Posts Tagged ‘American’

Food news and events July 3, 2011

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

Downtown Italian restaurant Nostrano is adding lunch service, beginning Wednesday. The menu will feature items that incorporate ingredients from Co-owner and Chef Tim Dahl’s personal garden.

“I’m really excited to start executing a menu with all of the diverse flavors the warmer months have to offer,” Dahl said. “It doesn’t really get more local than this.”

Lunch will take place during the week from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Reservations will be accepted.

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Continuing on the success of its monthly Iron Chef competitions, downtown American restaurant 8 Seasons Grille is now offering a private version, called Your Personal Iron Chef. For $50 ($75 with wine pairings) per person, Executive Chef Nick Baertschy will take a secret ingredient and make a multi-course meal for your group of up to eight.

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In less than 24 hours since the fire at 24 N. Webster St., multiple fundraisers were created for the residents (and Underground Kitchen) that were displaced. Events include a benefit concert July 29 at the High Noon. For a complete listing, click here.

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It’s interesting how several restaurants on the block surrounded by E. Main Street, Webster Street, E. Doty Street and King Street closed around the same time, and now they are re-opening around the same time. Francisco’s Mexican Cantina replaced La Mestiza, the Tipsy Cow replaced King & Mane, Red Sushi Grill replaced The Haze and The Rigby will replace the Casbah.

43 North

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

In less than one month, the space that once held Cafe Continental quickly transformed into 43 North, a Muramoto-backed restaurant that serves contemporary American cuisine. The space is darker with an elegant, yet simple, decor, and I would recommend wearing business casual or better (though you could get away with dressy jeans) and reservations, especially on Friday and Saturday.

Dinner is divided into first course, second course, main course and cheese and desserts. With small portions in each course, you’re supposed to order several plates, but be forewarned of a likely expensive bill (mine was $108).

I tried the foie gras terrine and braised lamb from the first course. I was really impressed by the rich flavor of combining foie gras with blueberries and bread crumbs. The lamb was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and it came with a cauliflower puree that made for a tasty sauce (intentional or not).

I did not order anything from the second course list, but the French onion soup was tempting.

From the main course I ordered the poached lobster and tasted the beef strip loin. The lobster was slightly cold and really small but nonetheless good. I could not stand the celeriac cole slaw it came with (it was probably prepared well, I just don’t like that flavor). After I ate the lobster in five minutes, I was still starving.

Meanwhile, the beef strip loin was very good. The hint of horseradish that was added made for a nice touch. Sadly, the mashed potato-garlic puree also was a bit cold.

The bill came with a few squares of chocolate (awesome) and some packaged dessert cake, which I haven’t tried yet (saving it for later). That made for a pleasant surprise.

Side note: We were the first in the restaurant and of course were seated next to the window facing King Street, though the hostess made up some reason that it was more spacious to sit there (not to attract more customers, which is the real reason). The next group that came in was seated right next to us, despite every other table available.

43 North also has a full bar and an average-sized wine list. It’s open from 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010
I was surprised when Houlihan’s on the far west side closed a few years ago–I thought it did enough lunch, happy hour and hotel business, but apparently I was wrong. Its successor, the short-lived nightclub Out, was destined to fail (more on that some other time). The third contender is Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub, and I think it’s here to stay.

First, I was impressed with its service. My Friday night dinner there was sandwiched between  Thursday and Saturday dinner outings in which I thought I’d never see the waitress. But at Sprecher’s, our waiter was attentive without being overbearing and was good at multitasking. (Two diners at an adjacent table apparently had this waiter at a prior visit, as they quizzed him on what they ordered to drink last time, and he got it right!)

I sampled the brat, fish fry and sauerbraten with spaetzel, and all three were good. Without going into too much detail on the first two items–since they are hard to screw up–the fish was perfectly battered (crispy, not soggy), but I was disappointed that for $13 you only got three pieces instead of all-you-can-eat like you can for the same price at other restaurants.

The sauerbraten (super tender beef) was something I would order again, and the spaetzel was a perfect complement. However, if you’re not a meat fan, this dish is probably not for you, as the beef is, shall I say, not lean.

I also tried seven of their beers (the restaurant, by the way, is only licensed by name to Sprecher’s Brewing), with my favorites were the Black Bavarian and the Maibock. I recommend getting the sampler platter (about 3-oz. pours) if you can’t decide on one. 

What better way to end the meal than by having a root beer float? I tried the “low cal” root beer with chocolate ice cream. The root beer was surprisingly good for being lower in calories (I’m not sure by how much), but the ice cream was full of ice crystals, like it suffered from freezer burn.

Sprecher’s is open for lunch and dinner every day, with daily happy hour, outdoor seating and a side room for private parties.

    North Italia Urban Air

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