Last night Bob, a good friend of ours and I went to the Burgundy Room. What a treat! My friend Jenny has been telling me how good this place is and this is the first time we've been there.
Note to self: Listen more carefully to Jenny. The 70's apparently did not ruin her taste buds, they perhaps enhanced them.
First of all I like the space in this restaurant. The tables are not stacked almost on top of each other. There are booths and bistro tables and regular tables. You can sit at the front of the house or in the back, or there is always the bar. It's well done. I hate when the tables are so close together I can't get through easily. I know I'm not the only pudgy gal in this city, so I can't be the only one with that complaint! But that is so not a problem at the Burgundy Room. We chose a high sided booth so we would be able to have conversation while enjoying our meal.
Of course we started with the wine flights. Even though that is not part of the Restaurant Week menu, how can you go to the Burgundy Room and not have a wine flight? Right. I thought you'd agree.
Each of us ordered a different flight, suiting our different tastes. Our buddy ordered a flight of whites, I did Rieslings, and Bob of course had big reds. I love wine flights. They are so much fun. You get a taste of four different wines and might then decide to have a glass of what you like the best.
Okay, so on to dinner! Our first course was a choice of "Wedge Salad with Applewood Bacon, Heirloom Tomatoes, Candied Walnuts & Gorgonzola Dressing" or "Yellow Tomato Gazpacho". Our friend got the soup. After much haranguing about how long I was taking to take the photos and that his soup was getting cold *yuck, yuck*, he said it was delicious.
Bob and I ordered the wedge salad. It's been ages since I've had one. And it was so good! I'd forgotten just how good. See, I'm a big fan of iceberg. I know. I know. How untrendy can I be? Stick a straw hat on my head, a toothpick in my mouth and dress me in overalls! I just like it, darn it! Anyway, the bacon was crunchy and salty and the candied walnuts were a fantastic foil. Good salad!
Course two was "Seafood Paella", "Vegetable Lasagana with Wild Mushroom Bolognese" or "5 oz Strip Steak with Blue Mashed Potatoes, Haricot Verts and Lemon-Thyme Butter". Lordy! What is not to like about any of these?
While they all sounded delicious, there was no contest for me. I knew before we even got to the restaurant that I was having the Seafood Paella. I was so excited. I was like a little girl in the back seat asking, "Are we there yet?" And it was soooooo goooood! There were clams, mussels, scallops and the most delicious saffron infused rice. Oh I think I wept a little while we were eating. But did the men notice? Of course not.
Bob was digging into his entree, the Strip Steak, potatoes and haricot verts. And with good reason! The steak just about melted in your mouth. The mashed potatoes had blue cheese in them and just the right amount, too. Not too much to be overpowering, but enough to be present and noticed. And the beans were perfectly cooked.
My other date was feasting on the Vegetable Lasagna with Wild Mushroom Bolognese. And feast is an apt descripitive. The dish came to the table screaming hot. The cheese and sauce were still just about bubbling. And when he cut into it the chunks of vegetables and the mushrooms in the ragu were clearly visible. This dish was a beautiful thing.
But wait! There's more!
Course three...dessert. Can I just say...dear God in heaven. Strawberry shortcake...the shortcake was made by Elena Christina bakery (just incredible) split and filled with fresh luscious whipped cream and covered with sweetened macerated strawberries. Just delicious!
Bob had the Chocolate Mousse and a flight of Port wines. The mousse was smooth, deep chocolate with a rolled wafer cookie and a strawberry atop. The mousse was wonderful, but paired with the port, well that just sent it right over the top.
All three of us totally enjoyed our meal. And our server, Andy was the bomb! He was just great. He talked to us about the menu, his favorites, and steered us in the right direction (although I really don't think there could have been a wrong direction here).
Get to the Burgundy Room if you haven't been there. Listen to Jenny! Ask for Andy. And have a simply wonderful evening.
We did.
The Burgundy Room Short North
641 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-464-wine
http://www.burgundyroom.net/
Can't believe the dining week you and Bob are having. You go girl!
ReplyDelete