Wow! I obviously hadn't been to downtown Gahanna in a while. The new Creekside development is very nice. Mezzo is only one of the new restaurants that has taken up occupancy in Creekside, but it happened to be the one I visited. We sat inside due to the rain that evening, but they do have a nice covered and uncovered patio. The menu had something on it that I think everyone would like. While we waited for the rest of our party (side note: who never showed up by the way) we snacked on some bread with balsamic and oil for dipping. The balsamic prompted us to order a nice red wine. My dinner companion ordered the La Casa Insalata, while I ordered the Caprese. Her salad was delicious, the spiced walnuts were fantastic with the apples and dressing. Definitely a salad I will get next time if I can tear myself away from the Caprese which is my ultimate favorite and I was not disappointed by Mezzo's version. For our entrees we ordered the Pollo Marinato and the Grigliata Mahi Mahi. Both came with polenta which I forgot how much I liked. My dinner, the Mahi Mahi, was just enough food, while the Chicken was two breasts and offered my friend the opportunity for leftovers. For dessert we opted for the Jeni's ice cream even though the menu had a bunch of desserts worth ordering!
Everything was so delicious that time flew by. I can't wait to go back!!
6.29.2008
Northstar - Clintonville
This will be a really quick review. I headed to Northstar last week. I have heard alot about the place - mainly that it has the best veggie burger in town. Their menu isn't very vast, but what they do have they do well. They have a really nice patio although the gnats were very annoying that night. I had a flatbread - the Spicy Chicken flat bread to be exact. It was delicious. I even ended up taking some home. My friend with me has had the basil chicken burrito which has become her favorite. The place has a "hippie" reputation, but I didn't even smell a hint of patchouli in the air. I wouldn't let that reputation keep you from Northstar. Its a keeper!
6.18.2008
Eddie Merlot's - Polaris Parkway
I have been dying to go to this place since I saw the sign posted during construction. Although I am searching for that ultimate cool little locally owned place and not a chain, Eddie Merlot's was an exception. Merlot's is a small chain out of Indiana with only four locations. The building went up pretty fast and has been open since Mother's Day. I finally got the group to go tonight. We headed over at 5:30pm, and the wait staff was still arriving which makes me think that they are not open for lunch. They have complimentary valet service, but it looked like no one was taking advantage of it. I went there straight from work which was a good option because the place is pretty swanky. There isn't a dress code as far as I could find, and two friends of mine showed up in shorts, t-shirts and sneakers and were not turned away. The building is quite deceiving; it is actually quite big. There are many rooms that can be set for large groups and closed off if necessary. I would imagine that they are banking on lots of business from the newly built Hilton right next door.
Okay, on to the meat of the review...no pun intended. We were seated right away in the back of the restaurant (first good sign). We perused the menu, and even though I had been studying it for two days online I was still torn on what to get. They have an extensive wine and martini list of which I sampled a delightfully sweet Reisling. I was anxious to order the Brie en Croute. The brie arrived within puff pastry and was served with fresh raspberries, sliced apples, crackers and spiced walnuts. I can only say - delicious. We also order the Beef Carpaccio which I didn't think I was a big fan of but it was very good. Finally, we sampled the Blue Cheese Potato Chips - again...delicious. Since I knew I was filling up on the appetizers, I didn't think I wanted to order a "real" dinner. Like most good steakhouses, everything is a la carte. The sides, we were told, are big enough for two people, but in actuality could be split among three people. I ordered the French Onion Soup, which was HUGE and again, very good. I also ordered the Lobster Mashed Potatoes which can only be described as decadent. I cannot gush enough about this place. Other orders placed at the table: Lump Crab Cakes served with jalapeño sweet corn, Double Cut Pork Chop (the thickest pork chop I have ever seen!) with Macaroni and Cheese on the side, Prime Filet Mignon with Eddie's Potatoes on the side and a Caesar Salad. There were no complaints about any of the food. I was able to sample most of the items. Even though we were completely stuffed, we HAD to try some items from the dessert menu. S'mores, Warm Apple and Peach Crisp (with Cinnamon Ice Cream) and Berry Crepe arrived at the table. Even though I "couldn't possibly eat anything else" I had to at least take a small bite of each item, and I was not disappointed. All in all, the service was impeccable and quite patient with our tardy and indecisive group. My very picky friend noted that Eddie Merlot's was definitely in his top 10 of best restaurant experiences, which is saying a lot. I ended up so stuffed and felt as though I was waddling out of the restaurant two hours later.
The food was stupendous and service impeccable. Since the whole menu is a la carte, it can get quite pricey, but the food and experience are well worth the money. Like I said before, I cannot say enough good things about this place. I just got home uncomfortably full, but can't wait to go again and try some of the other things on the menu that I didn't get to tonight. Plan a nice evening with friends or pop in after work for appetizers and drinks. Eddie Merlot's should definitely be on your list!
Okay, on to the meat of the review...no pun intended. We were seated right away in the back of the restaurant (first good sign). We perused the menu, and even though I had been studying it for two days online I was still torn on what to get. They have an extensive wine and martini list of which I sampled a delightfully sweet Reisling. I was anxious to order the Brie en Croute. The brie arrived within puff pastry and was served with fresh raspberries, sliced apples, crackers and spiced walnuts. I can only say - delicious. We also order the Beef Carpaccio which I didn't think I was a big fan of but it was very good. Finally, we sampled the Blue Cheese Potato Chips - again...delicious. Since I knew I was filling up on the appetizers, I didn't think I wanted to order a "real" dinner. Like most good steakhouses, everything is a la carte. The sides, we were told, are big enough for two people, but in actuality could be split among three people. I ordered the French Onion Soup, which was HUGE and again, very good. I also ordered the Lobster Mashed Potatoes which can only be described as decadent. I cannot gush enough about this place. Other orders placed at the table: Lump Crab Cakes served with jalapeño sweet corn, Double Cut Pork Chop (the thickest pork chop I have ever seen!) with Macaroni and Cheese on the side, Prime Filet Mignon with Eddie's Potatoes on the side and a Caesar Salad. There were no complaints about any of the food. I was able to sample most of the items. Even though we were completely stuffed, we HAD to try some items from the dessert menu. S'mores, Warm Apple and Peach Crisp (with Cinnamon Ice Cream) and Berry Crepe arrived at the table. Even though I "couldn't possibly eat anything else" I had to at least take a small bite of each item, and I was not disappointed. All in all, the service was impeccable and quite patient with our tardy and indecisive group. My very picky friend noted that Eddie Merlot's was definitely in his top 10 of best restaurant experiences, which is saying a lot. I ended up so stuffed and felt as though I was waddling out of the restaurant two hours later.
The food was stupendous and service impeccable. Since the whole menu is a la carte, it can get quite pricey, but the food and experience are well worth the money. Like I said before, I cannot say enough good things about this place. I just got home uncomfortably full, but can't wait to go again and try some of the other things on the menu that I didn't get to tonight. Plan a nice evening with friends or pop in after work for appetizers and drinks. Eddie Merlot's should definitely be on your list!
6.17.2008
TGI Friday's - Polaris Parkway
Good grief! It has been a while. Sorry about that, my friends and I went on a Rusty Bucket jag there for a while, and otherwise were not going to places that were new or different than ones that were already posted about. BUT, on Sunday night, my suggestion was TGI Fridays on Polaris Parkway. A quick note, the Cleveland Avenue location was banned awhile ago and actually the Polaris location was also banned, but those damn Guy Fieri commercials finally got to me. We headed over on a Father's Day evening which could be problematic, but good for us, we got in just fine. Their menu has been expanded with a collaboration with Fieri and the Food Network. Two people in my party ordered the Ahi Tuna Sliders. Typically Ahi Tuna is pretty rare, but these were fully cooked. The funniest part of the evening was that the waiter kept calling them Aha! Tuna. I ordered the Cedar-Seared Salmon Pasta which oddly was only 500 calories and 10g of fat. (yes I am still on the health-kick). I was truly pleased with the food at TGI Fridays during this visit, but the waiter was a space-cadet. He had a hard time remembering what we all ordered, and then when it was time for our bill, that was a fiasco. I wouldn't discount this location right away due to this trip's odd waiter, but be aware of this when you go. I would imagine the chance you get the same waiter is low, but if you do, I hope you have some patience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)