The Egg Nog (and Brandy) is working its way through my holiday spirit and our cats are tearing through the tree we worked so hard on to look glamorous...all while the phrase "You'll shoot your eye out, kid," played on a loop in the background of our lives for twenty-four hours, thanks to TNT. (No really...thanks!)
Now, while this does indeed sound like any number of typical evenings at our Casa de Glitter it was in fact Xmas time and to treat ourselves on The Eve of it all, we spent a few dollars dining (for the first time) at The York Restaurant; the highly touted eatery attached to the brand-spankin'-new Wilton Manors club/complex, The Manor. With salivary delight we anticipated reviewing this place upon its opening--prior to The Blade closing shop--(as it would be tres scandalous if it were not up to gay par) so, suffice it to say, even without the luxury of having a paper to excrete our opinions all over the ink-smudged pages our two cents is thusly offered. Merry Merry. Better than coal.
But first, to soften the blow...our pretty tree...
Yes, I know...Thank you.
But back to The Manor.
With all the horn tooting that went on in the press prior to its grand opening we had expected a four-star joint with the kind of delicacies (and dining experience) missing in Wilton Manors. So we were more than a little shocked to find the final product delivered on our plates to be a baby step above mediocre bar food. (I know...we should turn in our gay membership cards right now. What next, will I turn on Lady Gaga???)
Here, in a nutshell, was what we found problematic and where a tad bit of tweaking, in our opinion, is most necessary. First, the host that greeted us at the door (after much teeth pulling) obviously thought the far more important task of rolling silverware took precedence over faking a wide smile and welcoming us. That aside, girlfriend MUST drop the attitude. Sure you're in your twenties and skinny, but let me remind you this is still only Wilton Manors. The SoBe 'tude don't float here. At least not with us.
"We had a reservation."
"Well, inside will be quite a wait................"
We paused....looked at each other....With several empty tables visible through the tinted windows, why? OK then. Outside?
"(dramatic huff) Right this way."
Pardon us.
Now, as for the food. There is certainly no lack in the attempt at creativity, however, the execution was either lacking or confusing. Example: I had a "Boca Salad" with spinach, cinnamon croutons, a syrupy dressing (which we surprisingly experienced on another dish, as well) and mandarin oranges segments (from the can). On paper it seemed intriguing, but the combined flavors were cloyingly sweet and puzzling to the taste buds. How did the, essentially, cinnamon toast fit in with the story, I wondered?
For my main course I selected a salmon with oven roasted potatoes and asparagus tips. The salmon, dry as a sandbox. The spuds, oily like a wrestler. The asparagus "tips" were no more than the shavings of said tips hidden, most likely from shame, under the slab of fish.
It was disappointing and what we had hoped to be our new favorite, conveniently located restaurant was a sad shake of the head.
In its defense, the entire club is marvelously designed (we spent many a night at the Gin Mill and Costello's so we were more than a little impressed with the new architecture). And it is, without a doubt, a welcome addition to the city's overall look and income so, yes, you will find us perched on a balcony, martini in hand, or shaking our groove things on the dance floor....but dining?
Well, we'll see. Maybe if the Xmas spirit lasts all year long we'll give them a second chance. HoHoHo.
Recent Comments