Our table was perfectly situated one level up and off from the semi open lounge and piano bar. Our young and very personable, good looking waiter Jonathan, who comes from Delaware and ended up in Johnstown when his father's job transferred him, was everything a server should be. He was very knowledgeable of the wines and bar menu, he was able to advise us as to what were some of the better choices from the dinner menu. He was attentive, charming, right on cue and his bright white smile, jet black hair and blue eyes could launch any ones heart into returning just to enjoy his service again.
They have an extensive martini and cocktail menu, my sister in law had a Cosmopolitan and I had a Dirty Martini, both of these were served in a very large chilled cocktail glass. They were seven dollars and change each and were 99% alcohol, powerful stuff and it made me realize once again how weak and over priced the drinks are in the area in which I live.
My brother in law had a glass of Shiraz while my sister in law had a Seven Daughter's Syrah blend from California and I had an Italian chardonnay; Pio Cesare L'Altro Piedmont 2007. We were all very pleased with Jonathan's recommendations and he was even kind enough to write them down for us.
Harrigan's' has a new tapas menu and it is the only one in town. We were all very excited about this, even though Jonathan was trying to tell us that for sharing we should consider ordering appetizers from the restaurant menu instead, we chose to go with the tapas menu anyway. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.
Our choices to share were the garlic shrimp which were five large "sauteed shrimp in a garlic olive oil, chipolte peppers and deglazed with brandy". Not even close, they were very bland with none of the flavors coming through and it was almost like they had quickly poached cocktail shrimp. The marinated sirloin beef and manchego cheese were both dry and uneventful. Last we had the crispy breaded white anchovies that were over fried and to the point where no anchovy taste came through at all, a very small portion.
The tapas were only served with a basket of rolls but we all agreed they were some of the best rolls we ever had and I enjoyed spreading the roasted garlic on mine. I would love to have the recipe for those rolls.
I was still stuffed from lunch and the tapas with two rolls pretty well filled me. The stiff over sized cocktail followed by the glass of wine wasn't helping, plus Jonathan had brought me another full glass of wine that he thought I might like, three of us each had one sip and left the rest sit. I don't think any of us can drink the way we used to.
I had a bowl of the lobster bisque with tarragon essence for my entree, which was a large portion and quite good along with another roll I was happy. Hubby had the filet mignon and said it was one of the best steaks he has ever had and he normally does not order filet. My brother in law had the Chef's Veal ravioli of the day and raved about them. My sister in law had the shrimp and crab newburg with mushrooms and gruyere cheese, I got to sample the newburg and it was prepared differently than I have ever seen, it was loaded with shrimp and crab, not heavy at all on the sauce and cheese and it was outstanding.
They had dessert and I snitched bites, I was still finishing my drinks and bisque. They ordered the pear cheesecake with homemade apple cinnamon ice cream, you know the pear cheesecake was good, but very subtle in pear flavor, the apple cinnamon ice cream was outrageous. I have a feeling my taste buds were drunk, the carrot cake was exactly the way I like it and the peanut butter and cream cheese pie was my favorite.
I give Jonathan five big stars, I give the restaurant and it's menu four to five stars as well as the awesome wine list and the amazingly large potent cocktails. The food is fabulous, but skip the tapas here folks, it is not their forte. read more