Mark T.
Yelp
Mark my words: no dining or drinking establishment, no matter how popular or iconic, will last forever. I say this because if there's a place you want to try, but keep putting it off... go! It may not be here tomorrow.
I bring this up because this was the case with The Townshend which was here before Dotty's. When I finally decided that today's the day, I found it was no more and Dotty's had taken its place. Yet, Dotty's fit the bill very nicely, arguably even better!
I had the opportunity to try:
- Salmon Crudo
- Tuna Tartare
- 1x each oysters
- Clam Chowder
- Means of Preservation (cocktail)
The Salmon Crudo was admirable. The fish was high quality, and the other ingredients did a fine job adding further dimensions: heat from the jalapeño, sweetness from the blood orange, and freshness from the radish. Ordinarily this is where I would use a metaphor about a fireworks show and tell you how 1+1=3. Unfortunately this wasn't the case here.
My main issue with the dish is the different elements did not combine/marry well. It was like putting a piece of salmon and blood orange (for e.g.) in my mouth at the same time. Nothing wrong, but also not greater than the sum of its parts. A few lesser notes: I found the salt level a smidge high, which might explain why the passion fruit purée did not make itself known.
For the Tuna Tartare, this dish too was respectable, but fell short of excellence. The combination of tuna and cucumber was in perfect amounts, and the heat from the sriracha was subtle, pleasant, and came with a slight delay - perfect! My critique here is the salt level was high, and this overpowered the otherwise subtle flavors of the tuna.
The oysters were great. Dotty's has a nice selection, and these were of medium-large size, varied, and only one had a tiny piece of cartilage.
The Clam Chowder was thoroughly unremarkable, and nothing to write home about. I liked the fresh potatoes (not glassy) and I wish it were a bit more clammy.
A bit out of left field, the Means of Preservation was fantastic! This cocktail was smooth as silk, and while it doesn't taste boozy, it absolutely is - I was feeling the effects halfway through! It has a light sweetness, and hints of celery and grapefruit (more on the nose than taste). Even if you're not a gin drinker, I wholeheartedly recommend you try this.
The service was polite and speedy, though I highly suggest a reservation, especially if you're planning on coming on a weekend night. The vibe inside is modern, warm, and welcoming. Being a seafood, it isn't the cheapest option, but not overpriced in my opinion.