For our monthly anniversary, Brian and I ventured to Eleventh Street Lounge looking for some good food and drinks in a swanky location. We were disappointed in the setting (it felt like a place to go after you were already drunk – the floors seemed like they’ve been sticky a lot in their history, and the furniture was a little shabby) and the menu (just didn’t seem appetizing once it was in front of us) so we each had a martini and then walked the block to Restaurant 3.
The setting:
We were led to a half-round booth for two (with room for 4 total with 2 chairs should you venture in with a larger party) in a dark yellow leather. The decor seemed southwestern to me, although I think they were going for Tuscan given the paintings on the walls. Brian felt that the yellow walls and picture lights were too bright for evening. I saw what he meant, but I kinda liked it.
The service:
Our waiter let us take our time in deciding what we wanted – which was kind since it was 9:00 p.m. on a Monday night and the menu looked so great we simply couldn’t decide! He was responsive in answering questions, refilling glasses, and making suggestions.
The food:
We’ve had Restaurant 3 on our radar since it opened, but we’ve always put it off. No more. The food – and the menu – was fantastic.
There are two types of bread – and two spreaders – in the delicious bread basket. The white bread must have had a cheese in the batter (asiago?) and the smell – and taste – was wonderful. There was also equally good wheat bread that I barely tasted after gorging myself on the white bread. There was both butter and an olive tapenade.
For an appetizer, Brian ordered the fried oysters. The portion was huge – easily shareable by a party of 4 – and really good, battered in cornmeal.
We also each had a salad – Brian the spinach salad (he can’t resist) and I the Caesar. The Parmesan “crisp” in my salad was too thick and a little soggy, but the salad good none the less. I also appreciated that our server waited until I’d taken a bite before approaching me with the (very colorful!) pepper mill. This just so happens to be one of my biggest pet peeves in restaurants: I don’t KNOW if I want pepper until I try a bite first – it may not need it! So kudos to our guy for doing it right! (Brian, by the way, disagrees with me on this and thinks the pepper mill is part of the presentation).
The entrees were also huge. Brian had a beautiful Japanese sea bass with pea risotto and sweet potato “straws.” I had short ribs with collar greens and a macaroni and cheese bake. We only ate a few bites given how stuffed we were on bread, oysters, and salad. However, I had some great leftover lunches during the work week 
The fish had a wonderful flash crunch. It was buttery and firm, and actually held up beautifully in the microwave at work! The risotto was great, and the sweet potato straws (which did not hold up so beautifully) really complimented the sea bass. The short rib was presented with the bone detached (but still presented!) and was good, although slightly overdone. The collards were good (although I grew up with better greens – and there was a roasted ladybug in them I discovered during a work meeting while I was eating lunch – oops!) The macaroni (actually a linguine) and cheese bake actually was better on reheating! We also ordered a side of asiago cheese grits that were too heavy on the cheese, although I couldn’t tell you if they improved on reheating because Brian ate them all the next night and didn’t save me any. Hmpf.
We were surprised Restaurant 3 wasn’t packed to the gills given what a great experience it was. Brian said there was no excuse with such a great menu that Restaurant 3 shouldn’t have a wait every night of the week – even 9 p.m. on Mondays.
Best for: A romantic evening out, large parties, dinner with the ‘rents.
Worst for: Someone on a diet who doesn’t want to be tempted by large portions.
Tags: Caesar, Mac and Cheese, Oysters, Sea Bass, Short Ribs
July 28, 2008 at 12:48 pm |
Wow this looks really good! What kind of camera do you use?
July 30, 2008 at 8:15 pm |
Two points:
I was just at the Eleventh Street Lounge on Monday and would have to agree. I went with a couple friends around 7 and while the outside seating was packed, we were completely alone inside, and the service was..well, not there – at all. I was also underwhelmed by the menu and ended up going to East-West, the kabob place across from Whole Foods for dinner.
Secondly, I would agree with your surprise about the lack of crowds. I pass by Restaurant 3 once or twice a day, and never see it packed. Meanwhile, the Wal-Mart of restaurants – the Cheesecake Factory – always has a line out the door. I cry a little inside every time I see that.
Oh, and happy anniversary!
July 31, 2008 at 8:23 am |
Andre – thanks! As a matter of fact, Anthony from Apples and Bananas (http://applesbananas.blogspot.com/ – my favorite food blog) was one of those pushing for more pictures! So I went out and got myself a (pink!) Sony Cyber-shot 7.2 mega pixel digital camera before we went on the cruise, and now all I do is snap food pictures! If only I could find the time to get all these pictures and the accompanying blogs up…
And, Bananas, you and I must pass each other in the street 5 times a day and not even know it. We live in the same area and work in the same area…and not that long ago, I was a journalist myself! (Oh – and my sister knows Apples
July 31, 2008 at 11:02 am |
You didn’t just beat me, you beat me by a LONG shot. And you’re blog is great. I’m jealous. Nice work, though.
August 2, 2008 at 11:44 am |
So glad to see you’re putting more pictures up – they look fantastic. And yes, I think it’s pretty safe to say that we’ve probably passed each other a couple dozen times.
I think there might have to be a joint dinner at some point. Oh, you’ll have to tell me how your sister knows Apples.