It looks great. Really. I wouldn't have even stepped foot in there before they re-did the Krameria Cafe. But the service is painfully slow (especially when you're all empty-stomachy and the coffee is eating a hole in your stomach lining because you've had four refills and your food still isn't ready!)
I was so optimistic, too. I saw they had a gyro-egg thing that reminded me of the breakfast we had at Cafe Opa that I enjoyed. This dish -- not so good. The gyro meat was burned, the eggs were so-so. The "butter" on the toast was just nasty.
I think this is actually the first completely negative review I've done on this blog so far. Bummer, because it could have a lot of potential. We'll wait and see.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: I know I had all that time on my hands, but I never made it to the bathroom.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Rioja
I've been to Rioja about a half dozen times since it opened and have generally enjoyed it, but the dinner we had on a recent Saturday night with KB & C (sans Baby J) was exceptional.
Our reservation was on the early side, and we got a cozy seat in the "sidecar" area on the right side of the restaurant. We got the party started with a cocktail. KB went with the classic vodka martini, M with the Bombay Sapphire martini, C with a Belvedere and soda with lemon, and me with the only girly drink at the table, the Pomiginger martini (I love ginger!!!).
Before I mention the apps, I must give praise to our exceptional server. I can't remember his name, but he was an absolute superstar. Perfectly funny, friendly, polished and professional. He even whipped out his mini flashlight when C wanted to know the maker of the shnazzy pepper mill he was using.
Anyway, the appetizer was the Rioja Picnic. M and I had this one afternoon this past summer on the mini patio in front (another great day). It includes olives, chorizo, some dried duck thing, a couple of yummy cheeses, toasted almonds, and a shaved fennel and red onion thing. Sooo good.
The two couples each split a salad. House for KB & C, Beet Salad for M and me (accomodatingly w/o walnuts for me!) Then the main course. Both C and M had the veal. M wanted to try the Veal Cheeks because the dish had a cavatelli-like ricotta/gnocchi side. He liked the flavor but thought he gnocchi too mushy. KB and I both went with the duck. Mmm mmm mmm. Perfect for a post-Thanksgiving, it-sure-is-winter kind of feeling. MMMM!
We were so full by the end, but as pleasantly so as possible. We walked it off a bit on our way to the ballet, which by the way, was wonderful. Yeay!
Our reservation was on the early side, and we got a cozy seat in the "sidecar" area on the right side of the restaurant. We got the party started with a cocktail. KB went with the classic vodka martini, M with the Bombay Sapphire martini, C with a Belvedere and soda with lemon, and me with the only girly drink at the table, the Pomiginger martini (I love ginger!!!).
Before I mention the apps, I must give praise to our exceptional server. I can't remember his name, but he was an absolute superstar. Perfectly funny, friendly, polished and professional. He even whipped out his mini flashlight when C wanted to know the maker of the shnazzy pepper mill he was using.
Anyway, the appetizer was the Rioja Picnic. M and I had this one afternoon this past summer on the mini patio in front (another great day). It includes olives, chorizo, some dried duck thing, a couple of yummy cheeses, toasted almonds, and a shaved fennel and red onion thing. Sooo good.
The two couples each split a salad. House for KB & C, Beet Salad for M and me (accomodatingly w/o walnuts for me!) Then the main course. Both C and M had the veal. M wanted to try the Veal Cheeks because the dish had a cavatelli-like ricotta/gnocchi side. He liked the flavor but thought he gnocchi too mushy. KB and I both went with the duck. Mmm mmm mmm. Perfect for a post-Thanksgiving, it-sure-is-winter kind of feeling. MMMM!
We were so full by the end, but as pleasantly so as possible. We walked it off a bit on our way to the ballet, which by the way, was wonderful. Yeay!
Sushi Sasa
I'm behind again. The night we went to Sushi Sasa was the night after the Broncos kicked the Jets' behinds at Mile High. KB & C invited M and I to join them and Baby J for the game. It was great. Kind of tough having grown up a Jets fan, but that was a long, long time ago on an island far, far away. I live in Broncos Country now, and my brother and father have both converted to being G-men.
Nonetheless, we were going to stop in at My Brother's Bar for a bite, but it was closed. So Sushi Sasa and it's vinyl "now open" sign beckoned us from across the street. We went for it and were not disappointed.
It was very quiet when we first arrived, and our sporty attire was a bit out of synch with the sleek modernism. We were with the sushi guru, (C) though, and I felt confident that while the other members of the sushi congregation might have pood-poohed our garb, we were with a true believer.
As usual, I can't exactly remember everything we ordered. I know we went with the can't-be-beat price on a Ferrara sauvignon blanc. We went with it twice, as a matter of fact.
There was a great sashimi appetizer that rocked. I can't remember what it was, though. M had the cooked cod reminiscent of the cod we had at Nobu and he loved it. There was a lot of sushi and it was fantastic.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: M went first, and since I've been practicing my Italian, I asked "Dov e?" He replied "a sinistra," which means "on the left." It was actually a sinistra e then a destra. Hee hee, hoo hoo... I guess you had to be there. Anyway, the bathroom was sweet in that it's a single. Nicely decorated with a sunken glass sink. (Although they should spray paint the u-pipe cover black, I think.) 4 out of 5 flushes.
Nonetheless, we were going to stop in at My Brother's Bar for a bite, but it was closed. So Sushi Sasa and it's vinyl "now open" sign beckoned us from across the street. We went for it and were not disappointed.
It was very quiet when we first arrived, and our sporty attire was a bit out of synch with the sleek modernism. We were with the sushi guru, (C) though, and I felt confident that while the other members of the sushi congregation might have pood-poohed our garb, we were with a true believer.
As usual, I can't exactly remember everything we ordered. I know we went with the can't-be-beat price on a Ferrara sauvignon blanc. We went with it twice, as a matter of fact.
There was a great sashimi appetizer that rocked. I can't remember what it was, though. M had the cooked cod reminiscent of the cod we had at Nobu and he loved it. There was a lot of sushi and it was fantastic.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: M went first, and since I've been practicing my Italian, I asked "Dov e?" He replied "a sinistra," which means "on the left." It was actually a sinistra e then a destra. Hee hee, hoo hoo... I guess you had to be there. Anyway, the bathroom was sweet in that it's a single. Nicely decorated with a sunken glass sink. (Although they should spray paint the u-pipe cover black, I think.) 4 out of 5 flushes.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
NYC -- Da Ciro Ristorante
So, the next night, we saw JP & MG again, as well as T-Bird and her man, T. We all got together at Da Ciro Ristorante, a place where T and T-Bird are frequent diners and are well-known. I started with a glass of prosecco, and almost everyone else has a yummy glass of red. Before we were seated, we nibbled on some olives that were beautifully arranged in bowls on the small bar. Then they brought out the famous foccacia robiola. Good God! Ridiculously good. I'm shaking my head with solemnity even as I type this.
Dinner was also excellent. I had the home made tagliolini con gamberetti -- pasta with shrimp, arugola, and tomatoes. Exactly what I was in the mood for. I've been jonesing for some arugola in my pasta since our trip to Italy this past summer. M had the veal special and loved it, too. the only other person's meal that I recall was T-Bird's. She ordered the whole fish special, and when the server brought it out, he actually "carved" it for her at the table!
That's the other thing, the servers were all very friendly and fun, but without being too much so. Finally, we finished with the tiramisu.
A fantastic evening!
Dinner was also excellent. I had the home made tagliolini con gamberetti -- pasta with shrimp, arugola, and tomatoes. Exactly what I was in the mood for. I've been jonesing for some arugola in my pasta since our trip to Italy this past summer. M had the veal special and loved it, too. the only other person's meal that I recall was T-Bird's. She ordered the whole fish special, and when the server brought it out, he actually "carved" it for her at the table!
That's the other thing, the servers were all very friendly and fun, but without being too much so. Finally, we finished with the tiramisu.
A fantastic evening!
NYC -- Tabla
So as I mentioned in the previous entry, M and I went to NYC last week. He went for work and I went for play. We got to see good friends (& family), eat well, and even see Wicked (because God knows you couldn't get tickets to the Denver shows!!!)
JP and MG took M and I out for dinner the night we flew in to Tabla, an exceptional restaurant that is fine dining with an Indian flare. Downstairs is the Bread Bar, which is more casual, but still very good (so I'm told). We dined in the swankier upstairs dining room, and after much deliberation, decided to go for the Fall Tasting Menu with wine pairings. We were not disappointed. Here's the problem, though. I don't exactly remember the different dishes and the menu isn't up on their website yet. I know it seems like a cop-out, but I know I enjoyed absolutely everything. The naan bread was spectacular, there was a great lobster dish, some red snapper thing that rocked... Sorry-- I just can't remember!
Perhaps I'm having such difficulty recollecting this because of all the wine! I don't exactly remember those either, but they were great, too. We weren't even buzzed, though. In fact, we were bragging about our high-altitude-iness and whatnot. Oh well, I'll bug M to see if he can remember a little more and maybe add an update to this entry later.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: I know I used the bathroom, because I remember it was downstairs in the Bread Bar area. I remember it was nice but small (like so much in NYC) and that the Indian music was really cranked up in there. 3.5 out of 5 flushes.
JP and MG took M and I out for dinner the night we flew in to Tabla, an exceptional restaurant that is fine dining with an Indian flare. Downstairs is the Bread Bar, which is more casual, but still very good (so I'm told). We dined in the swankier upstairs dining room, and after much deliberation, decided to go for the Fall Tasting Menu with wine pairings. We were not disappointed. Here's the problem, though. I don't exactly remember the different dishes and the menu isn't up on their website yet. I know it seems like a cop-out, but I know I enjoyed absolutely everything. The naan bread was spectacular, there was a great lobster dish, some red snapper thing that rocked... Sorry-- I just can't remember!
Perhaps I'm having such difficulty recollecting this because of all the wine! I don't exactly remember those either, but they were great, too. We weren't even buzzed, though. In fact, we were bragging about our high-altitude-iness and whatnot. Oh well, I'll bug M to see if he can remember a little more and maybe add an update to this entry later.
E.O.D. Bathroom Rating: I know I used the bathroom, because I remember it was downstairs in the Bread Bar area. I remember it was nice but small (like so much in NYC) and that the Indian music was really cranked up in there. 3.5 out of 5 flushes.
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