Steak & Ale - Bloomington, MN - Review

OUT OF BUSINESS SUMMER 2008

Steak & Ale
Minneapolis – Bloomington, MN
2801 Southtown Drive
Bloomington, MN 55431
952.884.0124

***

It was very cold and dark, the roads were icy, and there were not many people out that night. Maybe it's because it was the last Saturday of the year and people were still recuperating from their Christmas celebrations and preparing for New Years Eve. At any rate, it was a great night to go out if you like avoiding the crowds and getting more personalized service.

Steak and Ale has been a fixture in the Bloomington community for many years. I have a brother that lived in Minneapolis in the 70's and he remembers eating there back then. The company was actually founded in 1966 to “Provide an upscale dining experience at a casual price.” Let's see if they still live up to their 40 year old directive.

Peggy and I walked in and were immediately greeted with a smile by the hostess who proceeded to seat us promptly. As we were escorted to the table, we admired the old English type setting of plaster and dark wood, old worldly chandeliers, dark carpet, fire places and candlelight. They have a main hall which leads way to several dining rooms, some large and some small, and a good sized bar and lounge as well. We were seated by a fireplace at a cozy table for two that featured two large high backed chairs

Our server showed up quickly with a great attitude and took our drink orders. This night we kept it simple with a glass of house Merlot for Peggy and a vodka martini with olives for me. It's worth noting that the martini came with three olives, which is nice for sharing with your dinner partner.

When ordering appetizers we chose to go with the Pan-Seared Crab Cakes. Surprisingly our server told us that she thought they were the worst appetizer on the menu and that most people don't like them. We appreciated her honest opinion and went with the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, which ended up being a great choice. It was served with six shrimp (three shrimp to a skewer) alongside a decadent herb hollandaise sauce. We both liked this appetizer.

For our main course Peggy chose the Filet Medallions and I chose the Braised Pork Osso Bucco. Each entrée is served with warm bread and honey butter, choice of salad bar, Caesar salad or a bleu cheese wedge. We both went with the bleu cheese wedge since this is the only place we know of where this is available. A quarter wedge of iceberg lettuce is served on a plate with tomatoes and chunky bleu cheese dressing on top. Although it could have used more dressing, it was a fun and tasty alternative to a traditional salad.

Peggy's Filet Medallions came two to the plate served with asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. The filets were cooked to medium rare perfection (think “Melt in your mouth”) with a fabulous Merlot demi-glaze The garlic mashed potatoes were good and tasty but the asparagus was limp and woody. How they managed that one, I don't know. The tops were woody and tough and the bottoms were limp and lifeless. If I were the chef there is no way I would have ruined a great dish like that . Those asparagus should have never met the plate.

My Braised Pork Osso Bucco was very good. It was served falling off the bone on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes all drizzled in a portabella mushroom sauce. The flavors of this succulent dish all melded together very well. I was very happy, although if Richard Simmons would have been served this he probably would have ran out of the room screaming.

Looking back we liked many things about our visit, such as the great service, cozy atmosphere and some very delicious items. However, in this day and age there are just too many restaurant choices out there to allow mediocrity to distract from the experience. If you have a sub par appetizer like the crab cakes...simply make it better or take it off the menu. If you have limp veggies...don't serve them to your guests and offer them a better alternative. Once Steak and Ale gets the small details worked out, we will be happy to give them another try and maybe a better score.

MAP - WEBSITE

Have a Merry Merry and a Happy Happy...Belated of course

Hello all. As is implied by the title of this post we hope all who celebrate the same holidays we do had a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year! To all others, we wish you the best of whatever you choose to celebrate.

We have taken a long hiatus from posting on Invisible Diner. As unintentional as it was, the reasons are many and range from vacations out west, the holidays, and personal health scares. Now that they are all behind us (hopefully) we look forward to a great 2008.

Thank you very much for visiting and your continued support.

Andy & Peggy

Market Bar-B-Que - Wayzata, MN - Review

Market Bar-B-Que
Minnetonka Location
15320 Wayzata Blvd
Wayzata, MN 55391
952.475.1770

***

When I think of Market Bar-B-Que one word keeps popping into my head, atmosphere. The American Heritage Dictionary defines atmosphere as “An aesthetic quality or effect, especially a distinctive and pleasing one, associated with a particular place” and it is for this reason that I usually choose to keep going back to Market Bar-B-Que. The food is usually ok, service ok, drinks ok, but the atmosphere is warm, cozy, and inviting, somewhat reminiscent of the old supper clubs I used to go to as a boy growing up in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Peggy and I ventured out around 8pm on Saturday which is late by Minnesota standards. (in New York or L.A. they are still serving the senior specials at 8pm) Market Bar-B-Que is tucked in an obscure corner just off the frontage road on the north side of 394 and is surrounded by office complexes. The building has an interesting design in that it is half submerged underground. As you walk up the familiar glow of neon lights comes from the windows. They have one that looks like their pig mascot...very cute. The heavy wooden door in the entryway has an old metal knocker on it in the shape of a pigs head leading one to believe that pork is the dominant theme at this establishment.

As we ventured indoors, through the vestibule, we are immediately embraced by the atmosphere. Walking past the candy machines, free local magazines, and an old coin operated pig that the children can ride a smallish bar sits to our right. It never seems busy, but I can't help but think it used to be the “place to go” in days gone by. After all the Market Bar-B-Que has been a Twin Cites institution since 1946 when it took its name from the nearby Farmers Market in Minneapolis. Granted this suburban location didn't come into existence until years later, you can't help but take comfort in a restaurant chain that has been around for over 50 years.

We were greeted immediately by the hostess. She offered seating at a table or booth. We choose to sit at a booth which are set back in cozy little alcoves complete with checkered tablecloths, pig shaped coat hangers and vintage table top juke box. (the juke boxes were disconnected years ago, but they still add to the ambiance)

Seconds after being seated our server jetted over and brought us menus and asked if we wanted anything to drink. Peggy and I both ordered Skye vodka martinis on the rocks with olives.($7.95) A very short while later they arrived in a small tumbler filled to the rim. We both enjoyed them and were happy with how they were made, but we found the price to be too high for this caliber of restaurant.

The server then asked if we wanted an appetizer and we inquired about the Seasoned Chicken Wings.($8.95) She said they were fantastic so we proceeded to order. Not long after a plate of 5 whole chicken wings was brought to the table accompanied by a bowl of their homemade barbecue sauce. I honestly have to say, they were pure heaven. Smoked to perfection served crispy and piping hot with a great seasoning (think Lawry's) that didn't mask the smoked flavor of the meat. If you get a chance try these, we think you will be happy you did.

When asked what we wanted for our entrée I asked the server how the Broiled Walleye was and she wrinkled her nose and gave a not so enthusiastic moan. I don't know what got into me. Going to a barbecue restaurant and ordering fish. Thoughts of eating out as a child entered my mind. My Mom was notorious for ordering what wasn't the specialty of the restaurant. We would go to a seafood restaurant and she would order duck, we would go to a steak house and she would order fish. I remember how often she was disappointed by mediocre food. This should have taught me to never do the same, but for some reason I wanted fish. Happy for her honesty I immediately went to my second choice, a half rack of Baby Back Ribs.($16.95) Peggy opted for the Beef Brisket.($15.95)

My ribs arrived served on a fiberglass serving tray, a small version of the ones you would see at a cafeteria line. It actually is a nice idea since ribs would easily fill up a plate and not leave enough room for the sides. Speaking of sides, I had the french fries which are the default potato choice unless you want to pay $1.50 more for a baked potato. Also served with my meal was creamy coleslaw and Texas toast. My ribs were served dry (no sauce) and they were precut about ¾ of the way through between each bone. Although they were not as tender as I like, they tasted very good. The rub of seasonings used along with the smoky flavor made up for the lack of tenderness. The coleslaw was creamy yet crunchy and had a slight garlic and horseradish overtone. The french fries were not very hot, but they were crispy and I enjoyed dipping them into the barbecue sauces. I don't know how, but some restaurants manage to ruin simple toast. This was not the case Saturday night. The toast was buttered yet crispy and made for a great accompaniment for the meal.

Peggy's Beef Brisket arrived piled high on Texas toast with grilled onions and barbecue sauce slathered on top. The pink meat was lukewarm, but had a great smokehouse flavor and was very tender. Peggy opted for a baked potato instead of fries. The potato was baked perfect and seemed fresh. She also enjoyed the coleslaw as much as I did.

We were so stuffed by the end of our meal we opted out of dessert. If we wanted we could have chose from a variety of sweets such as Key Lime Pie, Mud Ice Cream Pie, and Sweet Potato Pie to name a few.

Service, as I mentioned earlier was extremely fast. The server was never far away and quick to fill our order. While I would giver her an A for efficiency, I would give her a C on personality. Very short abrupt answers to questions and not much feedback when we initiated conversation. I should also mention that we did need to ask for water with our meal and the glasses were never refilled even though they sat empty for quite some time.

The food and drinks were better than usual this time and the service was prompt. Yes, we both agree the prices are too high for this type of restaurant. Paying $1.50 extra for a baked potato or $2.50 extra for a dinner salad instead of coleslaw seems a bit silly especially when entrée prices range from the low teens to the upper twenties. But overall we had a pleasant experience and we will no doubt go back for more. As we were getting ready to leave, Peggy and I looked around the dining room and smiled. It was decorated with white and orange mini lights and pumpkins with a backdrop of red porcelain tiled walls, alcoves separated by glass dividers, and the red hue of the neon lights. Warm, comfy, and cozy was the reason we came and we weren't disappointed by the atmosphere.

MAP - WEBSITE

Happy Halloween!

The Stormy Night Behind Us

A few years back Peggy and I were heading “Up North” to my parent’s cabin in Three Lakes, WI. We were getting hungry and decided to stop in at an truck stop somewhere in Wisconsin which name will remain anonymous to protect the innocent. I am not a truck stop aficionado, but I would say this place was decent by truck stop standards. When thinking of comparable restaurants Denny's, Perkins, and IHOP come to mind. Unfortunately, as we found that night, looks can often be deceiving.

As we entered the hostess seated us promptly. Looking around the dining room I would say it was a slow night with ¼ of the tables occupied at best. A short time later we were approached by our server, a young woman, 20ish in age, skinny yet with a pregnant belly, chewing and snapping gum as she asked “Can I get you something to drink”. Peggy ordered water, and I ordered a Coke. As she walked away Peggy and I smiled at each other as if we knew we were in for an interesting dining experience.

Our server returned, prefaced by several snaps of her gum, and brought us our beverages. As she haphazardly set my Coke on the table the liquid was sloshing back and forth over the edge of the glass. “Sorry I slopped on your table, can I take your order?” she said while coughing and wiping her runny nose with her finger. After placing our order we watched our server walk away…and she was never heard from again…at least at our table.

From that point on we waited…and waited…and then waited some more. We could see her, behind the counter in the back by the kitchen door talking to the cook and the dishwasher. Then a new group of people were seated in her section. She approached, gave them menus, took their drink orders and did not even look our way. At this point we were so amazed by the lack of service and incompetent treatment that we decided sit quietly and wait to see how bad it could get.

The server came back to the other table gave them their drinks and took their dinner order. Again, not even looking at us which was a feat in itself since we were right next to the table she was serving. Meanwhile, another table came in and same story, drinks were brought, order taken, etc. She brought food to the table that came in five minuets after us and then to the table that came in ten minuets after us. At this point, most people would have demanded to see the manager, but not us. We were determined to see how bad it could get. But to what extent? How long would we stay? Until the end of her shift? Overnight? No, we decided not to be that extreme, but we would wait until the table that came in after us had finished and left. That is exactly what happened. They finished their meals paid and were on their way. All this time the ne’er-do-well we formerly referred to as our server never even made eye contact with us.

After enduring the hell of being hungry and having no service at all we got up and went to the cashier to report our awful experience. When asked who our server was we told her the skinny brown haired pregnant girl. The cashier immediately rolled her eyes and said “Oh, that’s Stormy” giving us the impression that this has happened before. Unfortunately that did not seem to make a difference because the cashier did not even apologize for the service and proceeded to charge us for the coke that I had purchased 45 minutes earlier. I looked at Peggy in disbelief and suggested we pay thus putting the icing on the cake to the worst dining experience (or lack their of) ever!