The Saturday Dining Conspiracy: July, 2009

July 4, 2009: Pao's Mandarin House.

Dwight's comments:

It was open. We're lazy. His Royal Majesty Andrew made a special request.

Lawrence's comments:

Not much new to say this time around. I still like the Three Cup chicken quite a bit, but I think they should try to bring it out still sizzling, which they didn't this time.

July 11, 2009: None.

Dwight's comments:

Lawrence was out of town.

A Saturday Dining Conspiracy Interlude: Olivia.

From: "A. T. Campbell, III" Date: Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:28:15 AM US/Central
To: (edited - DB)
Subject: restaurant non-recommendation
Friends,

Carol and I had her birthday dinner at Olivia tonight, and it was one of the most disappointing meals I've ever had at an expensive restaurant. The decor and service were fine, but the food was plain bad.
The menu at this place changes daily, so your mileage may vary.
First we were served complimentary olives, which were ordinary. Then we were served bread that looked like foccaccia but had no taste and a strange texture, so we wondered if one or more ingredients (probably salt) had been omitted from the recipe.
Tonight's menu had lots of uncooked meat (scallops, beef, oysters) and organs (tongue, liver, heart, jowl). We're adventurous but not into the seriously weird stuff, so we decided to try one of the most normal-looking appetizer plates. It had mortadella, lamb pate, and cheese. The mortadella was OK but the pate had little taste and an unusual texture that we found off-putting. The cheese turned out to be head cheese, and it was too salty and we couldn't eat much of it.
We followed that with salads (olivia greens salad and olivia caesar salad) that were edible but unremarkable.
Then came the entrees. Carol had the pan-seared amberjack with black lentils, farm okra, garlic, bacon, capers, and brown butter. She found the dish inedibly salty. She couldn't eat any of the bacon, and she ate a few bites of the fish but could not continue. I ordered hanger steak and frites. My steak was way overcooked, and I had to send it back twice before it was cooked properly, at which point it was merely OK. Carol had long since finished her entree before mine started. The fries were OK but way too salty, and I couldn't eat much of them.
At this point we were about ready to ask for the check and skedaddle, never to return. But the server offered us free dessert because of the birthday and steak-cooking problems, and we accepted. Carol had the chocolate lava cake with cinnamon ice cream, which she felt was by far the best thing she'd eaten. I asked for the blackberry cobbler ice cream (which they were out of, naturally) and settled for the orange peppermint rum ice cream, which was just OK.
We each had a glass of wine and some iced tea, but nothing was too remarkable.
The total bill (pre-tax and tip) was $100.
Afterward I looked at the reviews online and discovered that most people recommending the place have only been there for Sunday brunch, which has a completely different menu. I might try the brunch or just go there for dessert again, but do not plan to eat dinner there again.
A. T.

July 18, 2009: Fish City Grill The Triangle.

Dwight's comments:

Not any different than the other Fish City Grill. And I'm okay with that. Serviceable chain seafood at a decent price.

Lawrence's comments:

The overwhelming impression I have of Fish City Grill is of mediocrity. The appetizers (crab cake, calamari, glazed shrimp, gumbo) were all firmly in the good category, but I thought my blackened wahoo special was woefully underflavored. It may be that wahoo is every bit as bland as halibut, but also I don't think the blackening process was done up to the Paul "the skillet cannot be too hot" Prudhomme specifications; it tastes like they took some shortcuts. Waffle fries were adequate, hush puppies were bland.

Recently when I've gone to seafood restaurants, I've found myself thinking "I should be daring, and try something other than the crab legs." Then I get something else, only to find it disappointing while someone else (usually Andrew) gets the crab and seems quite satisfied with them.

Next time, I think I'll get the crab legs.

July 25, 2009: The Boathouse Grill on 620.

Dwight's comments:

Very informal but quite good food out near the lake. Burgers, some fried seafood, chicken fried steak, and a few other items. Limited indoor seating.

Lawrence's comments:

I like it! If you can get past the no-frills, order-at-the-counter ambiance, the Boat House serves up excellent onion rings, very good chicken fried steak (possibly second only to RO's Outpost and fries, and pretty credible milk shakes.

If you're looking for down home food in this neck of the woods, this is miles above the local incarnation of the Lone Star Café, and the food is better than Hoover's. Well worth a try if you're out this way.