M and I were in NYC last week (more about that in the next entry) and on our way to pick up our dogs from the sitters, we stopped for breakfast at this little place in a strip mall called Cafe Opa. When we walked in, I didn't have particularly high expectations. Then an older man, who I assume is the owner, came over to seat us and was really kind and warm. We ordered the breakfast burrito with gyro meat, feta, eggs, etc., and it was excellent. The green chile on top, with a dask of tasziki sauce... mmmmm. I couldn't get over how good it was. We also had the french toast (called greek toast), and that was good, but not as good as the burrito.
When I googled Cafe Opa to find a link for this blog, I found two bad reviews for it on citysearch. I don't know if I'd go all the way out there to have dinner at Cafe Opa (I haven't been), but I would make the drive for that burrito.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: Nature didn't call.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Solera
M and I love Solera. We've been going here for years. Not many people can say that they're fortunate enough to live less than two blocks from such an exceptional restaurant (and not live downtown or in Cherry Creek North). We're big fans of eating in the bar area, but we've had bigger dinners with friends and family in both the main dining room, as well as on the cozy patio.
We go there so frequently that the folks have gotten to know us a bit. I know it's corny, (you know -- "where everyone knows your name," Cheers-esquiness) but it is so much more fun. The other thing is that there seems to be a bit more stability with the staff at Solera, so you don't have that revolving-door effect.
Anyway, M and I were in on a Wednesday evening, and we forgot that Wednesdays are the wine tasting nights. I forget the specifics, but it's a really great deal and draws quite a crowd. We had to stand for a while, but eventually the crowd thinned out and we got a seat at the bar. We did the surf and turf that night. It's a wonderful appetizer with seared sushi grade tuna and a very rare seared beef. For a while it had a tiny poached egg and was more truffle-y. Now it has this wasabi-infused caviar going on. Yummy either way.
We kept it light that night by just sticking with the appetizer. Other things we've had are the award winning duck, the calamari, the mac & cheese with scallops, and halibut in any form that Goose makes is always M's favorite.
I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that the food is spectacular, the people are super nice, and the location is a refreshing change.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: It's a little tight and a little edgy, but it is Colfax. Throw a few fancy toiletries in there, and you'd never notice! 3 out of 5 flushes.
We go there so frequently that the folks have gotten to know us a bit. I know it's corny, (you know -- "where everyone knows your name," Cheers-esquiness) but it is so much more fun. The other thing is that there seems to be a bit more stability with the staff at Solera, so you don't have that revolving-door effect.
Anyway, M and I were in on a Wednesday evening, and we forgot that Wednesdays are the wine tasting nights. I forget the specifics, but it's a really great deal and draws quite a crowd. We had to stand for a while, but eventually the crowd thinned out and we got a seat at the bar. We did the surf and turf that night. It's a wonderful appetizer with seared sushi grade tuna and a very rare seared beef. For a while it had a tiny poached egg and was more truffle-y. Now it has this wasabi-infused caviar going on. Yummy either way.
We kept it light that night by just sticking with the appetizer. Other things we've had are the award winning duck, the calamari, the mac & cheese with scallops, and halibut in any form that Goose makes is always M's favorite.
I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that the food is spectacular, the people are super nice, and the location is a refreshing change.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: It's a little tight and a little edgy, but it is Colfax. Throw a few fancy toiletries in there, and you'd never notice! 3 out of 5 flushes.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Willow, Pittsburgh
Hey y'all. It's been a while, but I'm back in action! I've obviously eaten in dozens of different places in Denver since I've last posted, but I thought I would make my "come-back" entry about an enjoyable dinner I had one evening during the AASL conference in Pittsburgh last week.
The restaurant is called Willow, and it's in the North Hills outside of downtown Pittsburgh. It's on this windy road with trees everywhere. I wish the trees were a little farther along on the color-turning, actually, but what can you do.
It was a vendor dinner, so they pre-ordered the appetizers and wine. I enjoyed the seared tuna appetizer the best, and the white they chose paired quite nicely with it. I ordered the duck they had on the menu. It was a little different than I expected it would be. It was more dark meat than the classic duck dish you would expect, but it was excellent. The berry chutney complemented the duck very nicely, and the side of mushroom orzo that I chose was great. A couple of ladies at the table shared the apple pie. The cinnamon ice cream was good, but the apples were a bit undercooked.
I can't help but also comment on the very well done decor at Willow. Modern but warm, trendy but with a natural element that keeps it down to earth. If I lived in Pittsburgh, I would probably spend quite a bit of time at this place.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: I give it four and a half out of five flushes. The coolest part of the bathroom was the sink. It was a rather narrow, trough-like structure that reminded me of the very cool sink in the bathrooms of Kona Grill in the Cherry Creek Mall. Not too much, but maintaining the design aesthetic of the entire restaurant.
The restaurant is called Willow, and it's in the North Hills outside of downtown Pittsburgh. It's on this windy road with trees everywhere. I wish the trees were a little farther along on the color-turning, actually, but what can you do.
It was a vendor dinner, so they pre-ordered the appetizers and wine. I enjoyed the seared tuna appetizer the best, and the white they chose paired quite nicely with it. I ordered the duck they had on the menu. It was a little different than I expected it would be. It was more dark meat than the classic duck dish you would expect, but it was excellent. The berry chutney complemented the duck very nicely, and the side of mushroom orzo that I chose was great. A couple of ladies at the table shared the apple pie. The cinnamon ice cream was good, but the apples were a bit undercooked.
I can't help but also comment on the very well done decor at Willow. Modern but warm, trendy but with a natural element that keeps it down to earth. If I lived in Pittsburgh, I would probably spend quite a bit of time at this place.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: I give it four and a half out of five flushes. The coolest part of the bathroom was the sink. It was a rather narrow, trough-like structure that reminded me of the very cool sink in the bathrooms of Kona Grill in the Cherry Creek Mall. Not too much, but maintaining the design aesthetic of the entire restaurant.
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