Can the residents get any luckier?
This is a switch. The last 2 operators left a bad taste (pardon the pun) in the residents mouth. I spoke to a few. The major problems were service, price, and quality. Basically...everything!!!
This new operator, Mike, has changed all that.
We (my wife and I) walked in...snuck in is more it as it is residents only. Getting through the gate is easy. Anyway...I walked through the doors by the pool, and was in wowed. The place is gorgeous.
I was greeted by a redhead...the operators wife. She was all smiles. She immediately took us to a nice table with a view (a small round table by the window) that was just a bit to small for my knees.
The server was there within a few minutes. It was a but busy, so she introduced herself, took our drink order, brought them IMMEDIATELY with some bread (more on that later), and told us she would be back in a few minutes to take our order.
5 minuts later, our Server, Tiffany, arrived. With the bread, a True Italian bread with a crispy crust and sesame seeds (reminded me of a bakery back home up north), waiting was not a problem. She recited the speacials, and, when asked, was able to describe them as if she loved to eat them and made me salivate...a lost art.
I ordered the Stuffed Flounder. 2 4 oz filets, stuffed with lagostino lobster, blue crab, and bay scallops. It came with Roasted red potatoes and steamed broccoli. Hating broccoli, I asked for something to sub it with, and was offered several choices. I went with a fresh steamed green beans with a light garlic and wine sauce. My wife played it safe with and ordered something called the Chicken Tuscany over ziti rigatti (a nice change from the penne that Everyone has on the menu. Meals came with soup, salad, beverage, and dessert. Prices later. I'll let you drool and guess 1st.
Soup came out, with more bread. Where to start...
Soup was Tomato Basil with Shells. Wow. It was light, yet full of flavor. There was the basic Mire Poix, accompanaied by diced Roma and Plum tomatoes, fresh concasse basil, and shells that had been obviously been sitting for awhile. No, I am not complaining. They were a winderful touch. They were just the size of golf balls. Everything blended perfectly. Nothing stood out. The ingredients just complimented each other perfectly.
Salad was suprising, considering the price tag of dinner (no, I'm not telling yet). A blend of 90% Spring Mix, and the rest Romaine and Ice Berg. I had the Tomato Pesto Vinagrette. Mild, yet pleasing. Could use a bit less pesto. Too pronounced. My wife had the house dressing...a Citris Balsamico. It was sweet, which complimented the balsamic perfectly. Basil was in the shaker, but never made it out. I still wonder how it would have affected the taste if I was biting into basil pieces.
About 5 minutes after we were done with our salads, which gave time for the openers to settle and wake up the palette, our dinners arrived.
My plate had 2 filets, generously stuffed, with a wonderfully light bur marnier drizzled on top. The stuffing had roated green peppers, celery, and a taste I could not place. It was unlike anything I had ever tasted before. Later I learned what it was when I spoke to the operator/chef when he was visiting tables. He made candied ginger, then pulverized it with a morter and pestle. Amazing.
My wife's dish was different. A bit confusing. The chicken was so tender, it cut with a fork. The sauce...hmm. The sauce was obviously based on a marinara, but it was a bit sour, sweet, and spicey at the same time. Not bad sour, but vinegar sour. The flavor just kissed the taste buds perfectly. The layers of flavor kept unfolding. There ware green peppers, onions, mushrooms, chopped grape tomatoes, and diced black olives in it. All at different levels of doneness, so they kept the mouth gussing as to what was coming next. I know what you all are thinking. Yes, I had more then a bite of hers. Halfway through, we always trade dishes. The dishes were well prepared, nicely presented (although without all the artistic flair of a 4 star restaurant...unecessary anyway), and tasted as though we WERE sitting in a 4 star restaurant. We left not a drop on the plates. We sopped up everything with the bread.
Just when we thought it would not get better, as I felt we needed a rolling chair to get back to our cars in, yet could have eaten more due to the addictive taste, the presented the dessert choices.
I quote..."Your dinner comes with jello, pudding, and ice cream, but Chef Michael makes cakes that are to die for. I had to ask. These were the nights selections. A cell phone with a voice recorder is a beautiful thing.
1: A Jim Beam cake. 2 layers of sponge cake, soaked with Jim Beam (yet seeming to have been sweetened to a light syrup). Between the layers are chocolate mousse and banana mousse, wrapped in white semi sweet frosting with a light raspberry glaze on top.
2: Something called a Mamma Mia. This I had to order. 3 layers of chocolate fudge (the watress stated triple chocolate fudge) with were present with swirls of milk, dark, and a touch of bitter sweet making up the cake part. It was soaked with Chambord. In between the layers was chocolate buttercream. The outside was coated with dark chocolate shavings. It was named right. It was very moist. With all the chocolate, it was not overly sweet.
The third was a Bing Cherry Cognac Pie. All she could say was that it was popular. She did not have much info on it.
My wife got the rice pudding that came with her meal. It was very good. The flavor of cinnain was there, but not any sign of it being sprinkled on top before being brought out. A hint of citrus. Not to my liking, but she loved it.
Now for the best part. Yes, this was a wonderful way to end the meal. The check.
This feast was enjoyed for the wondefully low price of $32.75. Yes, $32.75. My dinner was $18.95, my wifes was $11.95. That INCLUDES soup, salad, dessert, and our sodas. Go find this anywhere else.
I left the server a VERY good tip... $10. I am not boasting, I am just complimenting her and sharing it with you all. The main reason why...I do not remeber her ever being around except to take out order for dinner and dessert, and to give us the bill. But I never had to ask for anything. It was always there.
If you are in the area...find a way to get on the premises and try the place out. If you live there and still go to local places, you are a glutten for punishment, considering the quality of food in the area.    [27 May 2006 23:51:13]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Everything!!!

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