4 Quick Notes:

Saigon Bistro: Columbia’s (first?) Vietnamese restaurant is scheduled to open this coming Monday, November 15.

Sycamore Restaurant: It doesn’t show up on the menu online, but the clams small plate is amazing.

Murry’s: Murry’s is the rare restaurant for which a review is almost pointless. It’s been around forever, it never changes and everyone knows it’s pretty damn good. Love the fried oysters, the hamburger, the chicken poblano…everything, really. Now, if they would only do something about those wine glasses…

Wine Cellar and Bistro: We were turned away last night on account of a private event, so I’ll just have to wait to try out the fall menu. Too bad, it looks phenomenal.

4 Quick Notes:

Welcome back to me. Last week was wild – what with birthday parties, out of town guests and fundraisers – but ultimately successful on all counts.

Taqueria El Rodeo: Really went out of their way to make my 5 year-old’s birthday dinner special. We had fourteen guests (including four little ones) and commanded virtually the entire center of the restaurant – and were made to feel right at home. They even rolled out a tablecloth and brought out – unordered – churros for dessert. Love this place.

Murry’s, Sycamore and the best grocery-store ribs in town after the jump…

On first meals out

Guy spends 15 years in the can for a murder he probably didn’t commit and his first meal out is at Lone Star? I’d buy him a steak at Murry’s on general principle (weird comments re: Ryan Ferguson or no). Oh, and how ’bout a big middle finger for Kenny Hulshof. This is unconscionable.

4 Quick Notes

Sycamore: Has a new pork belly appetizer on the dinner menu. It’s braised and served with cabbage and apple slaw and a cider gastrique (I had to look it up myself: “a thick sauce produced by a reduction of vinegar or wine, sugar and usually fruit”). I haven’t tried, but the dish met with approval from someone who would really know.

Wine Cellar and Bistro: Craig Cyr takes plenty of risks with his food, and suffers from some ups and downs as a result. But the upside is high enough to merit return visits as often as possible. An oxtail stew Monday night was served over mashed plantains and with avocado and red onion. Again, a risk, but this one really worked.

Murry’s and the worst “food” item ever after the jump.