We didn't have any fancy plans for Memorial Day yet still felt the celebratory elation of a 3-day…read morewknd and decided to treat ourselves to some Friday steaks. The first thing I need to own is that it's a shame I hadn't visited here before. We arrived at 5:30p and both the bar and patio areas were packed - standing room only, and no wonder. They have one of the better happy hours (daily! 3:00 - 6:30p) - able to accommodate both the slacker and the over-timer Lol. Basic drinks are all discounted such as house wines, well drinks, and beers. Their bottled wines and craft cocktails are all exempt though. Many of their appetizers are also discounted and some quite substantially. We grabbed a glass of the house cabernet ($6, normally $8) and the grilled shrimp wrapped in jalapeno bacon ($13, normally $20). NOTE: happy hour pricing is Only available if you order/consume at the bar or on the patio and that's clear in advance, and understandable.
The dining areas were only half full at this early point (but filled up by 6:30) and the host kindly encouraged us to enjoy our starters at the bar as she would hold our table. We were then sat near the "back" of this long venue and frankly, aside from the lone windowed table at the very front, this would be my preferred seating - cozy, intimate, with only five other tables around us.
For dinner drinks she got an Italian Nebbiolo Bricco Magno Red Blend ($13/glass, reliably terrific/mellow) and I got the Chupacabra ($15) Mezcal/prickly pear cocktail, strong and excellent as well. We got an additional appetizer: the roasted bone marrow ($19). I had never had marrow before but she raved about how good this can be if done properly (bonus, it is super healthy). Folks, a picture/worth a 1000... suffice to say this was simply outstanding!
We both had long work weeks and were craving meat - just a damn good steak. Our waiter, without blinking recommended the 8oz bison filet mignon ($65) as his absolute menu fav, and then the day's special: 14oz ribeye ($50). We ordered each. All dinners come with two sides and we each got the day's special: roasted half artichoke and she got the loaded baked potato while I got the mashed potatoes. Food arrived about 15 minutes later at good temperature (warm/rested with a strong char) with each being accurately grilled (medium and medium-rare). Taste was outstanding. Neither one of us had bison filet before and marveled how it (subtly) added a "wild" edge to an always outstanding, lean-but-tender, cut of beef. The loaded baked was terrific, however, the mashed was the only disappointment... a plainer mash one could not make themselves - pure white and borderline dry, no milk, butter, egg, gravy(?), nothing to make it creamy or add any flavor dimension - a surprise frankly. The only other "critique" is that the dessert menu could add some kind of dark/chocolate concoction. All in all, though, we loved our experience and have decided to add this to our periodic special dinners rotation!
Staff was outstanding - just the proper balance of attentive and quiet - and waters never went below half empty. Parking is free and plentiful, especially behind the restaurant (and yes, if you continue on around the back there is another long entrance/exit driveway that comes out the other side of Jimmy John's and Noodleholics.