Longhorn Steakhouse got me again…

I wanted a steak.  I wanted a filet mignon.  I wanted to try Willy’s in Shrewsbury.  Due to a series of Murphy’s Law events we ended up at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Marlborough. 

We’d been there before – several times.  Very good food, good service, reasonable prices.  But don’t go there looking for a “Filet Mignon”

We asked our server if there were any “specials” – she handed us their Specials Menu.  When she came back to take our order, my wife held up the specials menu and pointed to the salmon.  With the specials menu in my hand, I said I’d have the 8 oz. filet with the Caesar salad and a loaded baked potato.

 

Harvest Mushroom Filet*

Our most tender center-cut filet topped with a trio of shiitake, oyster and cremini mushrooms in a hearty bordelaise. Served with choice of side & a hand-chopped salad.

The above is the picture that was on the menu.  Does that look great, or what!

When our meals came, this is what was placed in front of me…

Not quite the same…..

I questioned our server as to where my “filet” was.  She said something about this was their filet, and while it may not look great, it “…sure does taste good…!”

About then, déjà vu hit.  The last time I was at this same Longhorn Steakhouse, I’d ordered a filet from their specials menu.  Different menu, different filet special, but same bait-n-switch.

A “filet” is any boneless cut if meat (or fish).  A “filet mignon” is cut only from the beef tenderloin muscle.  It’s a fairly long and tubular muscle with the grain running lengthwise.  When you cut a filet mignon, you cut a cross-section of that muscle.  When serving, you stand it up so that the grain is up & down (see the top pic which does look like a filet mignon).

So, while I did get a “filet”, it certainly was NOT of the same cut as the picture on the menu.  Yeah, it was cooked correctly, and yep, it tasted great.  But it’s texture wasn’t buttery, it’s flavor not subtle, and it wasn’t the same cut as in the menu’s picture.

That’s TWICE that I was fooled by the picture….damn…

romaine’s–Wood Grill and Bar

romaine’s is my new “go-to” place when I want the best…of everything!

(see 2nd visit review below…)

romaine's

wood grill & bar

299 W Main St # 1, Northborough, MA

508.393.8889

Website link: romaine’s

“Opened in 1999, Romaine’s Wood Grill and Bar’s 165-seat restaurant provides a social atmosphere with intimate lighting and warm décor. Romaine’s Wood Grill and Bar also offers an inviting 40-seat bar featuring the area’s best mixologists, plus a private dining area that can accommodate up to 54 guests.”…from their website.

PJ’s Ratings:

· Overall – 5 of 5

• Service – 5
• Food - 5
• Drinks (full bar) – 5
• Ambience – 5

· If you want to be seated in the Bar Area – get there early and/or make a reservation!  (no reservations for the bar area…)

· PajamaGal and I were pleasantly surprised on this, our first visit to romaine’s. It certainly won’t be our last.

This review’s Visit: 2014/01/20 – 5:30 P.M.

Server: Beth – Excellent service!

Starters:

Calamari - $8

Buttermilk Soaked, Fried Crispy, Cherry Peppers, Sweet Thai Chile Sauce

Fried calamari is my favorite appetizer. Carrabba’s version is the standard against which I measure all others – and romaine’s is almost an equal. For the first time ever, we were offered “tube rings and tentacles”, or “only tube rings.” We like both – and they were great! Delicate, tender, with a breading that was light and fluffy, yet crispy. When I commented that there should be more, PajamaGal said, “But then it would be a main dish, not an appetizer.” (I’d still like a larger portion – it’s a tad too small to share.)

Main Dishes:

Wood Roasted Duck - $22

Broccolini, Spiced Sweet Potato Fries, Fig Demi

PajamaGal loves duck. romaine’s was prepared beautifully. The skin was crisp, the meat tender, juicy, and plentiful. While I didn’t sample her duck, I did taste the fries. They were wonderful. Their shoestring cut enabled their crispiness without being overdone. The spiced flavor was perfect and not overpowering.

·

North Atlantic Haddock - $22

Panko, Horseradish, Garlic Mash, Roasted Pepper, Asparagus (Broccolini), Sundried Tomato Butter

The breading was flavorful and fluffy like the calamari. The Haddock could have been removed from the heat 1 or 2 minutes earlier, although it was not dry. The Garlic Mash was outstanding with large chunks of roasted garlic floating through the perfectly seasoned mash. I wish the Broccolini had been cooked an additional 30 seconds. Its smoky flavor was intense and very good, but for me, there was too much “crisp” and not enough “tender” in the crisp-tender preparation. (Notice that Beth didn’t hesitate to substitute the broccolini for the asparagus.)

Deserts:

· (we had desert waiting for us at home, so we skipped it…this time!)

Posted by PajamaGuy at 7:00 AM No comments:   

Labels: Restaurants

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2/08/2014 – 4:45 p.m. on a Saturday

PajamaGal and I have a 15th anniversary this coming week and we wanted to go out for dinner with our friends to celebrate.  We went back to “romaine’s”.  I wanted the same table in the bar area so I went to their website to make a reservation.  Their website’s link for reservations takes you to OpenTable.  There were no tables available before 8:30 that evening.  It was only 1:00 in the afternoon, so I called romaine’s.  Bonnie told me that they did not reserve tables in the bar area (which starts filling up around 4:45), but if we were there around 5 that she could probably find us a table.

We planned to meet our friends at 5:30, but on a hunch, we got there at 4:50, and were able to get the table I wanted in the bar area.  Before I review the food, I want to report that the folks at romaine’s are remarkably friendly – and in a genuine and refreshing way.

I’d wanted to be there early for two reasons, the table location, and the homemade “Bar Chips”.  We got both – and by 5:22, all tables and seats in the bar area were filled.  At 6:39, when we left, there was standing-room only.

Server: Sarah – Excellent service!

Starters:

Maine Crab Cake - $10

Jonah Crab, Celery Root Slaw, Chipotle Aioli

Fried calamari is still my favorite, but these were pretty damn good.  I’m not a crab cake connoisseur, although I’ve had a few.  These had a perfect balance of crab-to-breadcrumb ratio.  They were cooked with a delicate but crispy crust and were very tasty!  Even the slaw was delicious.  If when I order them again, I will ask for a bit more of the aioli.

Speaking of connoisseurs, when it comes to margarita’s, PajamaGal is one – or maybe she’s just extremely picky .  She told Sarah that she thought it tasted like dish soap.  (I thought it was good, but a bit too sweet) Without question, Sarah got her a glass of Pinot Grigio.  I’ve returned a lot of food and drink over the years, but I have to say that Sarah’s handling of the occurrence was unlike any I’ve experienced.  Again, genuinely friendly.

Main Dishes:

Wood Grilled Salmon - $20

Roasted Root Vegetables, Apple Cider Glaze, Apple Chips

PajamaGal compares all salmon dishes to the grilled salmon that I prepare for her, so for her to say that romaine’s was “…almost as good as your’s…”  means she really liked it.  It was cooked perfectly and the wood-smoke was not overpowering.

·

Beef Tenderloin Special- $34

Gnocchi, Shaved Asparagus

I didn’t write down the full title of this dish.  This was a very good fillet, and cooked perfectly.  This was maybe the 3rd time I’ve eaten gnocchi, so I’m no expert.  I looked them up in Wikipedia and there seems to be many variations.  These were soft little pillows and very smooth.  The sauce was good, as was the Shaved Asparagus.  I should have ordered the “Wood Grilled Tenderloin” from the menu as I’d intended to sample their best on-the-menu red-meat steak during this visit.  I’m going to guess that this 8 oz. fillet is the same as what’s on the menu, but with a different preparation.

When I’d eaten the last bite, I thought to myself that the dish had been a bit salty.  Although my favorite sauce is béarnaise, I do want to try romaine’s “Brandy Peppercorn Demi”.

Did I tell you about the homemade Bar Chips? They’re thick-cut and well done potato chips.  And they are another benefit of arriving early…

(the cone was served full – my trigger finger just wasn’t fast enough….

PJ

Michael’s Restaurant in Concord, Mass.–11/2/2013 UPDATE

 

November 2nd, 2013 – Boy have things changed! And NOT for the good. Three months ago I wrote a glowing review – last night PajamaGal and I revisited Michael’s – probably for the last time.
We’d just seen “Last Vegas” (Great movie, but don’t listen to anyone’s review if they’re under 60 – there’s no way a non-senior could understand or appreciate it!)
We arrived around 5:30, two other booths were occupied. Erika was no longer there, Christine said she’d moved from the area.
We ordered drinks and an appetizer of “Fried Calamari with Crostini” ($11.00). I like calamari and have eaten it all over the world. This appetizer looked and tasted good, although there were many more heads than there were body rings. The flavor was really good, but they were tough and chewy. (my favorite is still Carrabba’s on Bay Area in Houston)
When Christine took our entre order I asked if the management or chef had changed – she said no. PajamaGal had wanted the Veal Parmesan (which I’d recommended from our previous visit), but at the last minute changed her mind and selected the “Mahi Mahi” ($23.00). I opted for the “Haddock Fra Diavlo” ($23.00). I guess my plate was technically correct, the haddock was “…topped with sautéed shrimp…” – although a few 51/60’s to me don’t qualify as “…topped with sautéed shrimp…” for a $23 entrée.
The “Fra Diavlo” wasn’t a “Brother Devil”, but more like slightly “Sassy Sister” sauce and the Mahi’s “…homemade peach glaze …” must have come from a jar. On the bright side, the “fresh vegetables” were fresh and flavorful, but the “seasoned broth” part of the “rice pilaf must have come from one of those foil “seasoning packets”.
The real problem was the fish. Both servings were way over-cooked and well past the “flaky” stage. I almost needed a knife to cut my haddock and PajamaGal’s Mahi was equally dry and tough.
Christine sincerely apologized when I explained our dissatisfaction. While we waited for our check, I expected the chef, or the owner, or at least a manager to express concern. Christine was our only contact. When she delivered the check, she said, “They told me to take only one entre off the bill, but I took both.” Seriously?
I wish it was the manager’s/owner’s night off – I wish the regular chef was out sick and an inexperienced sous-chef was at the helm. I wish we’d gone to Wildwood’s…

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August 2013

I saw an advertisement in the Acton Unlimited for Michael’s  Restaurant, and the bartender Jorge, “The King of Margaritas”.  A little bell went off in my head.  PajamaGal had been nagging suggesting we try more restaurants to find a “go-to” place – nearby with great food, service, drinks, and decent prices.

I found copies of Michael’s menu on several websites but all of them were from a previous owner – outdated and flat wrong.

Being retirees (from NASA’s Space Shuttle Program in Houston), our normal dinnertime has evolved to the 5 o’clock hour.  Fortunately, the traffic traveling to Michael’s from Hudson was much better than the traffic coming the other way.

Our server, Erika, greeted us at the door and seated us in a comfortable booth. Jorge and his margaritas had completely slipped our minds (PJ-Gal is a margarita connoisseur), so we ordered a Pinot Grigio and my Dewar's with a splash.  (Both were generous @ $6.50 & $7)

Wine & Cocktails = Excellent!

Erika was very efficient and attentive – without being overly-so. She knew the menu and was able to provide preparation detail when asked.  And she actually listened when we spoke!  She kept an eye on our table without “hovering”.  She accepted menu deviations (marinara on the side, pasta - not potatoes, angel hair - not linguini) as a matter of course without making us feel like we were asking for the moon. I really can’t remember having better service!

Service = Excellent!

I ordered the “Crab Cakes” ($12) from the “Today’s Specials” menu. As I told Erika (who said the owner/chef welcomed comments), for $12, I thought the 2 cakes were a tad small and crab/breading ratio was a bit lite.  If they were $7-to-$9, I’d order them again.

PJ-Gal had the “Pan Seared Duck with Raspberry Sauce” ($18), also from the “Today’s Specials” menu.  She loved it and ate every bite.  It was excellently prepared  and the sauce was, in her words, “fantastic”!  I asked her to compare it to the Seared Duck ($32) she’s had at Blue Ginger last month.  She liked Michael’s better.

I was conflicted between the special’s “Swordfish & Shrimp Fra Diavlo” ($25) and the regular menu's “Veal Parmigiana” ($21) – and while I love both, my palate was yearning for some good veal.  I opted for the veal with angel hair.  My palate was rewarded!  The generous portion of lightly breaded tender veal was smothered in a crisp and tangy marinara that was laced with a chiffonade of fresh basil.  My waistline asked Erika to remove the remaining perfectly prepared pasta even though my taste buds begged me to ingest every last strand.

The Food = Very, Very Good!

If the “Bananas Foster” (a PajamaGal weakness) had remained on the new owner’s menu, we would have sampled Michael’s deserts, but since we had to pass by Erikson’s on the way home anyway…we’ll wait until next time.  And there will be a next time – soon.