Disclaimer: I only ordered one drink off their actual menu. The rest were bartender's choice in…read moreaccordance with my tastes. Not all bars or bartenders do this, especially on busy nights, and my experience is not necessarily common. On to the review.
Some evenings are just dinner and drinks. Some are experiences. Thanks to Tony, Grandam was an experience.
Had a 5:30 Monday reservation at Grandam, which was easy to snag on Opentable. Had time to wait before my reservation, so I sat at the bar and ordered Rosemary Sol Margarita (blanco tequila, rosemary agave, apricot liqueur, tajin). The drink wasn't bad, but despite the bartender's attempts at making the recipe less sweet, it was still pretty cloying. That's when the bartender introduced himself as Tony and we began to discuss margaritas and our personal tastes, which led to Tony making me his own personal brand of margarita, which was much more palatable.
Then it was time for my reservation and I bid Tony adieu until later (more on the bar to come). The restaurant, decorated in moody velvets and leathers, was empty, but that could have been due to the snowy weather. My server was wonderful and prompt, and took pride in explaining how Grandam is part of a farm collective that prioritizes local farmers and vendors, though she did explain their oysters were from Chesapeake Bay (of course).
While the appetizer menu contained pork belly, corvina dishes, oysters, Jamaican crawfish, yuca fritters, and deviled eggs, I opted for the wood fired mushrooms. This dish, made with foraged mushrooms, salsa mocha, goat cheese spread, and cornbread was earthy and complex. Loved the goat cheese's added creaminess. I am not a cornbread fan, but this cornbread was light and tasted as cornbread should. Once other tables started arriving, several remarked how much they enjoyed it.
I almost considered the tri-tip, made with bourbon braised tri-tip, 12 year white cheddar, grits, and mustard chimichurri, but the server told me it's a larger dish meant for sharing and I didn't want to ruin my main dish.
For my entree I couldn't pass up the venison Wellington, deer meat wrapped in a flaky puff pastry, accompanied by pumpkin miso Demi glaze, country ham, foraged mushrooms, butternut squash, broccolini and fennel salad, and a tart cherry vinaigrette. The venison was moist and fall apart tender, medium to rare, and the dish came together like a symphony.
And even though it might be a little trashy, even in the nicest restaurants I order their fries. These fries were crisp and hot and well seasoned.
Grandam has signature entrees that are always available. The Wellington changes depending on which meat is seasonal. Pan seared trout, fried chicken, and a filet are also on the old and faithful list. The seasonal menu included another corvina dish (a mild white fish), creole lamb curry, clams asada and corn pasta, more steak, and cabbage and chana.
The dessert menu offered pecans and coconut, miso chess pie, a chocolate torte, ice cream, and nightcap sweet drinks. I was so full I had to pass.
Of note, the chef of Grandam is Ecuadorean, so expect that to influence most, if not all, of the food (in a fantastic way).
Once I finished my meal, it was back to the bar, which is part of Grandam as well as the Manchester Hotel Lobby, where Tony awaited. Tony used to be the manager of the bar before leaving for other opportunities, and told me he still worked Mondays to "fill his cup." He and I bonded over the fact that I am adventurous and like to let bartenders have their way with the spirits. I don't order off the menu if I don't have to. First I had a cocktail made of my favorite spirit, gin-- the last word, a prohibition cocktail made with gin, green chartreuse, maraschino, and fresh lime juice. Simple, refreshing.
Then Tony introduced me to a vodka I've never seen before called Blacklion, made with a rare type of sheep's milk. While I know it sounds crazy, and I'm not even a vodka person, it was incredibly smooth. He made me a reverse vesper martini, a lighter, aperitif style drink. It was my favorite drink of the night probably, and I'm not even a martini person.
We finished the night with what he called the best American whiskey in the world, stating, "If I could draw whiskey as a picture, this is what it would look like." It's not often bartenders wax poetic.
This was not cheap, and he warned me, but I had ended up sitting next to a guy who had helped design several of the whiskey labels at the bar, and that's what he was having, so with all that, how could I say no? That had to be the last drink of the night because it was very deep and smoky and a knockout. Tony agreed that it was a nightcap type of beverage and not much could follow it.
Tony has a true passion. This whole evening was a vibe. I can't wait to go back again. But if you want the Tony experience, you have to go on a Monday! I can't be held responsible for any other day.
