Post by Clipper on Nov 22, 2008 1:13:43 GMT -5
Kathy and I went out to a friend's new restaurant tonight for dinner. He bought a red brick mansion on the main street of Abingdon Virginia, which is a very historic little town near here, much like Clinton in character. He totally renovated it and opened it up as a "casual dining"restaurant. He is an accomplished chef trained at the culinary institute. The casual dining must have referred to the $9 hamburger and the $21 half rack of ribs with coleslaw and fries.
We enjoyed it very much and the food was out of this world, but the "casual" is referring to dress only. The place is very plush inside, and you eat in small dining rooms with only 3 or 4 tables in each room.
I chuckled to Kathy when I saw the inside of the place. I told her that I bet the prices on the menu were not "casual". LOL. I was right. The check for the two of us was $62 plus tip. She had a filet mignon for $28 with a mushroom sauce, and I had a 16oz ribeye for $26 with a red onion relish on the side. There was a salad of baby field greens with green goddess dressing, and the veggie was exquisite baby aparagus tips and baby carrots roasted just until tender but still crisp. The potatoes were buttermilk mashed with butter, and they were wonderful.
I had to admit that the meal was worth every penny and the meat was wonderful and would melt in your mouth. He ages it in the cooler and cuts the steaks himself. It was just ironic that we thought "casual" would be more along the lines of one of Utica's family run restaurants, not like Beardsly Castle used to be. Casual meant come in jeans but bring your formal checkbook or credit card, haha.
I was glad I don't drink. A mixed drink is $7.95 and a beer is $4.00 for a twelve ounce draft.
I am still chuckling about the "casual" thing. We wanted to go somewhere besides a chain steak house for a change. We wanted to sit and have a quiet dinner and enjoy each other's company. Kathy had not been out for a while because of her back, so I was more than happy to spend the $62 plus a $10 tip. The dinner was wonderful and I have paid much more for much less enjoyable meals. The difference between an aged high quality steak and a steak from Applebys or Outback is like night and day.
We enjoyed it very much and the food was out of this world, but the "casual" is referring to dress only. The place is very plush inside, and you eat in small dining rooms with only 3 or 4 tables in each room.
I chuckled to Kathy when I saw the inside of the place. I told her that I bet the prices on the menu were not "casual". LOL. I was right. The check for the two of us was $62 plus tip. She had a filet mignon for $28 with a mushroom sauce, and I had a 16oz ribeye for $26 with a red onion relish on the side. There was a salad of baby field greens with green goddess dressing, and the veggie was exquisite baby aparagus tips and baby carrots roasted just until tender but still crisp. The potatoes were buttermilk mashed with butter, and they were wonderful.
I had to admit that the meal was worth every penny and the meat was wonderful and would melt in your mouth. He ages it in the cooler and cuts the steaks himself. It was just ironic that we thought "casual" would be more along the lines of one of Utica's family run restaurants, not like Beardsly Castle used to be. Casual meant come in jeans but bring your formal checkbook or credit card, haha.
I was glad I don't drink. A mixed drink is $7.95 and a beer is $4.00 for a twelve ounce draft.
I am still chuckling about the "casual" thing. We wanted to go somewhere besides a chain steak house for a change. We wanted to sit and have a quiet dinner and enjoy each other's company. Kathy had not been out for a while because of her back, so I was more than happy to spend the $62 plus a $10 tip. The dinner was wonderful and I have paid much more for much less enjoyable meals. The difference between an aged high quality steak and a steak from Applebys or Outback is like night and day.
Ralph, you are so right about the old Alesbury Inn.