El’s New Year’s Eve dinner at Prime Bar & Grill

Starter:

Coco Tini – Pearl coconut vodka, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine & toasted coconut - 8

Hand cut French fries with jalapeno & cilantro mayonnaise – 6

Good martini, not too sweet…I was afraid of that. Looked like a Cosmo but it didn’t taste like one, the toasted coconut on the glass was nice.

Fries – a large cup of fries…YUM! I was hungry after the run and fries called my name. They were nicely cooked…not greasy. Wasn’t too sure about the cilantro mayo (you know how I feel about cilantro…soapy) but it was good. Couldn’t finish all of them, leftovers for me.

Salad:

Fall Harvest Chop – chopped iceberg, romaine, red onion, tomato, cucumber, roasted butter nut squash, gorgonzola crumbles, dried cranberries, candied walnuts, champagne vinaigrette, garlic & mozzarella pizzette – 11.50

You know how much I love bleu cheese (or gorgonzola), cranberries, and candied walnuts on a salad!! Had to try it. The roasted butternut squash were really tasty to bite into, maybe roasted with maple syrup, cinnamon, and other spices – and then when I forked a piece of the gorgonzola and squash…really good. Not too much red onion. The pizzette were kinda like the tortilla chips that we get at Candeloros, and I always liked those. Crunchy but flakey…not sure if I tasted the mozzarella, I only ate half of one. It was a big salad, I think we could have split one, especially since after I finished it I was pretty full…and I still had my entrée! My only complaint was that it could have used more dressing, but I figured I didn’t need the extra calories. Next time I’ll ask for more dressing.

Entrée + additional side:

20oz. Delmonico – house made Sheldon farm potato fries – 22.50

Lobster Mac n Cheese – 9

Jeff, my waiter, had asked what I was in the mood for…I said a steak. So of the three steaks on the menu (Delmonico, 10oz.filet mignon – 35.50 and 14oz USDA Prime NY Strip – 45 (yikes)) he said this was best choice if I wanted a big steak. He wasn’t kidding. Since I had had fries as a snack with my drink I asked the fries that came with the steak be substituted with another veggie. I wanted to try the lobster mac n cheese, so a side of that was perfect . I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish it all, but I’m pretty good with leftovers J. I had asked for the steak medium, and it was really medium…very tender, cut through it like butter, nice flavor, good sear, and very big. The piece in the picture is what I took home. It was served with the French fries, which I hadn’t asked for, a roasted garlic clove, ketchup and a little red pepper. When Jeff came to check on me I showed him the fries hadn’t been substituted for a veggie, he apologized and said he would be right back with a veggie, and would I like to take the fries home…sure, add them to the rest of the leftovers! He came back a few moments later with a LOVELY bowl of perfectly braised Brussels sprouts…I smiled and though of you of course! J The roasted garlic clove was nice to spread on some of the pieces of the steak…took it home too.

Lobster mac n cheese – good, but I don’t need to get it again. Very rich and creamy, but I wouldn’t say cheesy. So it was more like a fettuccine alfredo with lobster, not that that is a bad thing. I finished it because it won’t reheat very well. Lots of lobster…one big claw on top, but it tasted a bit fishy. L

Coffee & Dessert:

Coffee w/extra cream – 2.50 (bargain!)

Sweet Buttered Popcorn – butter pecan ice cream, butter rum corn cake, caramel popcorn – 9

I got dessert to-go, but stayed to drink the coffee (see service below – but, timed exactly the way I asked). The coffee was excellent and it was a BIG cup, and for 2.50, a bargain! Anyway, I did really enjoy the coffee, and you would have too – there was enough cream for the both of us! J I made it home, put the dessert in the freezer and ate it just a little while ago. It was interesting, basically ice cream w/cracker jacks on top and the corn cake. The ice cream was good, but I didn’t taste much rum in the corn cake…which was a bit dry, even though the ice cream had melted around it. Glad I tried it, don’t have to try it again.

Service – attentive and he listened – you would have loved it. I asked for him to wait until I was done with my drink before bringing my salad…done. When he cleared my salad plate, he asked if I was ready for my entrée or wanted to wait a moment, I asked to wait. He came back about 10 minutes later and asked if I was ready for my entrée – yes. About 10 minutes after that the entrée arrived…and fry/veggie error corrected within another 5 minutes. Finally, when I placed my order for dessert, I told him I wanted it to go…but I also wanted to have a cup of coffee before leaving. I asked that after he brought my coffee, he should bring my check, and once I handed him the paid check that was when the dessert should come out…and that is exactly what happened. Throughout the meal he checked in on me to see how I was doing, but without being over bearing.

Overall – A good meal, good service in a nice atmosphere…finally we might have a “nice” place to go ever once in a while in the neighborhood. Some of the items on the menu, which I’ll send you, were well priced. My steak at 22.50 was a good price – it was a big piece, done nicely and did actually come with a side. I could have added a salad for an additional $4 – but I had had my chopped salad – next time I’ll know better. I think a 14oz steak for $45 is a lot, but on the “additions” menu they had Surf & Turf for two at $70 and it included 1 lb lobster, 140z steak asparagus, truffle mashed potatoes and béarnaise sauce. That would have been good for us…

There are burgers on the menu – classic – 11.50 and a double stuffed w/shortribs – 14.50…I don’t think that is too bad. I’ll try and let you know, maybe when I get to my goal weight I’ll treat myself. They also have these things called “JARS” – the one that sounds good is “Duck in a Jar” - duck confit, duck liver, hazelnuts, port + plum wine reduction, duck gelee, toasted country bread – 12.50.