. Not only creative, colorful, but very flavorful to boot!
I feel like I'm running out of adjectives, but it was really that good. So good, that we decided to sample two desserts - Tiramisu and a Kitkat 3 - 3 hazelnut samplings.
Even though I have to admit that I was full from dinner, I'm glad we ordered them. The dessert samplings were (thankfully), small but huge on flavor. The Tiramisu was like a very light pillow from heaven. All of the hazelnut delights were just that, delightful.
No question, a huge, hidden gem. They also offer a family-style "Monday