ATTENTION!! On the left hand column, you will find links to search by cuisine or city. You will also find a restaurant index of all of the places I have written about on the column on the right. If you enjoy the site, please bookmark the site and tell a friend! You can also subscribe to be notified when the site updates by entering your e-mail address in the box on the left. Happy Eating!

Please visit our partner sites DiningOutInOC.com for info on OC restaurant openings and special culinary related events, Booze It Up OC for info on OC 21+ events and Brunch In OC for info and reviews on weekend brunches.

Griffin Eats OC's Fan Box

Monday, December 10, 2012

Pitfire Pizza - Costa Mesa

 353 E 17th St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-313-6333


Please Note: The following is a guest review written by Jeff L.

I attended a media event so take my reviews as such. I was coming from PCH and drove past the restaurant but the parking behind it is very intuitive. This is the first restaurant of theirs in OC and the 6th location overall having been in LA for years. Costa Mesa makes sense for a restaurant like this with its simple, laid back atmosphere yet subtle attention to details. For example, the column you see when ordering was made out of mahogany from a boat deck, the bulbs on the wall to your left as you walk in spell Pitfire in braille, and the seats are made from VW beetle car seats. The place is very approachable and I liked the open counter seating encouraging you to sit next to the kitchen in a community type arrangement. The counter made me think of a diner meets European café setting.

The drink menu was limited but focused to make anyone happy. They have all your major wines but all hand picked trying to get from California if they could. I had one of the signature cocktails called Crystal Cove which was quite refreshing and the rosemary stick made for an interesting touch – you could smell the fresh rosemary though drinking it could be challenging because the rosemary kept wanting to go in my nose – I somehow managed though. I had a sample of the beer which was very refreshing yet bold in flavor. They have from 5-10 beers on tap. In addition to regular sangria they also offered a pear apple version. The boomboom red wine was excellent and highly recommended by management. It reminded me of a daily drinkable Italian table wine that just was what it was. For pricing of $7 to $12 a glass it was perfect with the pizza.

The chicken meatballs were uneventful but the sauce brought them to life. On to pizza, I tried several and all were excellent. The crust was thin akin to a southern Italy but not crispy on the bottom. The topping to crust ratio was just right. The edge of the pizza crust was quite crispy though giving it a good combination. I am not a pumpkin person usually but pumpkin squash pizza was quite lovely, very subtle yet flavorful with the brown butter and fontina cheese rounding it out nicely. The Burrata pie was excellent with the arugula a nice touch. One pizza had me intrigued because it was pear but had a spicy kick, turns out they put a few red chili flakes on it. On to my favorite, the sausage party was divine and seeing all that meat on it had me anticipating a more saltier version but the balsamic drizzle kept it at bay and really brought out the flavor. The final pizza was the Tuscan off-menu with thinly sliced potatoes of all things but it worked.

Chicken Meatballs

Pumpkin Pizza

Burrata Pizza

Sausage Party Pizza

Tuscan Pizza with Potatoes

They make almost if not all of their own food and even have their own bread room. In the spirit of community they have a nice private dining room behind the kitchen and even installed the first oven they ever used from 15 years ago. Overall it has high quality food made by people that are passionate about what they do. The three themes of food, design and community are abundant throughout the entire experience and I will definitely be back with a high recommendation.

Pitfire Artisan Pizza on Urbanspoon

Monday, November 19, 2012

Hopscotch Tavern - Downtown Fullerton

Hopscotch Tavern
136 E. Commonwealth Ave
Fullerton, CA 92832
714-871-2222


Housed in the old Fullerton train depot, Hopscotch Tavern will be opening any day now (Most likely Wed 11/21).  I was recently invited to check out the place before it opens to the public.  Hopscotch will offer a full-service menu and a premium selection of whiskeys and craft beers.  Their focus will be on providing a laid-back vibe with high-end drinks, so don't expect to come here and find $2 beer specials.  The atmosphere feels casual and upscale to me at the same time.  The bar is made from old whiskey barrels and there are eye-catching whiskey and beer themed quotes painted on the walls.

Hopscotch will serve lunch and dinner 7-days a week and brunch on Saturday and Sundays.  The menu will consist of comfort foods at a reasonable price.  It seems that a bulk of their menu will consist of barbecue items like pulled pork, pulled beef and pulled chicken with various styles of barbecue sauces.  They will also offer a full rack of ribs for $19.  A selection of cheese-stuffed burgers, that we did not get a chance to try, will also be available.  All of the food from Hopscotch will be made fresh in-house with the exception of their hamburger buns.

The two items that stood out to me were the Huevos Diablos (Deviled Eggs $5) and the Cracklin' Rosemary Flatbread ($5).  The deviled eggs are quite tasty, but a little sweeter than I like.  The star of the night for me was the Cracklin' Rosemary Flatbread.  Butter drenched, rosemary infused flatbread was topped off with crunchy bits of pork cracklins (chicharrones).  It was a flavor explosion that will definitely bring me back.


Hopscotch will also offer a variety of desserts including the ButterSCOTCH cake ($6) that is pictured below.  This is a rich, crumbly, dense butter cake that is infused with a splash of scotch whiskey.

Hopscotch is a place that I would recommend for people looking to unwind with an appetizer or a nice dessert after dinner with a premium glass of whiskey.  I also look forward to trying their brunch.  The brunch items range from $6-$9 and include items such as Hawaiian Bread French Toast, Pulled Pork Benedict, Sweet Potato Waffle and Biscuits and Gravy.

HopScotch Tavern on Urbanspoon

Monday, October 8, 2012

Capriotti's Tustin - Grand Opening and Giveaway

I went down to the Grand Opening of Capriotti's today in The District at Tustin Legacy. The new sandwich shop is located next to Peet's Coffee. I have been excited to try this sandwich shop ever since I heard about the sandwich they are famous for, The Bobbie. The Bobbie is basically Thanksgiving on a freshly baked roll. Capriotti's freshly roasts turkeys every day in their shop and also bakes their rolls from scratch. They take a generous portion of the freshly roasted turkey and top it with cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayo. The sandwich is absolutely delicious. The only thing I can think of that would improve this sandwich is if they added a nice slather of chilled turkey gravy to it. Capriotti's makes it possible for me to have this sandwich any time of year instead of just when I make it for myself the day after Thanksgiving!

The sandwiches at Capriotti's come in three sizes, small, medium and large. The small is 9 inches, the medium is 12 inches and the large is a whopping 20 inches! I couldn't believe all the people I saw walking out of the shop with sandwiches that were almost as long as their arm! The Bobbie is $7.49 for a small, $8.99 for a medium and $12.99 for a large.

Capriotti's has graciously offered up two "Meal for Two" vouchers for me to give away to two lucky readers. Each voucher is redeemable at any Capriotti's location for two 9-inch subs, two bags of chips and two drinks. Enter to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop on Urbanspoon

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Panera Gift Card Giveaway!


To celebrate the opening of their new Mission Viejo, CA location (25523 Marguerite Parkway, Suite A2), Panera invited me down to sample some of their menu items and give away a couple of gift cards to my readers.

We were able to sample many of their items from sandwiches to soups and freshly made breads. Every morning Panera freshly makes all of their baked goods. The baked goods from the previous day are donated to a local charity.

Of all the items I tried, I believe that my favorite was the Sonoma Chicken Stew with a Dry Jack Cheese Biscuit (pictured above on the left). The stew was very creamy and reminded me of the filling of a great chicken pot pie. In fact, I was thinking of buying a large batch of this later to bring home and bake into some pie shells. The chicken stew is a seasonal item though, so get it while you can! Panera has graciously offered to give away two $10 gift cards to two lucky readers. Use the rafflecopter form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

St. Regis Monarch Beach to host a Beaujolais Nouveau Farm-to-Table Wine Dinner

Chef Castan, St. Regis Monarch Beach

When: Thursday, November 15, 2012
Reception: 6:00pm 
Dinner: 7:00pm

Where: Motif Restaurant 
The St. Regis Monarch Beach
One Monarch Beach Resort 
Dana Point, CA 92629


The St. Regis in Monarch Beach will be hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau Farm-To-Table wine dinner on Thursday November 15th. A pre-dinner reception will begin at 6:00 PM on the Sunset Terrace of Motif. This won't just be a rinky dink reception though, the pre-dinner festivities will include bruschetta, an oyster station and artisanal cheese tasting. After the reception, they will unveil this year's Beaujolais Nouveau with Chef Castan's 5-course dinner menu that is inspired by French wines and Lyon, the gourmet city of France. Tickets are extremely limited and are $85 each. Ticket price includes mentioned wine and food. Tickets are available by contacting Jacqueline Doti at 949-234-3405 or jacqueline.doti@stregis.com Below is the full menu for the event:

Reception

Fresh Farmer's Market Bruschetta
Oyster Station
Artisanal Cheese Tasting
2012 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

First Course

Fish soup featuring Carlsbad Aqua Farms Mussels and Clams 
with Braised Baby Fennel and Saffron Broth

Second Course

Roasted Organic Breast of Guinea Hen and 'Boudin Blanc' with Chanterelle and Lobster Mushroom Ragout featuring a Temecula Olive Oil Company White Balsamic Vinegar Jus

Third Course

Classic Beef Bourguignon with Parsnip Puree and Winter Vegetables

Fourth Course

Warm Burgundy Cheese and Petite Seasonal Salad finished with Temecula Olive Oil Company Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Vinaigrette

Le Beaujolais

Roasted Apples with Red Wine Sorbet and Milk Chocolate Cream
2012 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau  

$85 per person

Friday, August 31, 2012

California Strawberry Tea Kettle Giveaway!


Summer is slowly winding down and this also means the end of strawberry season. There's still a little time left to get some great California strawberries though! To celebrate the end of another great season, the California Strawberry Commission has partnered with Griffin Eats OC to give away a Copco Strawberry Tea Kettle! To enter the contest, wait for the Rafflecopter form below to load and then follow the directions to enter!

Did you know that in addition to being delicious, strawberries are EXTREMELY healthy?
Here is an excerpt from David Grotto's book 101 Optimal Life Foods with some great info about the health benefits of strawberries:

Strawberries are SUPER! Let Me Count the Ways
By David Grotto, RD, LDN
Author of 101 Optimal Life Foods
Spokesperson for the California Strawberry Commission

You may have seen the term “superfruit” associated with various fruits in the marketplace. It certainly has become a popular term tossed around quite a bit in the media lately. It prompted me to think, “What exactly qualifies a fruit to be ‘super’?”

When writing 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, I researched the term “superfruit” and found that there wasn’t a legal definition for it. But as a registered dietitian, I knew that certain fruits had unique qualities and health attributes that made them different from others. In deciding what fruits to include as worthy members of the 101 Foods book, I looked for distinguishing factors such as nutrient density, which is a measure of how much nutrition is delivered in comparison to the calories provided.

Another important attribute was evaluating the health benefits of adding in a specific fruit into the diet. But as a consumer who also has an eye on taste and versatility, regardless of how healthy and nutritious a superfruit is, if it isn’t accessible, easy to prepare, and great tasting, then in my book, that fruit is less-than-stellar. Not surprisingly, strawberries are a perfect example of a superfruit that meets all “super” criteria!

Super Nutritious

And with such a low calorie and sugar profile they are a welcome addition for people who want to look and feel their best all year long – not just in the summer! Strawberries are packed with a variety of nutrients including vitamin C, folate, fiber and potassium.

They also contain important plant nutrients called polyphenols such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid, ellagitannins, gallotannins, quercetin, kaempferol and phenolic acids.

Super Healthy

Being nutritious is great, but what about the effect of those nutrients on health? Scores of studies exist that evaluate the health benefits of the nutrients found in strawberries.

Potassium helps control blood pressure and fight stroke.
Fiber helps control weight and relieve constipation.
Vitamin C helps repair damage in the body and is an important nutrient in promoting a healthy immune system. This is especially important during cold and flu season. Folate is a B vitamin that fights birth defects and helps control the inflammatory process associated with heart disease.

The plant nutrients found in strawberries, particularly polyphenols, have antioxidant capabilities that can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. These two harmful processes have been linked to major challenges to our health, including cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disease, arthritis, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and pulmonary disease. Polyphenols help protect and repair cells.

Research on these and other nutrients found in strawberries have shown
promise in various studies in:

Improving cognitive decline,
Reducing damage that leads to aging,
Enhanced signaling between brain cells,
Reducing total and LDL cholesterol and preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol,
Reducing the requirement of insulin for glucose control, and
Protecting DNA from harmful mutations.

Super Accessible

Some superfruits are only available fresh at certain times of the year or not at all – not so super. Because California strawberries are grown year round, you can find them fresh or frozen at your local grocery store whenever you want them.

Super Delicious
Perhaps this is the one “super” trait that trumps them all. Who cares if a fruit is good for you if it isn’t delicious? In fact, strawberries are ranked #1 as kids’ favorite fruit and adults love them, too! They are versatile as an ingredient in salads, soups, sweet and savory dishes…you name it. And best of all, they are pretty super tasting all by themselves.

References
Willis LM, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA. Recent advances in berry supplementation and age-related
cognitive decline. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009 Jan;12(1):91-4. Review.
Shukitt-Hale B, Lau FC, Joseph JA. Berry Fruit Supplementation and the Aging Brain. J Agric Food
Chem. 2008 Feb 13;56(3):636-41.
Basu A et al. Freeze-dried strawberry powder improves lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in women
with metabolic syndrome: baseline and post intervention effects. Nutr J. 2009 Sep 28;8:43.
Jenkins DJ et al. The effect of strawberries in a cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio. Metabolism.
2008 Dec;57(12): 1636-44.
Zafra-Stone S. et al. Berry anthocyanins as novel antioxidants in human health and disease. Mol Nutr
Food Res, 2007 Jun;51(6): 675-83.
Weaver J et al. Strawberry polyphenols are equally cytotoxic to tumorigenic and human breast and
prostate cell lines. Int J Oncol. 2009 Mar;34(3): 777-86.
Cheplick S, Kwon YI, Bhowmik P, Shetty K. Phenolic-linked variation in strawberry cultivars
for potential dietary management of hyperglycemia and related complications of hypertension.
Bioresour Technol. 2010 Jan;101(1): 404-13.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Agora Churrascaria - Irvine


Agora's Passion Fruit Caipirinha

Agora Churrascaria
1830 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614

949-222-9910
www.agoranow.com


Agora Churrascaria is a restaurant that I am sure many of you have heard of. It is known as Orange County's best Brazilian Steakhouse aka Churrascaria. Large skewers of fire-roasted meats are paraded around the restaurant and sliced directly onto your plate. It's a veritable all-you-can-eat meat-apalooza. Since every article written about this place is focused on the meat....the juicy, tender, succulent, flavorful, scrumptious meat....I have decided to talk a little bit about something different. The salad bar.

The salad bar at Agora Churrascaria is included in every meal. The idea is that you are supposed to go up to the salad bar to get yourself a salad or some side dishes before you gorge yourself on meat. Often times though, I see many people skip the salad bar altogether and just pig out on meat. Now, while this may seem like a good way to get your money's worth, you're really missing out on some of the best stuff that Agora has to offer.

Here are a few pictures of the salad bar.






The salad bar is filled with some of the most delicious, fresh produce you have ever seen. Red, ripe juicy tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and thick stalks of asparagus are laid out in a meticulous fashion. You will also find a nice selection of cured meats, like salami and prosciutto spread out near a giant platter of crumbled parmesan cheese. Large peeled shrimp are served chilled with cocktail sauce. One side of the salad bar is made of pre-made salads like pasta salad and potato salad and are among some of the best you will ever have.



In addition to the chilled salad bar, there is also a hot food bar that includes several different side dishes that would often be seen as a meal by themselves. On the hot food bar you will find selections such as black bean stew (fejioada), clams with olive oil and white wine, chicken stroganoff, garlic rice, salmon, mussels, sautéed collard greens and mashed potatoes.

So, while I would still highly encourage anyone to visit Agora when they want to pig out on meat, I urge you to give the salad bar a try. You will find some delightful treats that will nicely complement your meat feast. Perhaps you can even use some of the selections from the cold bar to cool yourself down after the meat sweats start...

Current prices as of August 2012:
Adult Lunch: $25
Adult Dinner: $43
Hot Bar and Salad Bar Only: $21 lunch/$31 dinner
Children age 6-10 are half price

Agora Churrascaria on Urbanspoon

Monday, July 16, 2012

Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches







Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches
 
Rancho Santa Margarita 
22205 El Paseo, Suite A 
RSM, CA 92688 
Open Daily Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner 
949.207.6570

Brea Downtown 
215 W. Birch Street 
Brea, CA 92821 
9am - 9pm Sun - Wed 
9am - 10pm Thur - Sat 
714.255.1188

Old Towne Orange
 292 North Glassell Street
 Orange, CA 92866
 9am - 9pm Sun - Wed
 9am - 10pm Thur - Sat 
714.633.3900

www.bruxie.com 
 
If you live in Orange County and you haven't yet heard of Bruxie Waffles, you're probably living under a rock.  Bruxie opened their first shop near the Orange Circle about 18 months ago.  Since then, they have expanded to three locations due to their extreme popularity.  In addition to their original location in Orange, they now have locations in Brea and Rancho Santa Margarita.

For those of you that are uninitiated to the waffle sandwich, the concept may sound a little weird, but I assure you that it is good.  Bruxie offers a variety of gourmet sandwiches, but uses freshly made waffles instead of the standard bread.  The sandwiches are inspired by the common street food in Brussels.  The light, airy, crispy waffles take a boring old sandwich and turn it into a culinary delight. 

I was recently able to attend that grand opening celebration of the Bruxie Waffles in Rancho Santa Margarita.  I was able to sample a wide variety of their sandwiches including:





Chicken and Waffles with Maple Syrup $7.95


Hot Pastrami $7.95


Turkey Avocado Club $8.95


Philly Cheesesteak


Roasted Mushroom and Goat Cheese $7.95


Green Eggs and Ham $6.95


Patty Melt


Lemon Cream and Berries (Very Tart! $6.50)


S'mores ($5.95)


Seasonal Creme Brulee ($6.50)


Overall, the fan favorite for the night seemed to be the Hot Pastrami. Shaved Boar's Head pastrami is served hot with Gruyere cheese, cider slaw, spicy brown mustard and half-sour pickles. The flavors all work together well to bring forth an amazing hot pastrami sandwich. Bruxie also offers a selection of frozen custards and old fashioned cane-sugar sodas. You won't find and Pepsi or Coke here. The next time you're out looking for a sandwich, I highly recommend that you stop by your closest Bruxie for a taste experience that you won't soon forget.


Bruxie on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

California Avocado Prize Pack Giveaway!




To celebrate California Avocado Week, I am giving away a California Avocado Prize pack to one lucky reader!  The prize pack includes an apron, a t-shirt, an avocado "slice and scoop", some avocado recipes and an insulated cooler bag.  Enter the contest below by entering a blog comment, liking Griffin Eats OC on Facebook, liking California Avocados on Facebook, liking our sister site Dining Out In OC on Facebook or following Griffin Eats OC on Twitter.  If you do everything, you will get 5 entries!  Enter by using the form below!

**UPDATE**   You can now also earn one extra entry for sharing this contest on Facebook or Twitter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

California Avocado Week at Downtown Disney, July 1-7 2012


California Avocado Week is running now through July 7th.  During avocado week, you will be treated to daily cooking demonstrations, a daily guacamole making contest with prizes, samples and giveaways.  Events start at 5:00 PM near ESPN Zone.  Most of the Downtown Disney restaurants will also be featuring special avocado-themed dishes.  Here is the press release for more detailed info:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Downtown Disney Presents Second Annual California Avocado Week July 1 - July 7
Public Invited to Free Interactive Chef Demonstrations, Food Sampling and Guacamole Contest

WHAT: Downtown Disney has teamed up with the California Avocado Commission to present the second annual California Avocado Week at Downtown Disney. To kick off the celebration of American Summer Holidays and the 4th of July, Downtown Disney and California Avocado Commission are hosting free chef demos and a guacamole contest that is free to the public.

Each day, beginning July 1 and continuing through July 7, a chef from one of Downtown Disney’s premiere restaurants will take center stage, demonstrating culinary creations starring fresh California avocados, which are in season now. Attendees will be invited to taste the featured dish.

Following the cooking demonstration, there will be an interactive “Guac Off” competition. A select number of guests will be chosen to create a personalized guacamole recipe using a selection of ingredients. Daily grand prize winners will receive a $100 Downtown Disney gift card and $85 California avocado gift pack.

In addition, throughout the week, restaurants in Downtown Disney will feature special California avocado menu items and Sephora will offer refreshing avocado facials.

WHEN: Free interactive public events commence at 5 p.m. on July 1 and continue through July 7

WHERE: Downtown Disney
1580 S. Disneyland Drive (at Disneyland Drive and Magic Way)
Anaheim, CA 92802


FOOD DEMO CALENDAR (Some recipes will be available for posting):

Sunday, July 1 Chef Meyer, House of Blues, California Avocado and Blue Cheese Crusted Rib Eye

Monday, July 2 Chef Thomas Keaveny, ESPN Zone, Mini California Avocado Shrimp Clubs and Grilled Chicken California Avocado Wrap

Tuesday, July 3 Chef Dore Sommer, Rainforest Café, Awesome Appetizer Adventure and Guacamole Burger

Wednesday, July 4 Chef Alejandro Reyna, La Brea Bakery, Shrimp and Salsa Stuffed California Avocado and Turkey California Avocado Sandwich

Thursday, July 5 Chef Darrin Finkel, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Fried Green Tomato BLT with California Avocado and Jazz Kitchen French Quarter Salad with California Avocado

Friday, July 6 Chef Jose Estrada, Tortilla Jo’s, Ceviche de Huauchinango Shots and Shrimp and California Avocado Enchiladas

Saturday, July 7 Chef Nick Weber, Catal Restaurant, Tartare of Hamachi with Shisho, Micro Cilantro and California Avocado and Jalapeno Sorbet

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Stonehill Tavern - St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach


Stonehill Tavern
1 Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA 92629
Tel: 949.234.3318
http://michaelmina.net/restaurants/locations/stoc.php


Last week I was lucky enough to be invited down to Michael Mina's restaurant, Stonehill Tavern at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, to try the new tasting menu. I know that sometimes I review fast food joints on this blog. Well, Stonehill Tavern would be as opposite of a fast food joint that you can get. This restaurant is the epitome of fine dining. The food and service at this establishment are truly first-class.

The evening started out on the gorgeous balcony with the Seasonal Shellfish Platter ($29pp). This item is not usually included with the tasting menu. We were also given a couple of Stonehill Tavern's signature cocktails to try, the Violet Turning Violet and the Moscow Mule.



The platter consisted of some of the freshest shellfish from the sea served in a variety of imaginative ways. On the shellfish platter were (from left to right) a kumamoto oyster, giant clam ceviche, marinated abalone sashimi, spot prawn cocktail, dungeness crab leg and uni flan.


Next, we were moved inside to start the tasting menu. The tasting menu is $148 per person. You can add a wine pairing to each course for an extra $95 or a pairing of alternate alcoholic beverages (think cocktails, sake and more) for $65 per person. Below are the courses that we sampled (Selections may vary).

Ahi Tuna Tartar (image courtesy of Stonehill Tavern)


Smoked Salmon with Cucumber Dill Yogurt Sauce and Pumpernickel Toast


"Three Eggs" Layers of Uni Custard, Scrambled Chicken Egg and Wasabi Tobiko Caviar


Dry-Boat Halibut with Asparagus, Green Almonds, Ramps and Pancetta


Lobster Pot Pie


Grimaud Farms Duck with Black Barley and Baby Turnips


Wagyu Striploin with Porcini, Broccoli and Bone Marrow


Melted Camembert on House-Made Brioche with Rhubarb Confiture


Raspberry Curd

The menu included a variety of artfully presented delights. My two favorites for the evening would have to be the Grimaud Farms Duck and the Lobster Pot Pie. All of the above dishes are available in a larger entree size. I am told that if you order the entree size Lobster Pot Pie, it comes in a large copper kettle with an entire lobster inside. S's favorite dish of the night was the halibut.

Overall, I know this restaurant may be out of price-range for a lot of you. If you can swing it though, you are in for a real treat. I have been to many fine dining restaurants in my life and Stonehill Tavern has some of the finest service of any restaurant I have been to. The attention to detail and the presentation that the chef puts into each dish makes each plate a feast for both the eyes and your stomach. The next time you are looking for a fine dining restaurant, make sure that Stonehill Tavern is on your list of considerations.
Stonehill Tavern on Urbanspoon