Last night was our 5th visit to FnG Eats. We've experienced a variety of dishes, seating arrangements, & wait staff, which makes us uniquely qualified to write a review. Although each time hasn't been perfect, I would have consistently given them a 4 or 4.5 rating. But last night, they earned the 5 star review. I believe it's a reflection of the fact that it takes a little bit of time to get something running like a well oiled machine. Every time, Chef Bob (one of the owners/chefs) has made the rounds visiting each table - not just to chat, even if it feels that way - with the real purpose of getting to know his customers and getting feedback. We're not shy about making suggestions, and it's very reassuring to know that he not only listens but often acts on what he hears from customers. He actually reads the reviews posted and considers the comments without his ego getting bruised.
Food:
Appetizers - The JAC rogamole is good, but you have to be a big fan of bleu cheese. The two finger tacos have a wonderful flavor but I'd like a little touch of salsa added. The ahi tuna tacos were perfect as an appetizer-loved them. Love the Mini Mi pulled pork sliders. One of John Besh's eateries in New Orleans has a great one, but we actually think these are better.
Sandwiches - The Acme Brick Cuban sandwich is great; the sweet pickle adds just the right touch of tang. The turkey 'n' bourbon cranberry sandwich is also great; you can't go wrong with this one. One of our companions raved about his burger. I've had both the Caesar, in which you could really taste the hint of anchovy (as you should in a real Caesar salad) and the FM salad, which is fresh and tasty. The first time I ordered it, the salad had too much dressing, and I told the chef when he was making his rounds. Next time, I asked for the dressing on the side, but another person in our party did not and I noticed a modification had been made where it did not overwhelm the greens.
Mains - The Stella Artois fish and chips are fabulous - nice crispy batter, moist filets, and not greasy as fish and chips can sometimes be. First time we ordered it, my husband asked for cocktail sauce, even though it comes with an excellent homemade tartar sauce. They couldn't accommodate him that night, so he suggested to the chef that they offer both. Each time since, he's asked for cocktail sauce & out it comes. We tried a special one night - a flounder dish in a cream sauce, and although it was good, the fish itself had a stronger flavor than we prefer. Having never actually had flounder before, it may just be a characteristic of flounder. Last night, I had the cremini ribeye, and it was wonderful - cooked to perfection, full of flavor - and the mushrooms were delicious, cut to just the right size to absorb the sherry and juices of the steak. The gruyere scalloped potatoes that accompanied it were also delicious. I think the flavor of the gruyere makes this special.
Desserts - If you like bread pudding, don't forego this. Tell your server early on because it's made just for you, NOT something scooped out of a pan, having been made earlier, warmed up, and then doused with a sauce. This arrives piping hot in a small crock. It has just the right touch of apples and chocolate. Most everyone raves about the jalapeno bacon ice cream, but last night I had the Boy Scout caramel corn ice cream. If I could have licked the bowl, I would have.
Seating:
Have sat at the community table twice-nice concept. Have sat at the banquette & enjoyed being able to watch all the activity in the restaurant. Have sat in both the main dining room & the back room. One reviewer complained about the smoky air. This is so true in Mexican restaurants, but I haven't found that to be the case here. If you find the main dining area too loud or worry about the kitchen aromas, ask to be seated in the back dining room where it's quiet and well away from the open kitchen.
Wait staff:
On our first visit, early afternoon on a Sunday shortly after the restaurant opened, we saw an inordinate number of wait staff & talked about how expensive it must be in the beginning to be paying so many people when the restaurant was just getting started. But that was a wise decision on the part of the owners because no matter how good the food is, bad service can sink a restaurant. Last night, it looked like all the training and tweaking has paid off. We've had Stacy twice now. She's knowledgeable about the menu, makes excellent recommendations, gets the order just right, and does it all with the perfect demeanor for a server. Our food was brought to the table by others, but Stacy followed through checking immediately to see if everything came out perfectly.
It might be a good idea to make a reservation on busy weekends, as word has spread on how good they are. Monday night are half price wine till 9pm, a good value. Hats off to Chef Bob & Chef Carlos! read more