I freely admit that I was skeptical at first... But after several satisfying dinners - usually as a…read moreprelude to an evening at nearby People's Light - Fork & Bottle has not only captured my attention, it has also continued to impress.
The setting, as you would undoubtedly surmise, is typically hotel-esque in nature. That being said, however, the room still manages to generate a certain generic charm. And I would also hasten to add that the service - even with our various parties of 20 or more - has been excellent in every respect.
But on to the food... The dinner menu isn't quite what you'd expect. Take the starters, for instance. The usual suspects - Cesare Salad, Shrimp Cocktail, French Onion Soup, Buffalo Chicken Wings, Cheesesteak Egg Rolls - as you note, are present and accounted for. However, there are also a number of innovative diversions - such as Soft Bavarian Pretzel Sticks with Delco Lager cheese sauce, Pepperoni Bolognese Flatbread spruced up with crème fraiche, ricotta, Fontina & Parmigiano cheeses, and the Ten Million Dollar Dip that features Maine lobster, sour cream, bacon, cheddar, almond, scallions, and Ritz crackers - that manage to grab your attention.
Moving on, diners may choose from either the Entrées category or take a more casual route with Sandwiches & Pub Fare. The former, which lists a number of all-too-familiar ingestibles, still manages to tempt our taste buds by teaming them up with some rather intriguing sidekicks. A not-terribly-exciting Pan Roasted Chicken, for example, is prepared agrodolce, with an alluring sour-sweet demi-glace... Chilean Sea Bass is cooked up teriyaki style... Canadian Salmon is adorned with a sweet & spicy glaze and companioned by mango & yogurt... Sautéed Lamb Sirloin is enhanced with a rich & savory Madeira sauce... and a 10oz Strip Steak basks in an addictive shallot & port wine reduction.
Other main course possibilities include Angus Filet au Poivre with cognac cream, Char Grilled Pork Flat Iron marinated with garlic & oregano, Lobster Fra Diavolo, Crab Stuffed Shrimp, and Broiled Scallop & Lobster Gratin.
On the other hand, should you decide to take the Sandwiches & Pub Fare route, have no fear, you will certainly not be disappointed. During previous visits, I sampled the Garganelli Pasta Bolognese and the Chicken Cobb Salad. Both were excellent. The former is comprised of buttered garganelli (egg-based pasta from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy), angus beef Bolognese, olive oil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The latter combines mixed lettuces, hard-boiled egg, tomato, blue cheese, bacon, and avocado sprinkled with a zesty lemon vinaigrette.
Most recently, my dining companion made straight for the Crab Cake Sandwich, to which she gave an enthusiastic "thumps up." I, on the other hand, couldn't resist the considerable charms of the Chicken Cutlet & Ranch BLT, a luscious combo on toasted brioche immersed in an incredibly addictive herb ranch dressing. I should add that the delicious hand-cut French fries, which accompanied both sandwiches, were a considerable drawing card as well.
The dessert menu runs the gamut... from such familiar sweet endings as Crème Brûlée and Warm Chocolate Lava Cake to Mango Lime Cheesecake with raspberry sauce, Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding garnished with vanilla ice cream, and Frozen Mississippi Mud Pie. The restaurant also offers Bassetts Ice Cream & Sorbet, should you be so inclined. For my money, however, nothing quite surpasses The Desmond's Warm Bread Pudding. Bathed in a sweet vanilla sauce, this is one outrageously rich, thoroughly delightful denouement that more than lives up to its considerable reputation. Simply not to be missed.