Umami: I died and went to Burger Paradise!

When I had heard that Umami was opening up in Manhattan I got extremely excited. My boyfriend had gone several times in California when visiting his cousin, and always raved about this place! For some reason, it took me forever to finally find time in my calendar to make it to this place, but I am glad I did! 

I had originally thought this place was more of a counter service type of place, but upon entering you immediately realize its a sit down casual eatery. They had a beer selection and a full bar.

Our waiter was super attentive and did not waste any time on coming over to get our drink order.

The Manly Burger - beer-cheddar, bacon lardons, smoke-salt onion strings, Umami house ketchup, mustard spread

We ordered two types of burgers and split them. Definitely not enough room in our stomachs for the fries, which I hear are amazing and are paired with dipping sauces!
The Manly Burger was everything like the name, a burger covered in very heavy, manly ingredients. It was topped with beer-cheddar, bacon lardons, smoke-sale onion strings, Umami ketchup, and mustard spread. The bun was printed with the Umami logo which was a nice touch.

Biting into this luscious burger was like an explosion of flavors. The meat was very tender and juicy. All the juices just ran right out of the meat and onto the plate. It was amazing! The mustard spread gave the burger a nice spicy taste, while the rest of the ingredients just gave it that MMM flavor!

The Royale - Beef patty topped with braised short rib, truffled aioli, and Umami truffle cheese

The second burger we ordered was the Royale. This one was my favorite. It was a beef patty topped with braised short rib, truffled aioli, and Umami truffle cheese. This burger was definitely messy, but so worth it! The short rib was so juicy and complimented the truffle flavor very well. This burger was probably the most truffle-y burger I have ever had, and I loved it! Compared to the $50 White Truffle Burger I had at Burger and Barrel,, this was a much better value. The truffle burger at Burger and Barrel had truffle pieces, but lacked that yummy truffle flavor that truffle oil gives off so well. I realized that truffle oil has so much more flavor than actual truffles, and I will go with the $15 Royale at Umami anytime over the $50 White Truffle Burger at Burger and Barrel.

I loved this place. I already am ready to go back again soon! Next time, I need to have room to try the fries too!

The General: Foodie's Asian Fusion Heaven

My boyfriend and I heard many great things about the General (199 Bowery, at Delancey) after his sister went there for a friend's birthday dinner. We bought into an Urban Daddy Perk deal for the restaurant so we could try an array of items of the menu at a discounted cost since a night out with drinks and all the courses at a trendy restaurant can tend to break the bank. We paid $79 for a tasting menu for 2 that included a drink each. It was definitely a great deal, and the assortment of food was perfect! 

The drink menu had many choices and varied from sweet to spicy with many different concoctions. Cocktails ranged from $14-$21 each, which is a pretty steep price, but at least we had our voucher to cover one of our rounds. All in all, the two cocktails I had were very different from each other, and certainly excelled in flavor.

Edamame

First off, we were served edamame. I know its pretty hard to do edamame wrong, but this edamame was steamed to the perfect level so it wasn't soggy, but it wasn't too crunchy either. There was just the right amount of salt on it, to give it that salty taste without being overwhelming. 

Mercy Roll- spicy tuna - jalapeño salt - salsa verde, and avocado

Secondly, we were served the Mercy Roll. The mercy roll had spicy tuna inside, with some salsa verde and jalapeno pieces mixed in. The roll was then covered in avocado slices and sprinkled with some spices. The roll was spicy, while at the same time just delicious!

Chinese Chicken Tacos -  Avocado, Bell Pepper, Sweet Chili

Thirdly, we were given the Chinese Chicken Tacos. Generally chicken tacos can be dry and not as flavorful as other meats, but these were out of this world! They were very moist and sauced up with a spicy sauce that contained bell peppers and chilies. There were also slices of avocados on the bottom of each taco. The sprinkling of scallions on top also added a nice flavor to each bite. I don't know if any chicken taco can measure up to this Asian style taco!

Veggie Robata Skewer - asparagus - king oyster mushroom - japanese sweet potato

Next, we were served the Veggie Robata Skewer. There were four skewers of asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. This was our least favorite item at the table, but still very delicious. It was nice and light since it was all vegetables. It was in a nice light sauce that added that Asian flavor.

Crispy Shrimp - Spicy Mayo

For the main courses, we were served 2 main items, and a side. My favorite was the Crispy Shrimp! It was soooooo good. It was shrimp fried in a tempura like batter with spicy mayo all over them. The spicy mayo wasn't the typical creamy spicy mayo that you get all over your sushi, it was much tangier and not creamy. I loved it! I also loved that you could see pieces of chile in the sauce. This was definitely a spicy dish that needed many drink breaks :)

Hung's Fried Rice - Chinese Sausage, Shrimp, egg

Hung's fried rice was served on side of this dish, and was the perfect consistency for fried rice. It was nice and oily, without being too oily. It was served with sausage, shrimp, and a sunny side egg on top!

Schezuan Chicken -  Carrot, zucchini, yellow squash, green onions, and chilies

Our last entree was the Schezuan Chicken. This dish was good, but not my favorite. It was a sweeter, flavorful dish that had tons of red peppers in it! The dish itself wasn't spicy unless you bit into the red peppers, which I made the mistake of doing! My mouth was on fire! I loved the assortment of vegetables that were part of the dish, and the tenderness of the chicken.

Happy Boyfriend!

Happy Carlen! 

I definitely would go back to the General, since the service, the food, and the drinks were all very enjoyable. We probably would not be able to order as many courses next time, since just our extra drinks on top of our voucher cost were so expensive! This is definitely a place you go to if you want to be seen or have a scene to people watch in since it tends to have a trendy clubby feel. They have outdoor seating, as well as lounge seating, and also a jazz bar downstairs that I want to try next time I go! Happy Eating!

Crave Fishbar : My Favorite Oyster Happy Hour

Since $1 oysters are one of my favorite happy hour specials, I couldn't help but try Crave Fishbar (945 2nd Ave)! After walking by the $1 oyster from 5-7 pm sign every morning on the way to work, and every evening on the way home, I knew this was a spot I had to try! I have been back 4 times since! 

Besides the food and the great happy hour special, I love the ambiance and decor. It is very nautical and homey. If I had a house, I would decorate it like this place. Also, there is an upstairs that is great for parties and groups and their menu is very gluten-free friendly. 

At my most recent visit to Crave, it seemed as though the drink specials during happy hour had changed. It always used to be that select wines were $7 a glass, and this time, the waiter told us that special was not being offered and that it was only half off a bottle of sparkling wine. My friend and I were not in the mood for sparkling wine, and were very disappointed in this new change to the happy hour.  We ended up having to order the wine we usually order, but at regular cost instead of happy hour cost :(  Their website still says there is a wine special of $7 select wines, so this confuses me greatly. I am wondering if the waiter we had was clueless. 

$1 Oysters, West and East Coast

What's very unique about the $1 oyster happy hour special at Crave Fishbar is that there is not only one type of oyster that is part of this special, it's the whole oyster menu, which generally is around 18 different oysters!You can order East coast or West coast or both! Most places with a $1 oyster happy hour special only offer Blue Point as part of this special.

I find it very exciting to try one of each of the various kinds of oysters to compare and contrast the different flavors of each with your dining partner.
This past time was no different, we ordered 8 different types of oysters. In order to keep track of which one you are eating, the waiter always brings the list of the oysters you ordered and matches it with the tray by guiding you that it is from the orange slice clockwise. Definitely very helpful!

Our Oyster Selections

Chopped Local Spicy Scallop - Sweet potato, nori powder, homemade oyster cracker

For our first appetizer, we ordered the Chopped Local Spicy Scallop. This dish was not supposed to be gluten free, but my friend, who is gluten free asked if it could be done, and it could! I am not exactly sure what was changed, but all I know was that this dish was absolutely amazing! The scallops were chopped up and covered in a very light spicy mayo type of sauce, then sprinkled in nori powder and scallions, and placed on top of a sweet potato slice. This appetizer was refreshing and gluttonous all at once!

Rice Dusted Point Judith Calamari - Thai miso sauce, mung bean sprouts, aleppo chile (gluten-free)

The second appetizer we ordered was the Rice Dusted Point Judith Calamari. Oddly, this appetizer was gluten free, which is rare for a fried calamari. It was very different than any other calamari I have ever had, because it was moist, and full of flavor, with the thai miso sauce and chilies offering quite the array of flavors from sweet to spicy. Normally, I find that fried calamari is dry and uninteresting with each bite tasting the same as the last. This dish I could not have enough of, as each bite made me want to have more and more. I also loved the crunch the bean sprouts added to the dish to give it textural interest. 

Fluke Ceviche Tostada - Bean puree, hearts of palm, baby romaine, thai chile

For our third appetizer, we had the Fluke Ceviche Tostada, which I have ordered every time I have been at Crave Fishbar, because it it just that good! This dish is on top of a fried corn tortilla with pureed beans, hearts of palm, romaine lettuce, chilies, and delicious fluke ceviche! The fluke has a perfect level of citrus flavor as all ceviche should have, with a spicy flavor from the chilies. I love the fresh romaine and hearts of palm that add crunch and fresh flavor to the dish, while the beans add the hearty flavor that minimizes the spicy chile flavor.

I highly suggest visiting Crave Fishbar! You won't be disappointed. I also suggest ordering their Lobster Curry for dinner, as I had this on one of my other visits and it was out of this world! I just hope they change their happy hour back to $7 select wines, as then I will truly be their best customer for happy hour! 

Buon Amici : An Italian Go-To

I have been to Buon Amici (238 Central Ave) in White Plains, NY for many occasions. It has been my boyfriend's family's "Go-To" spot for birthdays, family dinners, and just a good meal. You know when you are going there, you will get great service, a delicious meal, and leave feeling stuffed beyond belief! The owner, Chris is always there to greet us, and couldn't be any more friendly to all the patrons at his restaurant. We always know that our favorite waiter, Nick will be the one at our table, and we can count on great service! 

When going to Buon Amici, you NEVER order off the menu. The menu has the traditional Italian specialties that you can order at many Italian restaurants, but the Specials of the day are what you order when you come here! They are always different that amazing! The one thing you can always count on is the Burrata! 

Wedge Salad

I have an addiction to wedge salads due to the blue cheese and bacon piled on top of them! This one was just as good as I was hoping. It actually had Gorgonzola crumbles instead of the normal blue cheese crumbles, with blue cheese dressing to add a different flare to this salad.

Burrata Salad

My boyfriend's favorite item on any menu is the Burrata! The burrata at Buon Amici is hands down, his FAVORITE burrata of any restaurant! We always listen to the specials menu, waiting and hoping they will say burrata, and luckily they always do. A trip to Buon Amici without it wouldn't be the same! It is the creamiest burrata there is, and it just melts in your mouth!

Stuffed Zucchini

At this most recent visit, the specials menu had Stuffed Zucchini filled with mixed vegetables. Based on the description, it sounded like a lot of vegetables, but it was absolutely divine. It was so flavorful and was covered in cheese and sauce, almost like a new take on eggplant parmigiana, but it was Zucchini Parmigiana! I wish I could have some now. This is a dish, I definitely may try to tackle in the kitchen myself.

Almond Crusted Soft Shell Crab with Mixed Vegetables

This year, soft shell crabs were a new thing for me. After trying them for the first time, I could not have enough. I have mostly had them prepared with Old Bay and grilled, or in a buttery sauce, but never have I had them as good as Buon Amici! There were crusted in a light flour, with almonds, and served with mixed vegetables. The sauce they were in was a white wine sauce that was just so flavorful and light. If I could relive this meal, I totally would!

Veal Chop with Broccoli Rabe

The veal chop was flavorful and meaty, that's for sure! We liked the description of two of the dishes from the specials menu, and asked if we could combine them, and Buon Amici was more than willing to accommodate us. We wanted the veal chop from one of the dishes, but wanted it paired with the pappardelle instead of just plain veggies. The pappardelle was supposed to originally be paired with ossobuco, but we really wanted the veal chop instead, and we got what we wanted! :)

Pappardelle Pasta Side (made specially for us)

Chocolate Bomb

For dessert, I am a sucker for a warm chocolate lava cake. I ordered the chocolate bomb, which ended up being just that! It was paired with coconut ice cream, which was soooo refreshing and so delicious!

Pineapple Sorbet in a Pineapple 

Another dessert at the table that was very interesting was pineapple sorbet served inside of a pineapple. Not my favorite, since I am not a pineapple lover, and tend to think its a very sour fruit, but I know that everyone at the table LOVED it!

I highly suggest visiting this restaurant if you are in White Plains. It is low key, casual, and very good for groups. It will be a meal to remember, and one to celebrate a special occasion at. In the night that we were there, there were 3 or 4 birthdays being celebrated. If you go, say hi to Chris for me! 

Shake Shack's Shack-cago Dog: Who knew?!

I recently read a review about the best hot dogs in NY. Shake Shake's Shack-cago dog made it to the list, as one of the best hot dogs! I never even considered ordering a hot dog at this hamburger heaven of an establishment, so this was quite a surprise!

I had to try this out for myself to see if the reviews were right! 

• Shack-cago Dog®

  Dragged through the garden with Rick's Picks Shack relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport pepper, celery salt and mustard.

I did enjoy all the toppings that came on the hot dog, which were relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, pepper, celery, salt, and mustard. I am definitely a topping person whether its hot dogs, burgers, sundaes, nachos, etc, so the array of toppings definitely made me happy and peaked my interest. Although, I must say, the hot dog itself was not the best I ever had. The hot dog wasn't grilled enough, and almost tasted boiled since there were barely any grill marks. Hot dogs should be well done with grill marks on them in order to pass the test!

As my boyfriend stated, the hot dog wasn't even the best hot dog on 86th St.! He is going to continue getting his hot dogs from Papaya King at the corner of 3rd Ave and 86th St.They have many different toppings and combinations, almost like a hot dog heaven!  :)

I am going to stick to ordering burgers at this joint! Shack Stack all the way! MMMM!

Fatty Fish : A Great Neighborhood Secret!

I've been begging my boyfriend to try Fatty Fish (406 East 64th St., between 1st and York Ave.) for months because of the catchy name and cute logo without even know if it's any good.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, on a random week night, I was quite surprised to see that most of the tables were taken in the front of the restaurant. We were taken through the whole restaurant to the back where there was a beautiful enclosed patio. It was so cute and so nice that you felt like you were outside. I have never seen a room like this at a sushi place. I loved it!

Coconut Knock Out

We decided to look at the cocktail menu, even though at sushi restaurants we general opt for beer or sake. The cocktail menu was extremely interesting with many choices. We both ordered the Coconut Knock Out, which was extremely delicious and very coconut-y. Despite the delicious coconut flavor, this drink was actually quite strong and was even garnished with real coconuts!

What we didn't realize about this restaurant was that it is also BYOB. We discovered this by seeing a birthday party going on inside the back patio while we were there, where each person brought a bottle of wine. The waitress informed us that the first bottle is free corkage, and that it is $10 corkage for each bottle after. What a great place for a party!

Shishito Peppers with basil, bacon, and sesame seeds

For our first appetizer we ordered the shishito peppers. Whenever I see this item on the menu, I have to order it because it is a rare find on menus, and I also love spicy food! These shishito peppers were the most interesting ones that I have had before. They were cooked in oil, and seasoned with basil, pieces of bacon, and sesame seeds. The bacon really added a nice flavor to this dish by making it a little more savory while also being spicy! 

Octopus

The 2nd appetizer we ordered was Octopus. From reading the menu, we had no idea what we were in for. We thought we were getting the typical charred octopus on a plate, but much to our surprise we got a show too! The waitress poured the octopus, peppers, onions, olives, and garlic pieces onto a sizzling hot plate in front of us while we watched the octopus get charred a little more. I have never seen this dish served this way before and I enjoyed it! I have also have never had it be accompanied with onions, peppers, olives, and garlic. What a nice surprise. The quality of the octopus was very good, and the garlic pieces were a definite bonus :)

Sushi Pizza

The sushi pizza we ordered was also a showstopper! It was a wonton crust, covered in a layer of seaweed salad, a layer of avocado, a layer of tuna, and drizzled with spicy mayo, flying fish row, sesame seeds, and scallions. It was absolutely delicious! What a combination of ingredients! I will definitely order this again.

Sushi Sandwich
 eel, avocado, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, tobiko, spicy mayo, eel sauce

For our sushi roll of the night, we ordered the Sushi Sandwich. I have always been very partial to these pressed together versions of sushi rolls ever since I tried this type of roll for the first time. There was no seaweed in it, which is very different than most sushi rolls. It is a sandwich made of rice and tobiko as the bread, and filled with eel, avocado, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and drizzled with spicy mayo and eel sauce. What an amazing combination. I love fancy rolls like this! I can't wait to go back and try to other rolls on the menu.

I highly suggest giving this spot a visit. It has a very diverse Japanese menu, along with the sushi menu. Also, good food, BYOB, and a cute patio are all very great things in a restaurant. I will definitely be back to take advantage of the BYOB!

Ravagh Persian Grill: A Truly Pleasant Surprise

After walking by everyday for over a month and seeing progress on the construction of the new location of Ravagh Persian Grill (1135 1st. Ave), it finally opened and we were excited! We made a point to try it within the first two weeks it was open. We did not realize this very same restaurant had been open a block from our apartment the whole time, in a much smaller location, and was just reopening a few blocks down in a much larger, newer location.

As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the most friendly waiter with the biggest smile on his face. His enthusiasm was quite contagious because he made being there such a wonderful experience. He also was extremely helpful in explaining the dishes on the menu and helped us select great entrees to share.

Complimentary Bread and dipping sauces

The complimentary bread that was given to us was warm and divine. It almost reminded me of Naan bread that you have at Indian restaurants. It was accompanied with yogurt sauce and a more tomato based dipping sauce. Both were very delicious and refreshing, especially the yogurt sauce. The sauces could also be used later in the meal on the kebabs and the rice.

Sambuseh
Crispy fried dumplings, stuffed with chickpeas & herbs, served with tangy chutney

For our first appetizer, we ordered the Sambuseh. It was a fried dumpling filled with chickpeas and herbs. The outside had the perfect amount of crunch while keeping the inside soft and flavorful. It came with a tangy dipping sauce that complimented the flavors quite nicely. 

Stuffed Pepper 
Green pepper stuffed with ground lamb, rice & herbs, slowly simmering with light tomato sauce

For our second appetizer, we ordered the stuffed pepper. It was a green pepper stuffed with ground lamb, rice, herbs, and covered in tomato sauce. From the description of this dish, I was expecting it to be similar to the stuffed pepper that I make at home, which is more Italian inspired. To my surprise, it was completely different in every way. The spices used in it, gave it such a strong, flavorful taste that tasted extremely Mediterranean in every way.  The waiter explained to us that these are made fresh everyday and are one of the most homemade items on the menu. I could tell this dish was made with love. Next time I make stuffed peppers at home, I am going to have to try this version instead!

Combination Kebab 
One skewer of Barg, one skewer of Jujeh & two skewers of Koobideh

The main dish we ordered was the Combination Kebab platter so that we could try a few kinds of kebabs. It included a skewer of Barg, a skewer of Jujeh, and two skewers of Koobideh. 

The Barg was juicy strips of sirloin marinated in a special age old recipe. This skewer was extremely flavorful, tender, and full of juice. Normally, I'm resistant to order kebabs because they tend to be dry and flavorless.This skewer was exactly the opposite. I loved it! 

The Jujeh skewer was pieces of Cornish hen in lemon saffron marinade, char-grilled to perfection. This was different from any skewer I have ever had because of the lemon flavor. I really loved that I could taste the lemon flavor and that the Cornish hen pieces remained moist and tender, even after being grilled. 

The Koobideh was barbecued chopped beef on a skewer. The beef was marinated in many spices and had such a great flavor. This was no boring, dry skewer. 

After sampling all 3 kinds, I decided that my favorite skewer was the Barg, with the Jujeh being a close 2nd. 

Basmati Rice

The meal was accompanied with Basmati Rice and also grilled vegetables that were grilled to perfection. 

Grilled Vegetables

I definitely plan to return to this restaurant, as it was so delicious and so authentic. Also, the atmosphere and service was really fresh and inviting.
We were sitting next to a family that must frequent this place often, because we over heard them telling their niece that "Ravagh was not as good as "home", as in the Middle East, but was the BEST you can get around here." I thought that was such an amazing statement and compliment for the restaurant.
Also, we watched them receive a dish that was not on the menu but is customary to Persian cuisine, that I definitely plan to order next time. It can be described as Crispy Rice from the bottom of the pot covered in Pomegranate Chicken Stew. The rice is also mixed with potatoes and some type of bread to make a base layer for the stew to sit on. The waiter advised us that the base layer is called Tahdig, and he suggested to order it with the Khoresh Fesenjan Stew, which is crushed walnuts with boneless chicken, cooked in pomegranate paste.
We definitely will be back for that and I can't wait!

Marche du Sud: Favorite Date Night

My boyfriend and I have an obsession with the neighborhood french spot, Marche du Sud (1136 1st Ave, near 62nd St). It is our go-to unplanned date spot. We often stop here on the way home from work for a quick glass of wine and $1 oysters, or for delicious french fare. We feel very at home at this place. 

After walking by everyday on the way to work, we decided to give it a try because of their $1 oyster special that is from 4-7 PM every day of the week. How can you go wrong with that special?!! The only negative is there is no happy hour deals on drinks, just on the oysters, but the oysters never disappoint. Although there is a ladies night on Tuesday's where drinks are half off at the bar for ladies. 

Since the first time we have tried it, we have probably been back once a month. 

$1 Oysters..MMM...

The atmosphere at this place seems very homey. It is never loud or rowdy, which is what draws us to this place even more, because we can sit at the bar with oysters and a glass of wine and catch up on our day without trying to talk over music or rowdy college kids. We actually try to make it a point to go here once a month because its "our" time. 

La Marche du Sud French Pizza

We generally order oysters and drinks while here, but occasionally we do order food from the menu, which is always amazing! This time we opted for the Marche du Sud pizza, which is creme fraiche, duck confit, black truffle foie gras, onions, fresh herbs, and comte cheese over filo style dough crust. The pizza is absolutely amazing, and has chunks of foie gras on it that are to die for! The caramelized onions and truffle flavor added just the right flavor to this pie. Every pizza we have had at this place is totally unique and scrumptious. I don't know if anywhere else that serves french pizza since this is the only place I have seen it, but it is a must try item from the menu. 

Provencale Fries

The fries we added to go with our pizza were also done to perfection. We asked for them to be well done and crispy, and the restaurant actually listened! At this point in life, it is usually a waste of your breathe to request the fries to be well done, because normally they don't listen, but this time they did! 

The fries were seasoned to perfection with delicious Mediterranean spices. My boyfriend and I did not leave one fry left standing. 

Eventually we need to try entrees from the rest of the menu, which I am sure are amazing, but we just can't help but order all the amazing french appetizers and pizzas every time we go. 

Their brunch is also very amazing and scenic, since they have a back patio which is decorated with a very french feel. There is also a bakery and coffee shop part to Marche du Sud that is very cute and authentic, along with their market that sells french cheeses and meats. I highly suggest you try this place, just don't steal our seat at the bar during happy hour :) 

Thalassa - Mediterranean in Style

I recently went to Thalassa (179 Franklin St. New York, NY 10013) in Tribeca for an impromptu dinner. We were supposed to be out of town, and miraculously our flight was canceled. At the last minute, we were added to the reservation with no problem on a holiday weekend. The restaurant was extremely accommodating to us. 

Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted with the most fabulous fresh fish display. This restaurant is known for having fresh fish with a large assortment. 

Before even looking at the menu, we were given the most amazing bread to snack on. It was so soft and had some spices on it to give it that perfect Mediterranean flavor. MMM....I could use some of that right now! 

Amazing Bread

The bread was also accompanied with a platter of olives, baba ganoush, and olive oil. 

I know everyone at the table enjoyed the olives and said they were very fresh (I am not an olive eater, so I can't concur...eeeww). The baba ganoush was extremely interesting and tasty. My boyfriend and I both thought it had a crab flavor, but in reality it had red peppers in it! It was very delicious. The olive oil was very fresh and tasted very Mediterranean. They put some capers in it to add a nice touch of salt flavor and also make it visually appealing. 

There were bottles of Thalassa Olive Oil downstairs near the bathroom, which makes me think you can purchase their olive oil! 

Olives, Baba ganoush, housemade olive oil 

We were also given a complimentary conch fritter that was to die for! It was so full of flavor and the conch was very moist and fresh. Luckily, two of the women in my party were gluten-free, so more Conch fritters for me!!!

Complimentary Conch Fritter

The octapodi was so fresh and the chunks of octopus were very generous. The sauce that was poured over it was very light and refreshing. Also, sun dried tomatoes were a nice addition to this dish giving it a little more zest. I would never think to pair these items together, but they really complimented each other.

OCTAPODI - from Portugal - grilled - micro organic greens - 
olive oil - red wine vinaigrette

The calamari was phenomenal! When I think of calamari, I think of the typical fried calamari where you lose all the flavor of the fish and are eating a "heart attack special." This calamari was stuffed with feta, tomatoes, and pine nuts and had tons of flavor! I definitely liked this approach to calamari.

CALAMARI - stuffed with Dodonis feta - tomato - pine nuts

The seafood saganaki was a whole array of seafood together sitting in a delicious tomato garlic sauce. If I could drink the sauce, I would! Thanks to the waitress for giving us more bread to soak up this sauce when we were finished with the seafood.

SEAFOOD SAGANAKI - whole shrimp - baby clams - mussels slowly baked
in a fresh tomato - feta - robola wine sauce

The colossal crab meat salad was so refreshing with an amazing truffle flavor. The crab meat sat below the bed of lettuce and the other ingredients as a nice surprise under all the healthy "stuff". There was definitely a generous amount of crab in this dish with an amazing flavor of truffle.

COLOSSAL CRAB MEAT SALAD - frisee - arugula - truffle vinaigrette

For the meal, I split two dishes. The first one, Seafood Thalassina   was similar to the seafood saganaki, whereas it had an assortment of shellfish in it, but it had a totally different flavor. The seafood sat in a white wine sauce atop a helping of orzo. The orzo soaked up the very buttery garlicy sauce. MMM...Sometimes white wine sauces can be bland and flavorless, and luckily this was not the case with this dish! It had tons of flavor while still maintaining that lightness that you would want from a white wine sauce. 

SEAFOOD THALASSINA - diver scallops - gulf shrimp - langustines - PEI mussels - steamed in white wine and orzo

Our second dish, the Alaskan King Crab Leg with truffle oil salad was similar to the Colossal crab meat appetizer, but had tons more crab in it! The only surprising thing about this dish was I was expecting the crab to be still in its crab leg cluster. Part of me was upset I couldn't spend my time picking at the shells, and part of me was happy because I got to easily eat this very meaty dish without fighting with my food. Also, I had the option to have the crab legs beer battered, but opted for the fresher chilled version. Very delicious!

ALASKAN KING CRAB LEG - chilled  - frisee truffle oil salad 

We also received a complimentary dessert from the restaurant which was pieces of chocolate that were very rich in flavor. I can't say no to chocolate! Along with this complimentary dessert, the restaurant gave the whole table complimentary dessert wine! Very sweet and thoughtful. 

Complimentary Dessert

Lastly, we ordered my favorite dessert, the Molten chocolate cake. If this dessert is on any menu, its a must order for me! This one was very good, not the best I have ever had, but very good! It had the right consistency, with the warm melty inside, and soft outside, but wasn't as rich as other's that I have had.

Valrhona Molten Chocolate Cake

All in all our experience was great. The only negative was that when we ordered bottles of wine from the menu, our first 2 choices were not available. It seemed as though all the moderate priced wines were sold out, and they only have the pricier ones available. The restaurant let us taste one to see if we liked it, and offered to give it to us, compliments of the house since we had ordered two others previously with no luck of retrieval. Definitely a nice way to make up for not having the wines we wanted.

I would definitely go back to this restaurant again, as it was very enjoyable in atmosphere, flavor, and service!