We used to eat here often, but took a break. I tried it again tonight, hoping for a perfect…read moreevening, and really wanted to give these guys five stars...but can't.
It's a Friday evening and we had no trouble getting a cozy table for 2. Service was fine, and we got a bottle of California red wine (which was great). Even the price for bottles of wine seems fair here.
For an appetizer, we tried the roasted beets and butternut squash, with candied walnuts and goat cheese panna cotta. It was excellent!! I don't normally like goat cheese, but it tasted mild, with just a hint of the goat flavor, and was very creamy. Such a balanced, delicious dish overall...the beets, squash, walnuts. Very tasty!!
You have to ask for bread here, which saddens me. I used to dine here in the days when they were renowned for having the best bread basket in the area. It used to be filled with different types of bread, breadsticks, flatbread. It was so nice! No more, though. Bread doesn't even come out automatically, and when you ask, it's much more basic. Entrees used to include a house salad, too, although that's been gone since the pandemic.
Wine and app were great. It's the entrees that really let me down. We tried the striped bass special, which was a filet that came with polenta, and the seafood paella, which had 3 jumbo shrimp, 3 clams and a bit of calamari with saffron rice.
The flavors were there for both entrees. However, there just wasn't enough protein for the prices. At $38 for the bass and $36 for the paella, we weren't happy. The filet we got was small, and it was mostly a plate of polenta.
For the paella, at that price, there are much better options in the area...some with more clams and calamari, mussels, chicken, chorizo. This one just didn't deliver enough seafood (or food for that matter) for the money.
We just overall felt kinda meh with both entrees. Frustrating because, again, I really wanted to give them five stars. It just wasn't there, and I really don't know if we'll be back again soon. The meal as a whole let me down.
Bonus: no credit card fee here! I commend them for that.