Category Archives: American (New)

How to Cook a Wolf

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The menu doesn’t adequately convey the complexity of the food here. We had an outstanding meal in this cozy Queen Anne restaurant. Simple dishes like sourdough bread come alive with spreads featuring fennel or roasted garlic and balsamic. The “bruschetta” is actually crostinia spread with smoked fish dip. And, most stunning of all, a pappardelle was infused with orange zest, mint, and chili oil. Truly the best pasta dish I’ve ever had.

Service by Martin was stellar. He was a great host, waiter, and informant about all of the dishes.

The bar is turning out great cocktails, while the wine list leans more toward austere whites and international reds.

While compact, the dining area is not overly noisy. Definitely exceeded our expectations.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/how-to-cook-a-wolf-seattle

Canlis

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This is certainly one of the most remarkable and storied restaurants in America. Twenty-five years ago I first visited, and was struck by the beauty of the restaurant, its view, and the food. Now, all these years later, it’s great to see that it is still in the family, and has evolved with the times to an even higher level of food and service, without sacrificing the interior design that made it so striking when it was founded in 1950.

We had dinner in The Caché, the intimate upstairs private room that used to be Mt. Canlis’ office. It commands a striking view, and is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner.

A consistent winner of the Wine Spectator’s Grand Award, the wine list is both broad and offers good depth of vintages, with great wines for any budget.

The multi-course menu offered selections of three of the six courses, and there were actually far more than six because some courses were comprised of many small bites. We loved almost everything excepting the actual main courses we chose, which were not quite the tour de force of the fixed courses.

Service was very professional yet friendly. And you can’t beat the view!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/canlis-seattle

Delaney’s Tavern

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Somehow I’d never made it to Delaney’s Tavern. I really liked the place and wish we’d tried it sooner. It’s now incorporated into a hotel across from the hospital. Parking is available in the structure behind it; just be sure to get a paper slip from your server so you can get out of the garage.

The menu offers the kind of eclectic dishes I’d put on the menu if I owned a restaurant. We started with both the crab beignets and the arancini. Both were good; I’d definitely have the crab again. It’s pretty large, so one app would have been enough for the two of us.

Arancini
Blue Crab Beignets

My French dip was very good. I liked that the dipping sauce wasn’t overly salted as it sometimes is. The accompanying potato wedges had a nice parmesan crust.

Service was friendly and well-paced.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/delaneys-tavern-orlando

SingleThread Farm – Restaurant- Inn

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Check presentation
Sorbet
Wagashi (course 11 of 11 courses)
Sonoma Grains (course 8 of 11 courses)
Duclair Duck (course 7 of 11 courses)
Bone broth for Ume Medai (course 6/ of 11 courses)
Ume Medai (course 6 of 11 courses)
Smoked Salmon with Steelhead Roe (our favorite course) (course 4 of 11 courses)
Duck Liver Parfait (course 5 of 11 courses)
Interior
Koginut squash (second half of course 3 of 11 courses)
Koginut squash (first half of course 3 of 11 courses)
Half of the second course of 11 courses, mussels and uni.
Second half of the first course (of 11 courses)!
Just half of the first course (of 11 courses)!
Kitchen
Exterior

***** (5 stars)

Phenomenal experience on Christmas Eve. Eleven courses (more like 40 if you count every item) and it’s hard to pick a favorite. But it’s my job, so I’ll make the call: the smoked salmon covered in steelhead roe!

But seriously, everthing was superb, and the service was that perfect balance of professionalism and friendliness that you rarely find accompanying elevated cuisine.

Although not inexpensive, I have to say that the dinner is very fairly priced.

The wine list has impressive breadth, and some depth, with stunning selections of the top wines, and stunning prices to match, but for those who invest some effort (I suggest a thorough perusal online before your visit) there are some gems here. A specific recommendation for chardonnay fans: 2015 Journeyman Chardonnay (complex, malolactic, good acid, touch of oak, apple, citrus, spice, caramel, honey, true expression of chardonnay fruit).

A really memorable dinner.

SingleThread Farm – Restaurant- Inn
131 North St
Healdsburg, CA
95448
(707) 723-4646
https://www.yelp.com/biz/singlethread-farm-restaurant-inn-healdsburg-7

Goose & Gander

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Downstairs bar
Orange tart
Fish and chips
Interior
Interior
Cheesesteak
Exterior

***** (5 stars)

This charming restaurant is located on a side street of St. Helena’s Main Street. The delightful space upstairs offers high beamed ceilings and an open kitchen, plus lots of duck hunting memorabilia. Downstairs is an atmospheric bar that also has table seating. And there is also lovely outdoor dining.

The menu offers elevated comfort food such as fish and chips, or cheesesteak sandwiches, both of which were good. The orange tart with kumquat marmalade was excellent.

The wine list is very extensive, with plenty of selections from around the world and a nice assortment of half bottles.

Service was very attentive and welcoming.

Goose & Gander
1245 Spring St
Saint Helena, CA
94574
(707) 967-8779
https://www.yelp.com/biz/goose-and-gander-saint-helena-2

The Restaurant At Meadowood

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Interior
Foyer

**** (4 stars)

It’s a bit difficult to rate a restaurant based upon a special meal, and we dined on the final night of The Restaurant’s Twelve Days of Christmas 2019 event. On the other hand, the final night is when The Restaurant’s own chef, Christopher Kostow, is in charge, so one assumes the food is representative of the normal quality.

Unfortunately, that seemed to be all over the map. There were indeed some of the stunning courses you’d expect from a three-star Michelin, such as the trout roe, the oxheart carrot, and the sunchoke trifle. But there were also some notable misses, including the unappealing quail, tough pork collar, and many others.

The service made up for a lot of that. It included the kind of synchronized moves that Michelin raters seem to fawn over, but also was very gracious and welcoming, and apologetic for the long wait for our table (no doubt the result of it being the third seating of a completely new menu).

The setting is also sublime: a not-overdone graceful simplicity, and a remarkably good illusion of snowflakes falling outside, to complement the festive mood.

What to make of it? Hard to say without a repeat visit, but at $1000 for two (with wine) I’m not in a hurry to do so.

The Restaurant At Meadowood
900 Meadowood Ln
St. Helena, CA
94574
(707) 967-1205
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-restaurant-at-meadowood-st-helena

Acacia House by Chris Cosentino

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Exterior
Brunch salmon
Brunch chilaquiles
Interior

**** (4 stars)

Nice modern space inside a venerable old house. Friendly and accommodating staff. We went for Saturday brunch. The smoked salmon was served with all the possible accompaniments, including a nice dill cream cheese. Chilaquiles were also very good. The highlight was the best margarita I’ve ever had, served chilled, with a salty foam.

Acacia House by Chris Cosentino
1915 Main St
Saint Helena, CA
94574
(707) 963-9004
https://www.yelp.com/biz/acacia-house-by-chris-cosentino-saint-helena

The Edison

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Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Grilled Edison Wings
Interior
Interior
Interior
Exterior

*** (3 stars)

This is a spectacularly set decorated multi-level space where The Adventurer’s Club used to be. Old machinery forms the decor, and old movies play on flat panels and projectors. At night there are even aerial acrobatics, but it’s much more relaxing during the day.

This is the sort of place that almost demands you have a cocktail–preferably a classic cocktail–to match the decor. And the drinks are good, although pricey.

Unfortunately the food doesn’t live up to the surroundings. The menu is pretty much basic sports bar, but not particularly well prepared. Chicken wings were particularly flaccid, with a soggy, loose skin that was quite unappealing. The buffalo chicken sandwich was better, although the accompanying fries were also limp.

Service was friendly and attentive.

The Edison
1570 East Buena Vista Dr
Lake Buena Vista, FL
32830
(407) 560-9288
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-edison-lake-buena-vista-4