Scott M.
Yelp
Alright...alright...let me start by saying that if you're looking for a very good meal, at a price that's reasonable given the meal that you're going to get, then do yourself a favor and come to this place.
It's a nice open room with high ceilings, an open kitchen, some space on the patio if you want to sit outside and everything is as clean and as polished as you'd expect from a fine dining restaurant that's being appropriately managed. A really nice place to eat.
I was in the area today with some time to kill and an empty stomach, so I searched, "best restaurants in Tuscaloosa" and looked over a few menus as I got hungrier. I'm glad I took that extra time because hungry is what you're going to want to be.
This place has the type of menu that leaves you legitimately torn on what to order. Cheese plates, fried okra, an array of interesting salad choices, pork belly...and those are just the starters. The mains include fresh seafood, an outstanding NY strip, lamb osso bucco, stuffed quail, rabbit...you get the picture. The menu reminds me of a tapas place, but the plates aren't small. You definitely get what you pay for here.
So I came in during the transition between the lunch, bar, and dinner menus and managed to order the modestly titled, "ham and cheese plate", which came out as a great example of charcuterie. Finished almost the entire thing while biding time for the dinner menu to start. The portion was generous, and the variety of items for the price was more than adequate. While allowing all that to settle, I went ahead and ordered the NY strip. About that...wow. I couldn't believe the portion. I've eaten at a number of restaurants that seem to fit this category, and I did not expect the steak to be as big as it was...not to mention that it was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. The grilled carrots and sweet potato gratin that accompanied it simply cannot be explained. Seemingly innocuous side items that somehow managed to burst with flavor. Really good stuff. This is the kind of stuff you can keep eating even though you're getting full.
I couldn't leave without desert, so I asked what the lightest one was, and I was recommended the strawberry shortcake. It did not disappoint, but I have to admit that I didn't finish it because I just ran out of space.
So overall, the food here seems to be very well done, well thought out, and executed in such a way that I can't see how they could have done any better. The menu is diverse, interesting, and has a nice array of things you don't typically find at just any place on any corner. I couldn't be happier with what I had today.
Now...the service. As I stated before I showed up during that odd time between shifts and therefore had 2 servers over the course of my meal. The transition was flawless. The hostess at the front who greeted me was exceptionally polite, as were both of the servers who attended to my table. Professional, polite, prompt, attentive and not overbearing. What else can you ask for?
So friendly people, exceptional food, pleasant atmosphere, and prices that are more than fair if you know what you're looking at on the plate. If you haven't tried this spot, then it should be on your list. 5 stars.