Restaurant Report Cards

Tapas, Bloomfield, CT, November 2009

2009-11-16T15:37:00.002-05:00

Food: C-
Service: C-

Amy and Joanne write:

My husband Chris loves Middle Eastern food and introduced me to Tapas, via the West Hartford location, years ago. We don’t go often, but whenever we have gone, it has been a very good experience. He’ll get a gyro, I’ll get something off the blackboard specials, and we’ll enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere. When I found out that Joanne has never been to Tapas, I was surprised. Shortly thereafter, we decided to have an early dinner at the Bloomfield location.

When we arrived, there were no customers in the dining room, so we decided to sit at the bar. A bartender helped us choose from a selection of special drinks and martinis and ended her shift shortly after she served us said drinks. The next bartender set up a chafing dish of “Madd Greek” wings, and served them up, on the house, to the customers at the bar. The sauce was sweet and spicy at the same time and was a nice change from the ubiquitous buffalo sauce. We also received a complimentary bowl of their home made kettle chips. These free treats were a nice surprise and a good start to our visit. We thought we would finish the appetizer portion of our meal with stuffed clams. There were two on the plate, and they were moist, flavorful and full of diced clams that were tender, unlike the rubber-band clams and dry stuffing that all too easy to get in New England restaurant.

Amy wanted to wait to see the dinner specials before ordering, but I knew before we even got there what I wanted to order. I fell in love with Middle Eastern food while living in Boston and don’t have it often—not nearly often enough—these days. Falafel is not common, but it is one of my all time favorite foods so I chose to have the falafel sandwich. The “hand helds” all had a platter option (Greek salad and rice pilaf), but I wasn’t interested in rice pilaf, so I asked for a salad without the rice. It was a matter of time until I feasted on one of my favorite foods.

The salad came and was delicious, as Amy promised--mixed greens, crumbled feta, onion, olives, tomatoes and pepperoncinis with just that right amount of an herby vinaigrette. It was also huge, and could have been a meal on its own, but I stopped myself after a few bites to save room for falafel.

The falafel sandwich came in a huge pita, which I discovered was stuffed mostly with iceburg lettuce and three falafel balls dressed sparingly with tahini. I removed a falafel to savor the moment…and was disappointed. What should have been crisp on the outside and cakey and moist on the inside was burnt on the outside and pasty on the inside. And it had a strangely tangy taste that masked the garlic and chick pea flavor that should have come through. I should have eaten more salad.

Nothing really excited me on the special menu, which was a let-down after waiting for it to appear. I ended up going with the chicken kebob dinner, two grilled skewers of marinated chicken served over rice with toasted pita points and tzatziki (a cucumber-based creamy sauce). Knowing how much I love their salad dressing (in fact, Tapas is famous for it around here), I also ordered a dinner salad. But, between that and the apps, I was close to full. And it was a good thing, too. The kebob platter was average. The chicken was pretty dry, as was the rice. The tzatziki had only a hint of cucumber taste, and the rest of the plate was filled with six (six!) pita points. Who needs that much bread? This was not the Tapas I was used to.

When we alerted the bartender that we had a dininghalfoff.com coupon when we asked for our check, he seemed inconvenienced. And when I questioned being charged 4.00 for a platter—since I didn’t have rice—plus another 1.00 for the salad, he treated me like I was stupid. I did have the platter, he assured me, by having a large salad (which I didn't ask for). He said I got for 5.00 what is on the menu for six. Trouble is the menu didn’t say “No rice? Sub fries or supersize your salad.” It simply said “No rice? Sub fries or a Greek salad for 1.00.”

Needles to say, dinner—like my falafel—ended on a sour note. What started off as fun and tasty ended less than satisfying. It was not the Tapas Amy was used to, and not one either of us would return to.

Max Burger, West Hartford, CT, October 2009

2009-10-23T15:06:00.003-04:00

Food: A-
Service: B+

Joanne and Amy write:

Amy and I have been meaning to go to Max Burger since it opened. Fans of all the Max restaurants, and unabashed burger lovers, it really was a must try for us. We missed our opportunity to go for lunch this summer, but committed to a date and decided to go right after school, as late lunch/early dinner—daring to dine in that time Amy and I sometimes feel is The Dead Zone, when you can’t signal a server to save your life.

I had heard rave reviews from fellow burger buffs and had been on line a dozen times to view the menu (three the day we were going) but still had trouble deciding. In the end I chose to begin with a Max salad and build my own burger, modifying the 5-ounce Max Classic.

The Max salad was a simple, fresh and crisp start to my meal. Mixed greens, halved grape tomatoes, Bermuda onion, cucumbers and radishes were delivered cold, on a chilled plate, with blue cheese dressing on the side. The dressing was creamy without being overly thick, and tasted of blue cheese, but not overly pungent. There were chopped scallions in the dressing that gave a nice flavor as well.

I kept wavering between burger selections, but finally decided on the Alfred, an 8-ounce burger with Comte cheese, caramelized onions, and rosemary aioli served on an artisan roll. Since it was a larger burger, I chose not to get a starter. The burger was thick and juicy, with well-seasoned, tasty ground meat cooked to medium as requested. The creamy cheese melted into the burger and along with the onions gave it a nice sweetness that the herby aioli counterbalanced. Unfortunately, the roll was very light and airy, and while I think it would be great alongside a bowl of soup, it wasn’t sturdy enough to handle the burger and its juices; it fell apart on the first bite. I enjoyed the crisp, hand-cut fries with ketchup and with the garlic aioli that was served with them.

The menu lists allowable substitutions for $1.50. In addition, it lists toppings and cheeses available for $1.00. My classic burger came—as requested—with the addition of bacon, mayonnaise on the side, and arugula instead of lettuce. I declined on the Max sauce, which was described as a spicy, chipotle mayonnaise, but our server was kind enough to offer it on the side and, though both Amy and I thought it lacked the kick it should have, we found it just as tasty as the aioli for dipping the fries. My burger was cooked a perfect medium and the flavor did not disappoint. It was a combination of my favorite sandwich—bacon, arugula and tomato—and a burger and just what my taste buds expected it to be. I would have preferred hot bacon over room temperature and a better bun. Though more substantial than Amy’s artisan roll, the standard supermarket bun was a disappointment. A ciabatta roll would have elevated the burger from delicious to exceptional.

The Cabrini Malbec, an Argentinean red, was berry-forward and complimented the burger nicely. The $6 per glass price made it a good value as well. For dessert, we had to try the whoopie pies, which came two to an order and were perfectly sized for our almost-full stomachs. The cake wasn’t overly dry, just dry enough to hold up the frosting, which was creamy and sugary. Other nostalgic offerings on the dessert menu include milkshakes, brownies and hot fudge sundaes.

Despite the overkill on the cow motif (no pun intended) throughout the restaurant and what we would consider weak buns for such delicious burgers, we would both return. Neither of us tackled the Fatty Melt (a burger sandwiched between two grilled cheeses) and it calls from the menu like a challenge. Meanwhile, the special of the day was a scallop dish that, had we not been there specifically to sample their burgers, we would have been interested in trying. Our service was good but it took some time, and appearance of other patrons to be seated, before our server was more visible and available.

That being said, we might not travel long distances or make pilgrimages for their burgers, but Max Burger does pass the Max Restaurant Group test and makes its way onto our list of restaurants we’d recommend.

Sakura Garden, South Windsor, CT, October 2009

2009-10-19T15:01:00.003-04:00

Food: B
Service: A-

Amy and Joanne write:

My husband loves sushi, so I often find myself at Japanese restaurants noshing on a bunch of appetizers – a Japanese version of dim sum. One of the places we’ve visited is Sakura Garden, where Chris enjoyed a humongous sushi/sashimi platter and I, uncharacteristically not hungry, only had the chicken tempura app with some white rice. That tempura, however, was delicious. I had that delicious tempura in mind when Joanne suggested Sakura Garden for our latest outing.

We decided to make it an early dinner and take advantage of Sakura’s great Happy Hour menu, on which soups, salads, hot appetizers, maki and hand rolls, well drinks, beer and wine all range from $2 to $4. It appeared this could be our cheapest outing yet.

We started with the tempura, which was as I remembered it. It had good structure – it was well-battered, but fried lightly enough to make it good and crispy out the outside with tender, juicy chicken inside.

We were off to a tasty—and free—start, as I had a coupon for a free tempura. Now it was time to work our way through the rest of the appetizers. I had looked at the menu while waiting for Amy, and decided that everything in the appetizer column, except for the edamame and the miso eggplant, appealed to me that afternoon. She agreed, so once the tempura came out, we worked our way down the list.

We loved the gyoza (pan fried dumplings) as much as the tempura. They were the perfect contrast of textures--tender inside with a nice crispness to the dumpling. The sesame ginger dipping sauce went very well with these. The haru maki (deep fried spring rolls) were also good, although we would have preferred them crispier and the peanut sauce that accompanied them, while tasty, was a bit thin. The yakitori, (chicken skewers) were tasty and tender, served with teriyaki for dipping.

All of these appetizers we would order again; the one big disappointment was the shrimp shumai. These were steamed to the point of sogginess and the consistency was quite mushy. As for the flavor, rather than fresh shrimp, all we could taste was fish. Fishy fish. A few of these remained on the plate.

Because this was Happy Hour, we were seated at the bar, of course, and always within eyeshot of our server, who was attentive and prompt. Toward the end of our appetizer sampling, we were offered a complimentary sake tasting—a nice, and unexpected, touch that brought our meal to a satisfactory close. We were full, we felt taken care of, and it didn’t break the bank. This was one of our least expensive excursions to date and a place to which we would both return—even on a tight budget.

Wood N Tap, Vernon, CT, September 2009

2009-09-14T14:49:00.002-04:00

Food: C-
Service: D+

Joanne and Amy write:

A new Wood N Tap opened in Vernon last year, and although we have both been to other locations, Amy and I put it on our list of places to try. The other night it was a convenient place for us to meet, so we did.

We were both ravenous, having eaten our school lunch at 10, so we ordered an appetizer to share while we made up our minds. We agreed on the fried mozzarella. Three large triangles of breaded fried cheese were delivered with a splash of marinara, garnished with unnecessary shredded mozzarella that took away from both the presentation and the taste. After we scraped off the shredded cheese, this was a tasty accompaniment to our red wine.

I tried their steakhouse salad and was disappointed. It sounded so good on the menu—“a blend of chopped greens with candied walnuts, crumbled bleu cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped egg, roasted red peppers, carrots and bacon tossed in a bleu cheese vinaigrette, topped with bourbon marinated sliced steak and frizzled onions.” It was delivered by a server other than the one who took our order, and unfortunately, when it was presented, the first thing I noticed was that the steak, which I ordered medium, was raw. And because it’s marinated, it looked bruised and raw. It distracted me from wanting to eat the rest, and it took several minutes until our “real” server passed and we could flag her down to send it back.

When it came back, it was no less disappointing. The frizzled onions were soggy at that point, and the salad was overdressed and limp. I’m not sure there were any roasted peppers, or if there were, they were clearly unremarkable. Overall the salad looked like soggy leftover bits from the crisper, rather than a crisp, fresh salad cut into bite size pieces. Our server never did a second check-back, and when she finally came to pick up our dirty dishes, she didn’t comment on the mostly uneaten salad other than to ask if I wanted it wrapped, which I certainly did not.

I was starving and decided to go with the half-rack of barbecue ribs that came with French fries and cole slaw. The ribs were falling off the bone, tender and well-seasoned, and the portion was a good size. I really liked the sweetness of “Uncle Fred’s secret sauce” because it paired well with the smokiness of the meat. The cole slaw was crunchy and creamy at the same time, and although I’m not a big slaw fan, I could see the appeal. Too bad that the fries were tasteless and limp, and therefore most ended up left on the plate.

After a very long wait with dirty plates, our server asked if we wanted dessert. She couldn’t find a dessert menu, so rattled off the four choices, highlighting the fact that all four are made in-house. We decided on the apple cobbler, it being early fall and all. What we got, however, was an unappetizing, unrecognizable mess. There was a large square of so-called cobbler completely covered in chopped nuts, way too much caramel and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. One bite revealed that that wasn’t just all we could see, it was all we could taste. The caramel and nuts overpowered any bits of apple or the topping usually found on a cobbler, and after only a couple of bites, we gave up. Then we sat for over fifteen minutes, again with dirty plates, waiting for our check.

The poor service shaded our meal. That is, if we had a great server who was apologetic about the salad, even just attentive, we might be willing to give Vernon’s Wood N Tap another try with a mental note to skip the sticky dessert. But even though Amy’s ribs were a hit, my salad was a miss on several points. And the service missing to make up for it.

Vito's By the Park, Hartford, CT July 2009

2009-07-26T10:23:00.006-04:00

Food: C+
Service: B

Joanne and Amy write:

Amy and I penciled in a couple of RRC dates at the end of the school year. We didn't want to go the summer without seeing each other or without a review, and we thought we might try another Italian restaurant, so we settled on Vito's by the Park. Here I admit I had an ulterior motive--1000 points for a Monday night reservation on OpenTable.

I have been to Vito's multiple times, but mainly for cocktails and happy hour. Years ago I remember a great experience with lobster ravioli, as well as other appetizers, but couldn't remember the last time I sat down for dinner there. Clearly, it was time.

I too had been to Vito’s a few times, a couple times for dinner, a couple times for happy hour, but it has been a while. I was happy to walk in and see Joanne already at the bar, which was offering complementary pizza to its guests. We had a drink at the bar, but saved our appetites for the meal.

It wasn’t a particularly busy night, and we were able to choose a seat by the open French doors with a cool breeze and view of nearby Bushnell Park. We chose to share a bottle of the decent but not spectacular, specially-made-for-Vito’s Cabernet sauvignon, and perused the menu. I was in a seafood mood, and decided on the vongole oreganata to start, followed by the lobster ravioli entrée.

There were four clams to the vongole oreganto appetizer plate, and they were tender, cooked well in their own juices, and topped with a spicy breadcrumb mix and finely chopped bacon. I’m a big clams casino lover, and these being so similar, I enjoyed them very much with a few squirts of lemon. I declined Joanne’s invitation to try her lobster ravioli, and instead helped myself to the bread basket as we waited for entrees.

I went with what I remembered being good and ordered the lobster ravioli appetizer. It was as I remember, but this time (years of dining out and palate development later) I thought the ample vodka crème sauce competed with the lobster ravioli—and won. I kept thinking the rich sauce with a sundried tomato depth could have been the star, served with penne as a stand alone dish, or perhaps with a few shrimp or some chicken. It was richer than it needed to be with lobster ravioli, and obscured the flavor of the ravioli filling. That being said, I enjoyed them still, and ate them all since Amy was getting an entrée portion and refused my offer to share. Lucky me, I also tasted a one of her clams and agree that they were tender and delicious.

For my entrée I debated between the Bolognese and shrimp scampi and ultimately chose to stay with a seafood theme (and against what Amy said harkens a cold fall night). The shallow bowl had a perfect portion of pasta and shrimp, with an interesting addition of capers. As I prepared to eat it, it seemed a bit soupy, and every bite of fettuccine that sloshed through the broth as I twirled it around my fork left me looking for the flavor of garlic. Maybe it was in the shrimp? No. Not there either. Not even in the thin broth left on the bottom of the bowl in which I did find a couple of garlic slices. Alas my shrimp scampi was bland, and disappointing, and left me wishing I had tried the Bolognese.

I had an idea of what was coming with the lobster ravioli since Joanne had it for her appetizer, but the menu described the entrée as being accompanied by asparagus spears and topped with lobster meat. Several asparagus spears were present, but they were slightly overcooked, with no “snap.” More disappointing was the minute amount of lobster found inside the ravioli, and on top, I only found a bit of knuckle meat so drenched in the sauce that I mistook it for a chunk of tomato. I loved the vodka cream sauce that the ravioli came in, but—as with Joanne’s appetizer portion—there was so much of it that it overpowered any chance of tasting any lobster that might have been there.

It was difficult to choose a dessert, but the New York-style cheesecake with fresh berry compote was one we could both agree on. It was everything it promised to be – smooth, creamy, and not too dense cheesecake on a thin graham cracker crust. The berry topping was the perfect blend of sweet and tart, and the entire thing paired well with our ice-cold limoncellos.

Overall, the service was good on this not-very-busy night, but we were both disappointed with our pasta dishes, something that should be basic fare in an Italian restaurant. In the future, we would probably consider Vito’s for happy hour, but no more.

J. Gilbert's Wood Fired Steaks, Glastonbury, CT June 2009

2009-06-09T19:59:00.003-04:00

Food: A+
Service: A-

Amy and Joanne write:

Joanne and I had planned some time ago to make J. Gilbert’s Wood Fired Steaks an RRC destination. We finally had the opportunity last night, as an end-of-the-school-year splurge. My husband and I have been many times, and we have never had a bad experience. The food is consistently great, I dare say outstanding, and the service is spot on. In fact, both have won several local “best of” awards.

I arrived first to this bustling and busy steak house and had a chance to peruse the menu while waiting for Amy. (Not that I hadn’t looked online!) In that time our server also brought me a sample of Malbec I was interested in trying. Satisfied, I ordered a glass, which was delivered just as Amy joined me.

I also ordered a glass of wine, choosing the J. Lohr cabernet. Since we were going “all out,” we decided to begin with a shared appetizer before moving on to our own meals. We chose the Shrimp Durango. Six large shrimp arrived, arranged like a sunburst around a heap of sauteed Roma tomatoes, spinach and basil. A sprinkling of shredded parmesan gave it bite. Below the shrimp was a puddle of orange-red ancho chili butter that added a subtle but pleasant heat to the freshness of the dish. I had no problem dipping my slice of sourdough into that sauce! It was a great start.

Next I moved on a Caesar salad, for which I requested no anchovies. A generous portion of romaine was presented with a parmesan crisp. The dressing’s first flavor to hit my taste buds was lemon, followed by Dijon mustard. I enjoyed this mild Caesar dressing that left me ready for dinner.

I tasted Joanne’s Caesar as well as the parmesan crisp. I liked both, but I’m not a big salad person, so I ordered the crab bisque. The bisque was presented in a large shallow bowl topped with lump crabmeat and a garnish of chives. A bit of fresh cracked pepper was all that was needed. Creamy and velvety, the bisque was both warming and satisfying. I could have eaten several bowls, but not with an entrée on the way.

When dinner arrived I was glad I limited myself to 2 shrimp and a salad, as I had every intention of eating every morsel of the 4-ounce petit filet and 4-oz scallop combination dinner I ordered, served with asparagus and chipotle cheddar mashed potatoes. While I enjoyed the asparagus and tasty potatoes, I focused on the protein. The scallops were outstanding. Cooked perfectly, soft and sweet with a balsamic glaze. For an extra 1.95 I asked that my petit filet be prepared au poivre. It was perfect. The sauce worked on this oh-so-tender filet that was cooked to a perfect medium.

Between the shrimp and the bisque, I had my fill of seafood and was glad I ordered just a steak, in particular, the six-ounce filet au poivre with the chipotle cheddar mashed and haricot verts. The filet was perfectly cooked and nicely coated with cracked and whole peppercorns. The cream and brandy sauce made the fork-tender mesquite-grilled filet taste extra special. The green beans were crisp while the potatoes were smooth and flavorful. I ate half of everything and packed the rest, which reheated well to make a nice lunch for the next day.

As full as we both were, we had to have dessert, in particular, their almond tuiles cannoli. Rich chocolate mousse filled a crisp almond cookie shell which rested over raspberry sauce and crème anglaise. A mix of sweet berries prettied up the plate as well as our palates.

Overall it was exceptional. Our server paced our dinner well, which was important for a multi-course meal. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and checked in appropriately to refill water and wine. With a variety of steakhouses in the area from which to choose, J. Gilbert’s is a great value. Think Capital Grille but less pricy and austere or Max Downtown but more homey and with more customers. The food and service will make future visits to J. Gilbert’s an inevitability.

Pancho Loco's, Vernon, CT May 2009

2009-05-22T16:25:00.007-04:00

Food: B+
Service: A-

Joanne and Amy write:

We’re back! Needless to say we haven’t had much time to dine out together these last couple of months, but there’s nothing like nice weather and the end of the school year to bring us out again. Coupon in hand we headed to Pancho Loco’s, a Mexican restaurant on Rt. 83 in Vernon, whose signage boasts “voted best Mexican in Tolland County.”

Having visited San Diego over my April vacation and sampled some good Mexican food on my trip, I had both a hankering for Mexican food and a good Margarita. I ordered the Pancho’s ultimate, on the rocks with a salted rim, and was pleased. I sipped as Amy and I perused the menu at our table on the deck, trying to navigate through enchiladas vs. burritos vs. chimichangas.

I decided on Sangria, and—knowing I’d have a couple of glasses and Joanne would share—decided on the pitcher. The homemade sangria was a refreshing blend of red wine and fruit juice, neither of which was overpowering. It was delicious and easy to drink, particularly with the complimentary chips and salsa. For my meal I ordered the chimichanga, a lightly fried burrito stuffed with moist shredded beef, grilled peppers and onions, and topped with a thick spicy queso sauce. The side dishes, beans and rice, were well-prepared; that is, the beans were not a mushy mess and the rice wasn’t bland or dry.

I ordered a soft taco dinner. I would have liked to see fish tacos as an offering, but I suppose that’s a California thing. From my choices of beef, pulled pork, and chicken I chose pulled pork. The three soft tacos were simply stuffed with shredded lettuce, diced tomato and pulled pork. Condiments were served on the side, which I prefer, and which enabled me to really taste my pork, which was juicy and delicious. My side dishes, like Amy’s, were not a disappointing plate-filler, but rather a tasty accompaniment to my tacos.

Pancho Loco’s has a variety of happy hour specials and plenty of premium tequilas from which to choose. Our server/bartender, familiar to us for a reason we have yet to figure out, was pleasant and attentive. She was friendly and cheerful and checked back on us often even though we were the only customers around (it being that lonely time between lunch and dinner rushes), and despite our location out on the deck. That back deck provides a great spot to sit and sip on a warm sunny afternoon, and we were all too happy to take advantage of that.

And since we were so full we forgot to order the fried ice cream, we’ll have yet another reason to go back!

Bin 228, Hartford, CT March 2009

2009-03-17T19:45:00.010-04:00

Food: A
Service: C

Joanne and Amy write:

I admit up front that I have known one of the Bin 228 owners, Alicia Roncari, since we were kids. I ate spaghetti and listened to Aerosmith in her basement at her birthday party in third grade. Over the years we pined over long-haired rock stars—she over Steve Tyler, and I over Peter Frampton—and thus we will be forever connected. But it was my job, albeit self-appointed, to put all that aside and enter Bin 228 with an open mind and a clean palate, although it was difficult to leave my bias for this type of restaurant at the door. Here I also admit that I love the concept behind Bin 228—Italian enoteca meets American bar—and have eaten here before, as has Amy.

Enoteca, wine bar, bistro, café…whatever you want to call it, I’m a fan of this Euro-style establishment where small bites and large wine lists are the norm. It’s my understanding that the owners of Bin 228 decided on the concept while traveling in Italy. Naturally! The menu is simple—categories include salads, plates (think cured meats and cheeses), bruschetta, tramezzini, panini, and risotto (of the day and only during dinner hours). A few Italian-style sweets (gelato, biscotti, even a Nutella panino) make it complete. When I perused the offerings, I was whisked back to the many slow summer afternoons I spent in Italy snacking and sipping wine at one outdoor café or another. It’s nice to have that opportunity so close to home.

The wine list shows both evidence of knowledge of Italy’s wines and thought put into matching them with the menu. There are offerings from each region that vary in price range, but none would disappoint. Since a Monday special is half-off bottles of wine, we went with the staff pick, Argiano’s Non Confunditur, a full-bodied Super-Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese that was sweet, spicy, earthy and well-rounded. I made a note to find a bottle for my cellar.

I decided to start with some bread because I was craving carbs. They have bagna cauda on the menu – four slices of garlic bread between each of which was a slice of melted fresh mozzarella. A skewer of rosemary ran through the mini-loaf: a unique twist, I thought. The rosemary infused the bread with a pleasant piney flavor that balanced well with the tangy garlic and creamy cheese. It was great and I ate all of it except the one slice I offered to Joanne. For my second plate, I chose the carpaccio. My first experience with carpaccio was in fact, in Italy, and I ordered it in the hopes of recreating that experience. I knew Joanne would give it a try; it had arugula on it after all. The portion was generous and covered the plate. The raw meat was sliced so thinly that it melted in my mouth. It was drizzled with high-end olive oil and covered with peppery arugula and parmesan cheese. A successful dish.

As Amy mentioned, throw arugula on the menu, somewhere, anywhere, and I am bound to order it. At Bin 228 there are multiple menu choices that include arugula, so I didn’t limit myself to one. I started with a simple arugula salad—a beautiful mound of arugula dressed in a lemon truffle oil with shingles of Asiago cheese on top. A sprinkle of salt was all the salad needed. Fortunately, there was salt shaker on the table, as our server was not very attentive. Four tomato wedges—that I imagine in the summer are more flavorful— garnished the plate.

I chose to follow my salad with a tramezzino, an Italian sandwich, made on white bread with the crusts removed, and cut on the diagonal. My tramezzino was essentially an Italian BLT—made with pancetta, tomato, arugula, and lemon mayonnaise. The bread was soft, the generous portion of pancetta was crispy and overall it was delicious, served with a small helping of salad dressed in a slightly sweet vinaigrette. To accompany my sandwich I also ordered an olive bowl. Too often olives all taste the same, like brine, but these are marinated in house; they were fruity and lemony and herbaceous—some of the best olives I’ve ever eaten.

For our afternoon dolce, we shared a bowl of chocolate gelato. Three big scoops of creamy chocolate gelato and two spoons arrived; an empty bowl went back to the kitchen. The cocoa flavor was not ruined by too much sugar; it was chocolate-y, not cloying, and we could tell it was small batch, as indicated by the menu. It was a nice dessert to share while sipping the last of our wine. And kudos to Bin 228 for using a local ice cream/gelato producer, J. Foster's in Simsbury.

That was the food. On to the service. A male server seated us and handed us menus but we never saw him again. Instead, several minutes later, a female server gave us a bland greeting with no facial expression. We had to ask for water, and when we asked questions about the menu, as we always do, it seemed an inconvenience. A chalkboard advertised happy hour appetizer specials. When we asked what they were, we didn’t get a definitive answer. She mentioned checking with the chef, but never got back to us. While she did seem knowledgeable about the items on the regular menu, she had no enthusiasm about the food she’d be serving. We didn’t even learn her name until a businessman was seated at the bar and we heard him address her. With him, she was pleasant and friendly, with us, not so much.

Just as it was important to put rock star fantasies aside before walking in, it seems most fair, while writing the review, to exclude the part of our experience toward the end of our meal, during which Alicia stood tableside and chatted with us, which really was a nice touch for me, a surprise reunion.

That being said, the food was exceptional--a welcome departure from troughs of pasta that all tastes like garlic and calls itself Italian. Likewise, the wine list was remarkable, a nice change from wine lists offering little more than Robert Mondavi and Rodney Strong. But our service was disappointingly…average. While it may be our bane to dine at off hours, when the school day is done and it’s been five hours since we’ve eaten lunch at 10:30, we consider it an appropriate challenge for restaurants to treat us as well at 3 or 4 in the afternoon as they would at 7 or 8 in the evening. In fact, having both been servers in the past, a lone two-top in the house seems the perfect opportunity to give exceptional service. Alas, not on this occasion.

Fortunately, the concept, the tasty food, the good wine, and the fond memories they all evoke of time spent in Italy will keep us coming back to Bin 228.

Hazard Grille, Enfield, CT March 2009

2009-03-13T16:51:00.005-04:00

Food: A-
Service: A-

Joanne and Amy write:

In the middle of an overdeveloped area of strip malls and chain restaurants in Enfield, next door to the Olive Garden, in a building that used to house a Red Lobster, on Hazard Ave, is an independently owned restaurant called the Hazard Grille. Being independently owned is enough of a draw to get me to try it; put it close to home, and I’m bound to become a regular, especially if the service is good. And it is. That being said, I do stop in fairly regularly for a burger, or a salad, or happy hour. Yet in all the times I’ve been, I’ve never ordered a dinner entrée, so that was the plan. Meet Amy for happy hour, start with that menu, and move on to dinner.

We arrived at 4, just as their Happy Hour—which includes drink specials and specially priced appetizers—began. Neither Amy nor I cared enough for the 4 dollar wine offering, so we ordered a very reasonably priced bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon instead. To start our food fest, we ordered mussels and Edna’s bread.

The pound or so of P.E.I. mussels came steaming hot in a garlicky white wine and lemon sauce, garnished with leeks. The mussels were plump and tasty, and begged to be dipped into the sauce, which I did with every one. The Edna’s bread, which my mother remembers from The Log Cabin in Holyoke, MA (apparently, the owners met working there as teenagers), is a must-order in my opinion. The crusty loaf has at its center a layer of creamy bleu cheese and is topped with a sprinkling of parmesan that crisps when it bakes. It’s buttery, cheesy, soft and crunchy, and way better than any garlic bread I’ve ever had.

Though not a regular, per se, I have been to the Hazard Grille on a couple of occasions, and like Joanne, have yet to try an entrée. Part of the reason is that the Happy Hour offering of half-price appetizers from 4 to 6 p.m. is too good to pass up, and I’m often full after a couple of those. That said, I’m somewhat put off by the entrees as they seem a bit too fussy, like the chefs are trying to do too much with each dish. Take for example the Flat Iron Steak entrée. It’s described as “teriyaki marinated steak served over garlic mashed potatoes with a horseradish Dijon sauce and topped with sautéed onions and mushrooms.” It gives me a headache to think of all those flavors on one plate. So, while I wanted something else after our appetizers, I ended up simply ordering the French Onion Soup. It was a delicious and satisfying crock of caramelized onions served in a rich, beefy stock and topped with the traditional crouton and not-so-traditional but yummy nonetheless Havarti cheese.

I ended up ordering my standby burger, served on a bulkie roll with lettuce and tomato and a side of crispy fries. As always, it was juicy and flavorful, but too big to eat after the mussels and "garlic" bread—especially since we wanted to leave room for dessert. But nothing grabbed us from the dessert menu (here again, a little too much going on, e.g., Devil’s Food Red Velvet cake – which is it?) so Amy trusted me to order bartender Kara’s specialty espresso martinis. They rock. It’s hard to find a martini anywhere for 8 dollars these days; this one is worth every penny. Vanilla vodka, Kahlua, crème de cacao, shaken with a shot of espresso make this martini a perfect end to a meal, and a perfect reason to come back again.

Well, that, the consistently good service, and the fact that we still haven’t tried any entrées.

ON20, Hartford, CT February 2009

2009-02-24T18:12:00.006-05:00

Food: A-
Service: A+

Joanne and Amy write:

In our next lives, we'd like to be ladies who lunch...or at least women who get to enjoy lunch out more often, so our decision to try ON20 during our February vacation was perfect. ON20, located on the 20th floor of 1 State St in Hartford, which formerly housed the Polytechnic Club, is a lunch-only restaurant, but more importantly, it is an experience.

We entered the sparse lobby and walked up two half-flights of stairs to reach the bank of elevators. A sign advised us to enter the number of our floor and then flashed a letter indicating which elevator would be coming for us. When we reached the 20th floor, we saw the doors to the restaurant that were marked only by a small sign. The maitre d', a friendly, welcoming gentleman, took our coats and led us to our table by the window where we took in the view of Hartford and the Connecticut River. Too bad it was a gray February afternoon, and that there were so few diners in this grand dining room.

Our table was exquisitely set with beautiful china chargers, sparkling glassware and silverware, and two sets of miniature salt and pepper shakers. The maitre d' returned to hand us menus. Surprisingly, there was no wine list, but he asked, "Red or white?" and then verbally listed the wines available by the varietal rather than by the vineyard. A pleasant female server poured our water and asked whether we had any food allergies or time constraints, something we thought was a nice touch.

Menu options at lunch include a power business lunch, a three course prix fixe, and a tasting lunch. All options tout local and seasonal ingredients, something for which the chef is known. There were also some additions to the menu, most of which involved fish. Amy had decided in advance to try three courses, and I waffled--until the last moment--between the power lunch and the three course menu. In the end I went with two courses from the business lunch menu and wished I had, like Amy, thrown caution to the wind and gone for the prix fixe. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. One course, one mouthful at a time.

The server delivered an amuse bouche of Coquilles St. Jacques, then a bread basket including sourdough rolls that were a bit dry, and slices of rye that had a hint of molasses. The scallop was what it should be - a tasty one-bite morsel topped with crunchy Parmesan that whetted our appetites. Next, we enjoyed our appetizers and the accompaniment of white wine that was delivered compliments of the chef. I had ordered mussels in a garlicky yellow saffron sauce. There were plenty of them to share, and they were tender and delicious. The sauce was enhanced by bits of tarragon and was perfect for dipping the toast points. The finger bowl with warm water and lemon wedge and fresh linen napkin for wiping, delivered after I finished, was another nice touch.

I sampled Amy's mussels while I enjoyed a salad of delicate greens, bleu cheese, pears, and toasted walnuts. The salad was lightly (that is, perfectly) dressed with a maple balsamic vinaigrette. The blue cheese was decadently creamy and not overly pungent. The walnuts were candied and provided a sweetness and crunch that brought the salad together.

My burger, unfortunately, was less than memorable. In fact, it was disappointing. While it was cooked as I had asked, medium, it was pink in the center but not a bit juicy. As I ate it, not a drip of the deliciousness I seek in a burger landed on the plate or the sweet brioche roll or my chin. The pomme frites were quite good, however, and saved the course for me. Well, the pomme frites and tastes of Amy's cassoulet.

I had the suckling pig cassoulet, which was to die for. It was slightly deconstructed, served as a cast iron crock of flavorful upscale pork and beans topped with browned seasoned bread crumbs, with a perfectly grilled piece of pork and two spicy rabbit sausages, served on the side. I enjoyed it very much.

We ordered espresso and with it, received a second amuse - chocolate truffle coins with a piece of caramelized sugar. The maitre d' rolled over a dessert cart covered in treats including succulent blackberries, strawberries and raspberries, fresh pineapple chunks, and a variety of cakes and tarts. I chose a slice of flourless chocolate cake that was light and airy and a perfect end to the meal. Joanne received a "sympathy" beignet since dessert was not included with her lunch and she chose not to order one a la carte. Finally, a complimentary plate full of nickel-size cookies and truffles to enjoy with our second espresso was delivered.

We shared this sampling of bite size cookies--whose flavors included peanut butter, almond, and chocolate-- as we drank our espressos and I sipped an amaretto, reveling in the fact that a bell or PA message wouldn't beckon us back to class. It certainly was a treat, and an extravagance.

With overpriced wine, and espressos, and the 20 percent tip built in as a "service charge"(albeit well-deserved), our total bill was high. Given my share of the tab, which I have paid for a satisfying dinner for two, and the fact that I have had a better burger for 10 dollars, I might keep this at a once in a lifetime experience. Amy, I imagine, will return, perhaps to share the experience with her husband.

Indeed, ON20 does not offer a typical lunch, but a dining experience that happens to take place during the afternoon. Although I agree the wine was overpriced, as in most restaurants these days, I thought the $35 cost for the three-course menu was appropriate. Taking that into consideration, as well as the exceptional service and the many special touches found only at fine dining locations, I highly recommend ON20 as a destination for a luxurious lunch, for ladies and gentlemen alike.

Sawadee Thai Cuisine, South Windsor, CT February 2009

2009-02-03T14:43:00.002-05:00

Food: A
Service: A

Amy and Joanne write:

"Sawadee" is Thai for the greeting "Hello." It is a warm welcome in the language as much as it is the feeling you get when you enter the small, almost hidden, Thai restaurant in South Windsor by the same name. I have visited Sawadee quite a few times since it opened a few years ago, and have always felt welcomed by the hospitable staff and comfortable interior. Good-luck elephants and Hindu goddesses adorn the walls, and current magazines are available for those waiting for take-out.

The menu offers traditional Thai dishes including a variety of noodles, curries, and fried rices made with the customer's choice of protein (chicken, beef, tofu, seafood). Duck is also on the menu, and that is one of my absolute favorite foods, so I always get the same thing when I go here: the Panang Duck, which is a crispy 1/4 duck served with green beans and peas in a light but spicy coconut-based curry sauce. Like most entrees, it is served with steamed white rice. Since I was visiting with Joanne, I thought I'd try something different...at least in the form of appetizers to share.

After living several years in Boston I have often lamented the lack of ethnic food (especially Thai) in my area of Connecticut, so I was eager to get turned on to a Thai restaurant close enough to home with votes of approval from Amy and Chris as well as a couple of other friends who live close by Sawadee. After looking at the menu on line, in preparation for our Thai adventure, Amy agreed to share my appetizer choices of fresh spring rolls and angel shrimp (which she told me, after I suggested them, is one of her favorites). Well, at least one appetizer would be different for her.

Shortly after we were seated, our water glasses were filled with ice cold water flavored with a hint of lime, and our orders were taken. A few minutes later, our glasses of wine were delivered, and our spring rolls arrived a moment after that. The presentation was exquisite--four half rolls standing in the center of a plate, garnished with shredded carrots and cilantro sprigs, served with a small ramekin of spicy peanut sauce. The rice paper was moist and the rolls were indeed fresh and crispy -- filled with sushi rice, shredded carrots, cilantro and tofu. The sauce, served with a healthy dash of crushed peanuts, had a touch of coconut that added to its flavor.

When we were not quite done with our spring rolls, our angel shrimp arrived. Five pieces of shrimp, tails on and exposed, bodies in perfectly brown and crunchy fried wrappers, were fanned around a small dish of dipping sauce. After my first bite of shrimp, dipped in the thin but tasty plum sauce with flecks of red pepper, I understood why it's one of Amy's favorites. As we finished our appetizers I wanted to make more appear, but it worked just as well that our dinners were presented instead.

The panang duck was as delicious as always. The duck was deboned for ease of eating and had a dark brown crispy skin. It was tossed with bright green peas and string beans, as well as julienned kaffir leaves that offered a flavor note of lime. Surrounding all of these was an orange-red coconut-curry sauce that was spicy enough to give me the sniffles, but sweet enough to pour over my sticky white rice. I. Love. This. Dish.

My chicken dish--Pra Ram-- was a beautiful plate of chicken breast pieces pounded thin and served with carrots; bite size, vibrant broccoli florets arranged around the perimeter; and--hidden underneath--bok choy; all tossed in a creamy peanut sauce. The portion was generous, the chicken was tender, and the vegetables still had a nice bite. Most importantly, the flavor was what my taste buds desired--peanut sauce with just the right hint of heat. I was happy to have sauce left on the plate to dress my sticky rice. I love peanut sauce the way Amy loves duck, and this is a dish I would order again. Meaning I'd come here again to dine or take out.

Our excellent food was accompanied by excellent service. Our young server was attentive and courteous, refilling water glasses as needed and checking on satisfaction with every course. She smiled often, and offered polite words in a quiet voice.

For great Thai food "East of the River," Sawadee is a welcome treasure.

Outback Steakhouse, Enfield, CT January 2009

2009-01-30T16:14:00.015-05:00

Food: A-
Service: B

Joanne and Amy write:

If you're looking for a slow food experience, Outback Steakhouse, like any other family restaurant chain, is not the place to go. Unless you pretend you don't know what you want for an entree while you enjoy your starter. (We know. We've done this to delay the delivery of a steak when we're only three bites into a salad.) If, on the other hand, you're looking for a reasonably priced and consistently good steak, we would both recommend the "Outback Special." Since we gave another restaurant a chance to compete, we thought it only right to take our gradebooks to what we consider the standard against which we measured.

True to form I ordered an Outback special, and since I hadn't had steak in a while (2 weeks!), I decided to splurge on the 9 oz (medium, please) for $14.95. All dinners are served with a choice of two sides, and--as always--I chose to start with a house salad and have green beans to accompany my steak. Amy did the same, only she exercised some restraint and ordered a 6 oz. (medium rare) for $9.99. Oh, and since we were in the mood to take our time and a breath between courses, we did stall on ordering our steaks until we were eating bread and our salads.

The honey-wheat bread came out warm but not quite as toasty as I would have liked, and while I thought the butter was lacking its usual sweetness, Joanne didn't notice a difference. Perhaps I was being overly critical after grading exams like a madwoman in a rush to get grades in on time. The chilled salads were fresh and crisp with a mix of iceberg and romaine lettuce, cucumber chunks, sliced red onion, juicy--room temperature--grape tomatoes, crunchy cheese-flavored croutons, shredded cheddar and sharp chunky bleu cheese. In other words, they were a great meal starter.

Shortly after we devoured the salads, our entrees arrived. Both perfectly grilled steaks were accompanied by bright green, crisp, French-style green beans that had been tossed in a nutty-flavored butter. The steaks were cooked the way we had ordered them, were juicy and fork-tender, and had that delightful blend of seasonings for which Outback is known. Even the 6-oz. was satisfying, and neither Joanne nor I had room for dessert, although the new miniature-sized sampler sweets sounded tempting. For those not into red meat, there is a wide variety of other menu choices including seasonal specials, entree salads, and several chicken and fish dishes.

We were there on the early side of dinner, around 5, when only one bartender was on-- taking care of both bar customers and doing service bar for customers seated in the dining room. Because the restaurant was not particularly busy she managed just fine, but had there been more customers to serve and satisfy, we probably would have felt neglected. That is to say the service was good, not stellar, but certainly worth 20 percent.

The steak dinners at Outback really are a great value. In this economy the pomp and circumstance (and price tags) of high end steak houses may have to take a back seat to a good beef bargain. Whether high end is never your style, or you're watching your wallet, "going Outback" is sure to satisfy.

Uno's Chicago Grill, Manchester, CT January 2009

2009-01-15T17:52:00.035-05:00

Food: C+
Service: A-

Amy and Joanne write:

Happy New Year from Joanne and Amy!

For our first excursion of the new year, we chose Uno's Chicago Grill, or what used to be known as "Pizzeria Uno," or even simply, "Uno's." This evening we went to the one located in Manchester to see a man about a coupon. We all know that January, or what we like to call "Holiday Rehab," is a good time for a great deal, which is what we got via email from UCG: Buy one entree and get a free 6-oz. sirloin steak meal. Works for us.

Even though we were sans coupon, we mentioned the "Insiders" deal to the bartender who quickly produced a reasonable facsimile. Upon questioning, she touted the virtues of the new steak deal and suggested we order it medium or medium-rare (apparently to reduce shrinkage...). We got comfortable, started shelling the pre-appetizer peanuts, ordered our wine and gave the bartender the particulars of our entrees.

Today was not a day to restrict red meat intake, so we both chose the 6 oz. sirloin dinner, with a choice of two sides. We both chose to start with salads; to accompany our steaks, I ordered roasted vegetables, Amy ordered steamed.

The salads were mediocre at best. Think bagged lettuce complete with dry shredded carrots. Add one red onion ring, a couple coins of cucumber, a quarter wintry-pale tomato and croutons made from leftover bread that could have used another 5 minutes on 350 degrees, and there you have it. Unfortunately, the blue cheese dressing (oh, yeah, no skimping on salad dressing today either--midterms are coming up and we have a professional development workshop to sit through tomorrow afternoon!) was not able to redeem the salad. There was little authentic blue cheese flavor so the tanginess was out of place-- more likely from buttermilk than blue cheese. The blue cheese hurt my tongue.

The vegetables were weak, too. Roasted or steamed (we each ordered one kind), they both included bell peppers which overtook the flavor of all the other vegetables present. In fact, when our plates were placed in front of us, that was the predominant aroma: bell peppers.

Fortunately, the steak, which was the main attraction, delivered. Though there was little difference between mine (medium) and Amy's (medium rare), they were both juicy and tender and tasty, seasoned well. We enjoyed our steaks as well as the freshly baked Parmesan-dusted bread sticks that filled any leftover space in our stomachs not filled by those veggies.

Sitting at the bar, by definition, means your server will be the bartender, and today, she was one who recognized us from previous happy hours. She was attentive without hovering, familiar without creepiness, and honest without condescension. While complimenting our accessories, she smiled often and made us feel welcome. She enthusiastically recommended the steaks and willingly over poured our wines. The "minus" attached to the "A" comes from the fact that she left us without silverware, took a stress-inducing phone call in front of us, and at one point, left the bar (and our empty wine glasses!) unattended for several minutes. We have high standards!

Our server came closer to meeting our standards than the food did. The 6 ounce piece of meat was okay, but steak dinner was disappointing--definitely not as good as one served at one of our similarly priced restaurant favorites. But given that we were at what used to be a pizza joint, it definitely gets passing grades. And let's not forget, we had a coupon.

Bottom line: print a coupon and we will come.

Bertucci's, Manchester, CT December 2008 Grade: C-

2008-12-24T09:19:00.005-05:00

Joanne and Amy write:

Ah, the holidays: overly ambitious social calendars, rapidly depleting check book balances and suburban shopping mall gridlock more typical of midtown Manhattan than Manchester. Clearly, venturing toward said area at this point--two days before Christmas-- is an exercise in frustration and should be avoided at all costs...Unless, of course, you are Amy or me, who might even brave a New England blizzard and gridlock for a holiday wine toast and to try a new restaurant, which is why we went to Bertucci's yesterday at the Buckland Hills Mall.

I got there first and ordered a half carafe of Sangiovese. At $11.50 this was a bargain for a 2+ glasses of decent wine. When Amy arrived a few minutes later, she did the same. I passed her the menu and told her she could decide on the pizza we would share.

We ordered "The Sporkie," a traditional crust pizza baked in a brick oven and topped with sweet Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. We chose the large over the individual size, and when it arrived, Joanne and I just looked at each other, wondering how we were going to eat it all. It was much larger than we expected, but we'd just take some home after we finished. The menu had promised a "light, crispy crust," and while it was tasty, I found it to be thicker and more chewy than I would have liked. The tomato sauce was sweet as was the crumbled sausage. The ricotta seemed to have been placed in tablespoonfuls randomly around the pizza and was not spread well, but it imparted a creaminess to those bites that contained it. We each had two slices and were each able to take two home for a midnight, or perhaps next-morning snack.

Our service fell apart when our server, whose name we learned only when we asked, had given us our check before we were done with our dining experience. It was our Christmas celebration, after all, and we wanted a little liquid something for dessert. However, once she had packed up our leftover pizza, she put our check firmly on the bartop. I turned to Joanne to say, "I guess we're done," at the same time as she said, "Is she rushing us out of here or what?" We thought about leaving and having our dessert somewhere else, but couldn't face attempting to park again. We asked for the menu again, and taking our chances with more bad service from the bartender, ordered limoncello martinis. As we sipped the well-made drinks, we toasted the holidays and exchanged our gifts, both of us laughing at the coincidence of giving each other cookbooks. It was at this inopportune point that the server attempted to engage us in conversation. Alas, we were no longer interested.

Our experience at Bertucci's is exactly why we will begin, in 2009, giving separate grades for food and service. Our pizza and wine earned an admirable-for-a-chain-restaurant B. Our service, on the other hand, plummeted from a C to an F when our server held up our respectable tip (especially for her quality of service) to her sidekick and said "OMG," while we were putting on our coats, both within earshot and eyeshot...

Oh, yes, she did.

Max Amore, Glastonbury, CT December 2008 Grade: B+

2008-12-06T14:07:00.029-05:00

Joanne and Amy write:

Believe it or not, Amy and I are bargain hunters and coupon clippers. We even share coupons so they don't go to waste. Like back in the day when kids traded baseball cards, Amy and I spread out our spoils and trade coupons. You have 20 percent off Bed and Bath? I've got buy-one-get-one at Bath and Body! Of course the often more interesting offers are the free appetizer or BOGO entree deals we come across. How lucky for us that our dinner last night came about because of a deal we didn't even go looking for. Rather, it fell in our laps. Well, in our email boxes--as had the Restaurant Week advertisement that lead us to Max's Oyster Bar a couple of weeks ago. In this case, on Monday after school, we both got an email about the Max Restaurant Group Prix Fixe dinners this week. 3 courses for $24.95. Yay, us! This time, we chose the more suburban Max Amore, in Glastonbury. This time we were also a little more indecisive about what to order, despite seeing the menu in advance.

The options for first course were Caesar salad or soup. I chose the Caesar salad. While we waited, I picked at dish of marinated olives which were quite fruity and flavorful (Amy doesn't like olives, so I didn't have to share). We were also served a basket of two types of bread and a head of roasted garlic. I prepared a slab of foccacia with garlic and dipped in some olive oil that was on the table and things were looking promising. Then my salad arrived. At first glance it looked like a decent Caesar, but once I started, was a bit disappointed. Perhaps the most disappointing detail was that there were no Parmesan shaves or shingles in sight, not even any matchstick shreds. Rather, the salad was dressed with grated Parmesan that was unable to temper the slightly too pungent anchovy and garlic dressing. Finally, the croutons were more stale than crispy. So we were off to a tepid start. Well, figuratively, but Amy can tell you about that.

I was hungry and couldn't wait to dig into the cup of Tuscan white bean and pancetta soup I ordered to start. I should have waited, because it was so hot that I wished I had an asbestos lining in my mouth. When it cooled down enough for me to actually taste it, it had good white bean flavor with a hint of smokiness. It also had a hearty mix of small diced carrots, celery and pancetta that was all the more sublime when I dipped the country-style Italian bread into it. A bowl of this soup with that bread would have made for an amazing meal in itself.

I didn't finish the soup because I was very much looking forward to my interesting entree of "Gobetti con Anatra," described as pasta with duck confit, roasted butternut squash, fresh sage, and sweet potato cream. The waiter placed the dish in front of me and the smell of spices (was it the nutmeg? maybe the cinnamon?) made my mouth water. Again, I couldn't wait to dig in. This dish had the perfect balance of sweet and savory: sweetness from the squash, spices and cream sauce; savory from the duck and the sage. It also had a skillful blend of textures, with the al dente pasta mixed with no-too-firm squash and fork-tender duck. This was the ultimate duck pasta dish, and the best, most unique one I've had in a long time.

I should have gone with my initial instinct and ordered the chicken parmigiana rather than be dissuaded from doing so by the server, who was "sick of serving chicken." That is to say, Amy won. In that restaurant game of sampling each other's dinners, deciding whose is best, and coveting another meal: Amy won. My salmon dish was...er...odd. The fish itself was good and cooked well, but the preparation had a disconnect. The polenta on which the salmon was artfully placed looked and tasted more like scrambled eggs than polenta. The plum tomato sauce resembled and tasted more like a helping of canned, diced tomatoes, and frankly--even if it was a great sauce and my palate missed that--didn't seem to compliment the salmon. The leek and roasted pepper tapenade was a few juliennes of leeks and peppers that tasted mostly like roasted peppers. I pushed them off to the side with the tomatoes and ate the 5 haricot verts that sat between the polenta and fish. I couldn't help but long for the wonderful preparation of salmon I had at Max's Oyster Bar a couple of weeks ago. But honestly, if all I had was the piece of salmon and a full helping of green beans I would have been more content. At least there was dessert.

We wised up this visit and got one of each of the two dessert choices: creme bruciata (which is Italian for creme brulee), and flourless chocolate cake, so we could taste them both. The creme tasted as good as the one we had at Oyster Bar - it was chilled and creamy and topped with that delightful burnt sugar. Unfortunately, the presentation was lacking, as the dish sat atop the raspberry sauce which ended up smudged and hidden rather than acting as an enhancement. The tiny "Nilla-wafer" sandwich cookie accompaniment was dry and tasteless. The flourless cake had the consistency of a not-quite cooked brownie, which is to say, it was awesome. It was topped with a deep chocolate ganache that was countered with an equally tasty Tahitian-vanilla gelato that packed a powerful punch of flavor by itself.

For Amy it was a hit, for me a miss, but overall it was a good dinner experience. Our service was good (although the server was flat) and with wine and tip, we had three courses at this high-caliber restaurant for $60 apiece. While we acknowledge this is not cheap, it's actually a great deal in a place where entrees alone range from $15.95 to $31.95. To the Max Restaurant Group we can only say, keep doing what you're doing!

Max's Oyster Bar, West Hartford, CT November 2008 Grade: A-

2008-11-21T16:06:00.021-05:00

Joanne and Amy write

Every once in a while it's nice to forgo the adventure of trying a new place and fall back on a sure thing, to sit down to dinner where you know your meal will satisfy. Max's Oyster Bar is one of those places. Dining there last night, for only $20.08, was extra pleasing.

Last night, like many others, Amy and I both knew what we wanted to order before we got there. The CT Restaurant Week menus were available on line and we had already made our decisions. No stammering indecisively over the menus, asking questions, or tying up an already in-the-weeds server.

I started with Max's classic chopped salad, with Gorgonzola and sherry vinaigrette, which was dressed perfectly. For my main course I chose their grilled Bay of Fundy salmon with a maple syrup glaze, served with a apple and potato hash and pomegranate nage. It was outstanding. The generous salmon filet was cooked perfectly with a beautiful crust and the precisely diced apple potato hash was sweet yet tart and a perfect accompaniment.

I chose the clam chowder to start. It came in a stainless steel mug that was poured into my bowl by the server, and was accompanied by a wax-paper bag filled with homemade oyster crackers. The chowder was thick and appetizing, with plenty of clams, few potatoes, and bits of applewood smoked bacon. The shellfish pappardelle was excellent as well. The papparedelle was made in house, and it was cooked al dente as it should be. There was plenty of shellfish also - two grilled jumbo shrimp and several littleneck clams and mussels - tossed in a fiery fra diavolo tomato sauce. The portion was just right. Creme brulee is one of our favorites, and we both chose it as our finale. The cool, velvety custard had rich vanilla flavor and a flawlessly burnt sugar crust. The only downside was the topping of too-tart chopped strawberries. A little shortbread cookie on the side was a nice extra touch.

This restaurant is typically busy, being located in West Hartford, but was even more so during Restaurant Week. Thus, it was easy to forgive the lagging service. Our friendly waiter (who Joanne mentioned was in-the-weeds) was as attentive as he could be given the situation he was in, delivering double-tiered platters of shellfish to tables of six or eight in addition to taking care of us and several other "deuces." Besides, the gap between courses gave us time to gossip and digest. Our water glasses were kept full and our table was cleared in a timely manner throughout the visit.

It was certainly worth our while to brave the unseasonably cold weather to visit Max's Oyster Bar for what we knew would be an excellent meal and an exceptional deal.

Ted's Montana Grill, South Windsor, CT November 2008 Grade: A

2008-11-07T16:26:00.034-05:00

Joanne and Amy write:

I remember on one of my solo visits to Ted's Montana Grill, while sitting at the bar at a fairly quiet hour, thinking--as I looked around and burger juice dripped down my chin--"oh my god, Ted Turner is brilliant. This is a diner in disguise! Steak house style dining room in an upscale outdoor mall, with a flattop grill." Just then, I looked over and saw a stainless steel bowl going over a burger to steam it. Diner style, indeed. Despite higher-than-diner prices, Ted's consistently delivers a good burger worth the price. Because I love their burgers and onion rings so much (if I can keep my hand out of the dish of complimentary half-sour pickle coins long enough to eat them), I don't deviate on the menu. Amy, however, who also frequents with her husband, has delved deeper into the menu than I.

The first time I went to Ted's was shortly after it opened four years ago. My husband and I sat at the counter overlooking the kitchen. The cook working in front of us was busy, but he took the time to talk with us and gave us several samples - of the bison chili, the freshly cut french fries, and an onion ring or two. It was dinner and a show--with freebies! I ordered a ribeye that day, and I've ordered it several times since. Available in beef or the slightly sweeter-tasting and much leaner bison, it's always grilled to perfection and drizzled with butter sauce. Between my husband and me, we've tried different soups, steaks, burgers, chicken dishes and seafood at Ted's and we've never been disappointed or gone home hungry. In fact, the only time I didn't leave with leftovers was when I tried the perfectly-portioned Blue Plate Special (diner lingo--maybe Joanne is on to something) of short ribs over mashed potatoes. That one time, I completely cleared my plate.

I go back to Ted's often, not because of their prices, but because of the consistently good food and service I get within a unique concept restaurant. That concept is two-fold: fresh and green. Fresh: Ted's doesn't freeze or microwave anything. Everything is made to order, even the lemonade. Green: Each location recycles, is non-smoking, uses low-voltage lighting, and strives to be 99% plastic-free. The atmosphere also beckons me...I openly declare my love for the Craftsman-style decor while keeping my fondness for the hokey "Montana-at-the-turn-of-the-century" music more secret. But the burgers...that's where it's at. Thick, juicy, with any kind of topping you can think of, they are amazing. Just ask Joanne.

While I ate every single half-sour pickle coin in the dish, Amy started with the tortilla soup, a warm and creamy cup of comfort on a rainy day. For the main attraction, Amy ordered the "naked burger," medium-rare, with fries. I ordered the cheese burger (medium), with American cheese, loaded with mushrooms and bacon. Instead of french fries, I substituted onion rings. Our server accomodated Amy's request for a slice of raw onion, and mine for a side of their horseradish mayonnaise to accompany my onion rings--and which also found its way onto my toasted, buttered, burger bun. Once we assembled our giant creations, the task of getting our mouths around them was worth the reward of the moist and delicious burgers. (Ladies, there's nothing dainty about eating these!) Both my onion rings and Amy's fries were crisp and delicious as well. The Big Sky cabernet sauvignon (exclusive to Ted's) accompanied them well.

This and countless other great dining experiences for both of us at Ted's puts it firmly on our list of favorite restaurants.

Sauce, Glastonbury, CT October 2008 Grade: A -

2008-10-28T15:56:00.025-04:00

Amy and Joanne write...

I've been wanting to try Sauce since it opened last December. I thought it brave for a restaurant to open around the holidays, when most of us, including me, are so busy and/or broke from shopping that restaurant dining isn't really an option. Early reviews from local newspapers brought raves and made me all the more excited to try it. However, a pair of bartenders whom we know and who are foodies, gave Sauce a bad review and I put it on my list of need-to-try-sometime-but-not-now. Then a few weeks ago, I was driving through Glastonbury and caught the sight of a happening place out of the corner of my eye. It was Sauce, and I realized the time is now. I checked out the website, which has a great look to it, and the menu, which is not overly extensive as Italian-American menus tend to be, with their pages and pages of pasta, seems to focus on what I'd call "contemporary Italian" dishes, made with seasonal ingredients.

I had only heard about Sauce through Amy, who forwarded a restaurant review. Other than that and the comments I heard from the aforementioned bartenders, which weren't very good, I hadn't heard much else. I did go on line as well, and was equally intrigued by the menu. But I was in Amy's hands, with an open mind, as we started last night's dining experience. Given our last "Italian" dining experience, I was feeling confident that a good meal was in store.

I started with one of their "cicchetti," or little snacks , choosing a simple salad of small pieces of fresh mozzarella and halved grape tomatoes dressed in a high quality balsamic vinaigrette. We shared this with the dark crusty bread that was offered with a hearty red sauce for dipping, while we waited for Amy's antipasto and my insalata. Things looked promising.

Years ago, my husband took me to a great Italian bakery in Hartford's Italian neighborhood and introduced me to arancine. I love arancine, balls of risotto stuffed with a variety of fillings and lightly fried so they are crunchy on the outside and soft and melty on the inside. Sauce's were exactly that and thus, did not disappoint. For $9, we received 3 large arancine (a very generous portion, in my opinion), and the arborio rice was mixed with spinach, fontina cheese, and onions, with a piece of prosciutto in the middle. They rested on a thin layer of marinara. They were delicious and I would have no qualms about stopping by one night when I'm out shopping by myself and having this appetizer and a glass of wine for my dinner.

I would like to say that I took a walk on the wild side when I did not order arugula salad, with which I am obsessed --but it wasn't particularly adventurous to order Caesar salad instead. In my defense, there are a lot of bad salads out there claiming to be Caesar salads, so it was a risk. I am happy to report that this was not one of them. The dressing was delicious. The garlic and anchovy did not overwhelm or offend. The herby croutons added a nice flavor and crunch, and were accompanied by little pieces of crispy, salty prosciutto--an unexpected and unique addition.

I haven't had a great penne with vodka sauce in some time, and unfortunately, even after last night, I still haven't. The penne was cooked appropriately al dente, and the large shrimp I requested to be added into the dish were perfect, but the sauce was too sweet and had the overpowering flavor of onions. It didn't have that red pepper bite that I associate with, and really enjoy in, a good vodka sauce. I could somewhat taste the ripeness of the San Marzano tomatoes in the sauce, but with each bite, the onion quickly prevailed. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, and it certainly didn't outshine those amazing arancine.

For dinner I ordered the broccoli rabe with sausage and orecchiete. The dish was generous and tasty. At first I declined the addition of fresh grated Parmesan, but then reconsidered. The saltiness of the cheese added a nice bite to the slightly bitter broccoli rabe and the sweet sausauge. The sausage was browned nicely, but--for my liking--could have been broken into smaller pieces and had too many fennel seeds. Overall I liked it, but might try another dish before ordering this one again--perhaps the papardelle that the server recommended or one of their pies.

The server/busser team that waited on us was attentive and professional. The server was able to make recommendations and answer questions when we had them. The team anticipated and met all of our needs, including water refills, freshly ground pepper and grated parmesan, and other things for which we didn't have to ask. We left satisfied with all around.

That is, more Sauce, please.

Pazzo Ristorante, Springfield, MA October 2008 Grade: D+

2008-10-23T22:00:00.001-04:00

Joanne and Amy write:

I admit I am a repeat customer at Pazzo. Despite mixed reviews, with the bad being really bad, I decided to try it. I had my niece for an overnight last spring and since it was next door to the Basketball Hall of Fame, and had a kids' menu offering "spaghetti and basketballs" and no line, we went. The meatballs were good, my pasta dish was nothing to write about, and the garlic bread was not kid-friendly. Our waitress took it back and had it taken off the check, although I hadn't asked for that. Given that excellent service, and my delicious arugula salad, I decided I'd come back. The menu had other interesting choices that I could try another time.

I did in fact go back for a late, leisurely lunch--on more than one occasion--this summer. I always get the arugula salad, and I have never been disappointed with it. One day I tried to recreate a dining experience from Italy (while Amy was actually there!) and ordered the prosciutto and arugula pizza. It would have been perfect if not for the Americanized red sauce on which the prosciutto and arugula sat. I made a mental note to order without sauce. Other things I have tried are the mussels and the pollo prosciutto lunch entree. The chicken dish is rich and delicious, a rather generous lunch portion, which of course is also more Italian-American than Italian...but I enjoy the leftovers and continue to patronize the restaurant. My service has been good and the food tasty enough to try it with Amy, and her discerning Italian palate, which we did last night.

Joanne has told me about her visits to Pazzo, while I had never eaten there before last night. I was aware of the mixed reviews, many claiming it's the best Italian in Springfield, many others, that it's the worst, and not much in between. I was a bit wary at first, but prior to the visit, as I often do, I perused the menu online, and it made my mouth water. When I got there and saw the wine list, I thought someone was reading my mind. All of my favorite red - from cabs to pinots to zins to great Italians - were there. I had to ask Joanne to choose because I'd never be able to make up my mind.

But back to the food. The appetizer that was especially interesting to me was the spiedini alla Romana, which was described as "mozzarella grilled Roman style." Unfortunately, what I got was a strange version of cheesy garlic bread. When it was delivered, I stared at the plate and thought, "I don't get it." Soggy, oily and served with a horseradish-based dipping sauce (!?!), it was like day old, microwaved French toast gone awry, and there was nothing "grilled" (the definition of spiedini!) about it. Joanne summed it up as a waste of good cheese, and I have to agree with her. Next I ordered their house-named salad which promised baby spinach with pancetta and crumbled gorgonzola cheese served in a phyllo cup with sliced green apples. How can you go wrong with bacon, cheese and pastry??? Well, apparently you can. Although the salad itself, large (not baby) leaves of spinach tossed with gorgonzola in a sweet and tasty dressing, was good, some of the bacon bits were hard enough to crack a tooth, and the apples were julienned and - unbelievable in October in New England - they were brown. The phyllo cup? Unspeakably bad. Pale yellow in color, I thought they forgot to cook it. Then I took a bite of it and my mouth was full of the taste of rancid, stale oil. So very very bad and so very very disappointing. The one hope of salvation came in the form of my entree. I went for a classic lasagne, and it was that. Layers of pasta filled with meat and cheese, it was quite good, but would have been better with less of the orange sauce in which it was drowning.

For me the only thing that didn't disappoint, besides the wine, was the arugula salad, which I suppose I can conclude now is the only consistently good thing on their menu in my experience. I was so disappointed, especially since it was Amy's first time there. Her name-that-cheese thing was so bad (not that the waitress noticed it was barely touched) that we shared my mussels done in white wine sauce. The preparation was simple and basic and hard to get wrong, but some of the mussels were a little mealy, so even that wasn't a great consolation. For dinner I chose swordfish, done with olives, capers, garlic, and tomatoes. I was in the mood for fish, and the Provencal/almost Puttanesca sauce seemed interesting. And it was good. Only the fish was swimming in it, pardon the pun. There was a lot of extra sauce but nothing to eat with it, as the dish was served with a side of polenta (a square piece) and vegetables.

The first time I went my server saved the day. Amy and I were not so lucky. As noted above, she didn't notice that things were relatively untouched, she did not come around--or send a bus boy--nearly enough to refill water, and she corrected our correct pronuncations of words that included a double-z, which sound like a ts. Like the restaurant name (after which Amy's salad was named), like intermezzo, like pizza for God's sake. http://www.wordreference.com/iten/pazzo Listen for yourself.

I agree that our server was unfriendly and inattentive. I think she filled our (small) water glasses one time in three courses. When she took away my salad plate, I said, "You may want to let the kitchen know that the phyllo cup tastes bad, like bad oil or something," she replied, "It's baked," and walked away. My mind's reply? "Baked or not, it tasted really bad, and by the way, you're a terrible server and I'm only leaving 15%!"

Would I go to Pazzo again? Hard to say. The prices were high, especially for what we got. If we hadn't had a gift certificate, we would have paid $100 each, which is the equivalent of two or three outings at one of our "favorite" restaurants. Joanne says their pizzas are good (with special instructions) and I'd like to say I'd be willing to give them a try. But I think it's going to take me awhile to get over last night's insult to Italian food.

Pazzo means "crazy," and honestly, I think we'd have to be to go back anytime soon.

Sonsie, Boston, MA December 2007 Grade: B+

2008-10-19T14:31:00.028-04:00

Joanne writes:

Amy and I have a tradition of going to Boston for an overnight getaway in December, on the pretense of Christmas shopping, but it ends up being more of a culinary adventure than a retail one. I enjoy sharing with Amy the Boston I knew and loved when I lived there after college, one that she couldn't really experience when she was a student at BC.

While I was never a fan of the nightlife at Sonsie, or the see and be seen culture in general, I was a fan of the restaurant--especially for lunch. A college friend of mine and another foodie, Deanna, and I have been there multiple times and have always been pleased. So when Amy and I were wondering where to go to lunch, on our second day in Boston, I suggested Sonsie. Giada (DeLaurentis, of Food Network fame) had just been there on one of her weekend getaways, and she gave the brick oven pizza high marks. I had never tried their pizza, and Amy loves pizza, so it was a go.

Amy's selection of cocktail had her taking notes so she could recreate it for Chris at home. Unfortunately, she has since lost said notes and can't for the life of her remember what it was. I went the boring route, a Bloody Mary, and was ready to move on to lunch.

I got a mushroom pizza. One bite and I was in heaven. I was never so happy that Amy doesn't like mushrooms! Grilled mushrooms, caramelized onions, and brie, on a thin crust. I have made it my mission, since then, to recreate this at home. Amy must have really enjoyed that cocktail because, albeit almost a year later, she doesn't remember what she had. We both remember that as we finished, she ordered a pizza with butternut squash, melting cheese, and walnuts to take home for Chris so that he could experience Sonsie too. He loved it.

Interestingly enough, our server was the same young woman who served Giada. Unfortunately, she saw a group of businessmen gathering in the foyer as the bigger tip opportunity, and left us without service at various points in our meal, including when we were ready to order wine. At those times she was busy serving drinks to the men seated around the low table in the foyer, squatting as she placed the drinks on napkins, glancing up in suggestive servitude.

The food was better than the service, but it was good enough to put Sonsie on our list of favorite restaurants.

Ruth's Chris, Newington, CT October 2008 Grade: C-

2008-10-17T17:20:00.002-04:00

Joanne and Amy write:

Clearly we don't go out to eat so that we can say, "that sucked!" We want to be satisfied, and on occasion we like to be wowed--inpsired to go home and recreate a dish, or get on the phone and recommend the restaurant. Usually our expectations are met. Rarely, we walk away feeling like it wasn't what we expected. Last night, at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, was one of those nights. Moreover, the dining experience was less than anyone should expect from the menu and for the price, and without stellar service to soften the blow.

I have been to this location before, and visited two of the New Orleans locations a few times when I lived there. The franchise began in the Big Easy in the 1960's and has a great backstory - the now-famous "Ruth" was a single mom looking through the Times-Picayune classifieds when she noticed an ad announcing "Steak House for Sale." She mortaged her house and bought the Chris Steak House whch thrived until a fire destroyed it in 1976. She bought a new property close by, but her contract with the original "Chris" wouldn't allow her to use the name, hence Ruth's Chris was born. Ruth's entrepreneurial spirit encouraged her to franchise, and since her death in 2002, the company has gone public and is based out of Florida. Based on last night's visit, they have all but lost the character of the original company.

We ordered a shrimp appetizer to share, and were off to a good start. Five shrimp, probably 31/40s, were served in a casserole full of creole spiced butter, an ode to Ruth's New Orleans style. They were not earth shattering but tasty, with good crusty bread for dipping. We also shared a steakhouse salad with blue cheese dressing, which they were kind enough to split for us. I loved mine--greens, red onions, grape tomatoes--but Amy's was way overdressed. On to the entrees.

I know that I should have ordered a steak, but I have had remarkable fish dishes at other high end steak houses. Halibut was a special on the menu, so I ordered it. I was not impressed. The preparation obscured the fish. Any delicate flavor of the halibut was lost to the generous mound of garlicky bread crumbs. I may as well have been eating cod or sole, and I can live with that. But not for $29. Especially since the sides left a lot to be desired as well.

How a restaurant feels it's okay to charge $6.50 for 1/2 pound of plain old blanched broccoli is beyond me. No salt, no butter, no seasoning whatsoever, and only lukewarm to boot. The au gratin potatoes, undercooked (think al dente potatoes) and covered in oily cheddar, were also not worthy of the Ruth's Chris reputation. What did hold up, however, was the Petite Filet - a generous steak, served on a sizzling plate; it cut like the "buttah" in which it was served. It was the highlight of the meal for me.

In comparison to other high-end steakhouses we have visited, the service and ambiance were under par. Specials were recited by rote memory without commentary or enthusiasm or, it seemed, any knowledge of the food. The personalization of service and the little extras that make experiences at restaurants such as this memorable were lacking. The bartender, although friendly and personable, fell short on professionalism and polish (she swore in front of us) and knowledge (she wondered aloud what Armagnac was). Even the mahogany--or dark cherry-- was missing. In place of traditional steahouse decor was cheap pine laminate. Sadly fitting.

California Pizza Kitchen, Farmington, CT January 2008 Grade: A

2008-10-17T16:19:00.003-04:00

Amy writes...

A while ago, Joanne and I had both been wanting to go to Trader Joe’s for a stock-up and thought it would be fun to go together. Across the street from the store is a huge mall, and in that mall is a California Pizza Kitchen. We went there first, because it’s just never a good idea to shop at a grocery store hungry. Now, the two of us have always had a lot in common, but lately it’s been getting kind of creepy. So it didn’t really surprise either of us when we both ordered the exact same thing: the “Tricolore Salad Pizza” with a glass (or three…) of wine. We both tried “A by Acacia” Pinot Noir, a first for both of us. The wine was spicy and medium-bodied with hints of dark fruit, perhaps blackberries. It was easy to drink on its own but it also went quite well with our meal. Now, this salad/pizza (pizzalad???) is one of Joanne's favorites as it brings back memories of the pizza to end all pizzas she had in Florence, but it was my first time trying it. The crust was very thin and crispy, with parmesan cheese baked into it. There was also a hint of sweetness that neither of us could really place. We asked our server and she let out the secret - they brush the dough with corn syrup before cooking it that caramelizes in the brick oven and gives the crust that little extra something. Works for me. This amazing crust was topped with a three-color (hence the name) mix of arugula, radicchio and baby red leaf lettuce, as well as some chopped tomatoes tossed in a Dijon balsamic vinaigrette. I added grilled shrimp to mine, Joanne chose rosemary grilled chicken. Shaved parmesan was a great finishing touch to both, which really enhanced the parm found in the crust. The flavor profiles were spot on and – shocker! – I can tell it’s going to be a favorite of mine.

Our service was also very good. In most of our dining adventures, Joanne and I tend to sit at the bar because we find service is better there--especially at busy times. We were not proven wrong. Our bartender was friendly and efficient, and always within earshot. She checked on us without hovering, refilled water, and was knowledgeable about the menu, able to answer questions when we asked.

Overall it was a great experience, worthy of an A grade.

Dish, Hartford, CT May 2008 Grade: C

2008-10-17T15:44:00.002-04:00

Amy and Joanne write...

We made plans to go to a relatively new, upscale restaurant that both of us were dying to try. We decided to do it between our birthdays (this was back in early May). The place is called Dish and is in Hartford. It opened to some rave reviews, which is why our outing was so very disappointing. Here’s the dish on Dish.

Don’t let the funky industrial décor at Dish trick you into thinking the entrees are worth ten dollars more than most are at Hartford’s reliable Max Downtown. Your palate will know the difference. If it ever recovers from the butane taste. More on that in a minute. We were seated in the back of a mostly empty restaurant, with one of us overlooking UHart’s Senior Housing. Not much of a view. After ordering plain old tap water and a bottle of wine, we perused the menu and chose our meal. Our starter would be the “Surf and Turf Dumplings,” described on the menu as “Maine lobster with ginger-lemon aioli, and short rib of beef with natural jus,” for $14. We received three of each dumpling, served on a platter with two dipping sauces. The dumplings were encased in a dry, gummy wrapper that was hard to bite. The lobster ones had a nice amount of chunky lobster but nothing else, and the definitely needed the lemony flavor of the aioli, which lacked any hint of ginger. The short rib inside the others tasted and looked more like pulled pork, and were dry, so they needed the dipping sauce which was more like A-1 than natural jus. Not a good start.

What promised to be an interesting accompaniment to the Pan-Roasted Halibut entree—a brick of watermelon, flavored with fish sauce, then grilled and pressed—tasted like a butane Jolly Rancher. A sparse amount of springy mache was mixed with tinny-tasting mandarine oranges that seemed straight from a can. Not the arugula and clementines promised on the menu. However, the halibut was nicely cooked and, thankfully, left alone to proffer its mildly sweet flavor. Pricey, though, at $32.

Deconstructed plates seem to be a mainstay at Dish. The Maine Lobster Pot Pie was a deconstructed mess. Mushy, overcooked lobster swam in an odd-flavored heavy sauce the color of a burnt sienna crayon. The “seasonal” vegetables of carrots, potatoes and onions belied the fact that it was almost June. A thin oval of undercooked puff pastry rested on top with no apparent purpose other than decoration. The amount of lobster was certainly not the 1.25 pounds as promised on the menu, and for $34, it's not recommended.

Dessert, of which we forget the official name, resembled the aftermath of an explosion of chocolate covered strawberries. And tasted worse than it looked. After pushing our spoons around the “chocolate soil” on which the strawberries rested, we wondered where the requisite gummy worms were hidden. The berries were supposed to have been infused with honey, and if they were, it was barely so. The sauce on top was described as a chocolate sabayon, but it was quite thin and tasted of coffee. Strange cubes of “vanilla gel” looked like mozzarella or tofu cubes and had no taste whatsoever.

The highlight of the meal was the “Dish Bread,” a foot-long crunchy loaf filled with garlic herb oil and Boursin cheese. Yes, it was tasty, but what decent restaurant can’t put out a good garlic bread? We also enjoyed the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, at $38, the one decently priced item on our check.

Service was at best perfunctory. Our server felt the need to explain what “deconstructed” meant, but when asked questions, merely restated what was said on the menu. Without many other people to serve, our server should have given us much more attention. Instead, water glasses remained empty for up to ten minutes and dirty plates sat for what felt like ages. We never knew her name, for the only conversation that did take place involved our placing an order and her thanking us for it: Amy: “We’ll start with the dumplings.” Waitron: “Thank you.” Joanne: “I’ll have the halibut.” Waitron: “Thank you.” Amy: “I’ll have the lobster pot pie.” Waitron: “Thank you.” Then off she went. Strange indeed. When we received our bill, we realized we had been overcharged $3 for what we are now referring to as the “dumb-lings.” The explanation was that they had just changed their menu, which only means their prices are going even higher! Then, rather than split the bill in half onto two credit cards, Waitron added on a random six cents each. Was that a split bill charge? If so, we certainly expected it to be higher. Our opinion, go to Max Downtown. You’ll spend less and leave happier, and likely, with leftovers.

Burton's Grill , South Windsor, CT June 2008 Grade: B

2008-10-16T19:30:00.024-04:00

Joanne writes:

Amy and I went out for a celebration lunch to one of our favorite places, Burton's. We love it there, and are both regulars, but that doesn't mean we have nothing to say...

When it first opened, I happened upon it first. It would have been enough to love it just because it existed, and was not another national chain in an overdeveloped mall area, but I also loved the service and the sauteed shrimp appetizer. Amy and her husband C went on my recommendation and loved it too. We've all been regulars ever since. Back to lunch.

We don't often get to go out to lunch, so we were excited. But that's when we discovered the flaws. The menu offers a varitety of salads--Cobb, house, Ceasar, Mediterranean--but they are all entree size. No half salads or side salads to be found. If you happen to be with someone who wants to share the same kind of salad, you're in luck. They'll even deliver it on two plates. If not, skip to the entrees. Which is where we discovered problem number two.

Three lunch specials were listed: a grilled vegetable sandwich, a chef salad, and salmon picatta. I was happy because I love salmon and all things piccata. Amy, on the other hand, was not interested in any of them, so she felt relegated to said entree salads, a burger, or full-priced, full-portioned dinner entree. She didn't want a salad or a burger. And while she could have dug into a rib eye, she resented that they didn't offer a lunch portion. Ultimately she decided on the clam chowder, followed by the scallops appetizer.

The chowder was thin but flavorful, packed with clams and potatoes, with a touch of applewood smoked bacon. The server had asked if she wanted the scallops medium-rare, a question she had never been asked before, and said yes. She shouldn't have. The scallops were underdone for her taste, but they were seasoned well. They also had the ubiquitous applewood smoked bacon and a hint of jalapenos for nice spice.

I ordered the salmon piccata served over spaghetti. The salmon was delicious, cooked perfectly. The sauce was good, but could have been just a little lighter without the garlic, which--incidentally--is typically not part of a piccata. But the dish was crying for color and texture. Some wilted spinach or arugula would have elevated the dish from good to excellent.

We opted out of dessert that requires a fork, but have had a good experience with them in the past. Instead, we had dessert martinis and toasted to summer vacation.

Rizzuto's, West Hartford, CT June 2008 Grade: B+

2008-10-16T19:10:00.010-04:00

Amy writes:

A new place recently opened at Blue Back Square in West Hartford, so J and I naturally had to go check it out. The restaurant is called Rizzuto’s Wood-Fired Kitchen and Bar and is the second location to be opened (the other is in Bethel).

First, the space is pretty – very open, modern, with mirrors and glass everywhere. We were slightly confused by the dimensions and orientation of the bar – no matter where you sat, the entire restaurant was behind you. Not good for paranoid people… I also thought the drawing of a cow over the kitchen door was a bit strange, but otherwise liked the airy space.

We were there for a late lunch and were able to order from the lunch menu which ends at 4. The classic Italian menu starts with small plates of meats, cheese, vegetables and/or fish priced individually or in groups of one’s choice. There are several salads, both starter and entrée size, to which one can add protein. Next comes the wood-fired pizzas, paninis, and pastas, and finally, for heartier appetites, entrees and sides. Several specials were touted from large chalkboards in the dining area.

The wine selection, primarily Italian, is excellent. I started by ordering a bottle of Donnafugata, a wine I was surprised to see outside of Italy, where I first experienced it. I had noticed it on the online menu and was thinking of that wine all day. Unfortunately, I was disappointed as they were out. I chose the Peppoli Chianti instead, which was good, but not what I had been lusting after. J went with a white Piedmontese Gavi by the quartino, and pointed out that someone missed the lesson on volume in science class. Glasses are poured from small, six-ounce decanters. They are technically not quartinos, as described on the menu, and therefore, they are not a “greater value” as stated on the website. If you’re going to have more than one glass, go for the bottle. You can always take home the remainder.

We split an order of mussels. They were good, small and sweet, with lots of nice buttery sauce, and bits of proscuitto, but were missing nice crusty bread or toast points or toasted baguette slices or something for dipping into the sauce. The bread we were given was limp and spongy and generally unsatisfying, so the sauce went virtually untouched.

Next we shared a salad of baby spinach with caramelized onions, pancetta and gorgonzola cheese. It sounded great on the menu, and it was good, but it didn’t meet our expectations. It needed a little crunch and sweet balance. The caramelized onions and pancetta were few and far between, and didn’t add enough sweetness to the tangy, salty dressing. The gorgonzola cheese was creamy and delicious, but it either needed to be crumbled better or—as mentioned above—needed toasted bread slices for spreading, which then would eliminate the need for croutons for crunch.

I was nervous about the pizza after trying the bread. But the prosciutto, arugula and mozzarella pizza was very good. The crust was deceptively light and crisp, and the ingredients were fresh and nicely enhanced by a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It would have been better served with thin slices of parmesan rather than a smattering of shreds done table side. Also, the size was clearly individual but not priced so - $16 dollars seemed high for a 9, maybe 10-inch thin crust pie.

Dessert was delicious, and was the highlight of the meal. It’s called “Toasted Almond Panna Cotta” and was served with a salted caramel sauce and generous piece of almond brittle. The custard was delightfully creamy and sweet, and the caramel was salted just enough to balance out that sweetness. It reminded me a little of a Snicker’s bar, but in a good way. One small suggestion, though - someone from management should take a walk across the street to Crate and Barrel to pick up some inexpensive, but more appropriate dessert dishes. Eating panna cotta out of a water glass was a little awkward.

Perhaps they’re still working out the kinks. We had some ups and downs, but both of us agreed that we’d try it again. At least for dessert…