Josh H.
Google
The Hobbit is an upscale American and seafood restaurant located in the Rivendell Condominium building on 81st Street. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM Friday and Saturday.
My friends and I had a list of spots to try this year, and this one was at the top. We'd heard nothing but great things, so I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint. All the food was enjoyable and our server Vern made sure we were well taken care of.
We kicked things off with the Cherry Bomb Calamari and the Scallops Tagliatelle. The calamari, topped with toasted coconut and served with Shanghai aioli, was good, but the tagliatelle was the standout. Perfectly seared dayboat scallops paired with housemade tagliatelle in a truffle butter sauce, with peas, pancetta, Parmesan, and a drizzle of jus gras. Rich, fresh, and beautifully balanced.
Next, I tried the cream of crab soup, made with fresh Maryland jumbo lump crab meat. The flavor was rich and well-balanced, but I did encounter a few shell fragments. A truly great bowl of cream of crab should be smooth and shell-free.
For our entrees, we ordered the smoked cheddar pierogies, the red wine braised short rib, and the filet mignon. While everything was delicious, the filet was by far the best. You can choose from three preparation styles, we had it blackened, and it was cooked and seasoned to absolute perfection. It's a dish I'd happily come back for.