Variations on a Theme

My first official restaurant review. Our latest date was to The Next Door Bar and Grill, Wegman's latest out of the grocery store restaurant.  The best way to describe the experience was like listening to Jazz for the the first time. I want to like it, but I keep telling myself I am not experienced enough to understand the sophistication. The restaurant was an eclectic mix of food and decoration. Most of the food has an oriental accent to it, but the appetizers begin with Tuscan French Fries. Its not just tapas either as there are plenty of large entrees to chose from. There are several rooms centered around a large center room with a sushi bar like feel. Our room had odd lighting, and sort of cheap like ivy arbors on the wall. Decorated by a new graduate from the Italio-Americo-Japanese Interior Decorators Correspondent School. The ceiling was painted with faux clouds and reminded me of the an upscale dentist office. Other rooms seemed far more charming and could be rented out for private affairs.

The food was quite good with a few home runs and a few doubles. 

Cindy started out with grilled eggplant (.8, .7, .7), and I had the mussels with french fries and herbed mayo (.9, .9, .9). Id go back just for the mussels and a few beers. The eggplant had no distinct grill flavor,  but rather extruded tubes of eggplant marinated in oriental flavors.

For dinner Cindy had the Halibut (.9, .8, .85), and I had the duck breast (.9, .8, .7). The Halibut was very good as was the duck. The duck came with a side of  more eggplant, which was a let down.

We were on the tail end of the bell curve of age in the restaurant. There were few couples, and mainly groups of 4 or more. It was loud but you could still hear a conversation at your table.

I felt that people were there to be seen, not to enjoy a good meal.  Cindy was seduced into ordering a cocktail by the waiter. He suggested a foo foo drink with the word seagull in it. It came in a martini glass and was light blue. It tasted like blue gatorade and vodka, actually I think blue gatorade and vodka would have been better. I asked for a bitter beer. I got something from California that was good, but obviously not memorable. You know Dundees makes a great Pale Ale, if you tout you are using local ingredients, don't hand me some California beer.


Personally I think the restaurant needs to pick a theme and do something really well. It borders on weird. Next time I will ask to sit at the sushi bar and have a salad (some interesting choices) and the mussels. Perhaps a glass of wine.