Grant Grill (downtown)

Report on my birthday dinner this week at Grant Grill: AWESOME! NOT REMOTELY DISAPPOINTING! (last year at Roseville and George's in the past turned out to be less than ideal birthday choices - I hate choosing a "top" place for my birthday and then it doesn't live up to the hype).

ATMOSPHERE: Super-classy without being stuffy. Love the room - wood panels but comfy cream colored booths - glimpse of the street outside so it feels buzzy and urban. Thurs. nights there is live jazz in the bar. When we got there at 7:15 the bar was packed but we were the first patrons in the dining room, lots of privacy.

SERVICE: Terrific! Loved the waiter - took very good care of us. Promised me that if I didn't like my cocktail (was hesitating about what to order), he'd whisk it away and let me make another choice. Let me taste two different dessert wines too. He was very enthusiastic about the chef - told us just the right amount about his philosophy but not too much lecturing.

COCKTAIL: Awesome! Horton House = a kind of liquored egg cream. Chocolatey, cognacy, delectable....

BREAD: They take loving care in their daily baked bread, and it's like nowhere else in town. Totally flavor-rich, yeasty focaccia with herbs and EVOO, baked to order....served with butter and smoked salt. Definitely a signature of the restaurant.

APP: Loved my beet salad, scarfed it up. The Sweetie (he gets not to be the Dad on date nights) had a delicious farmer's green salad (thought it was too heavily dressed for me, but perfect for him - but I loved the dressing and the delicious roasted veggies with it)

ENTREE: The Sweetie loved his steak; I ate some of his potatoes au gratin (not his thing). My local California sea bass was lukewarm at first; they took it away and brought it back not hot but at least warm. Flavors were delicious - cubed sauteed sweet potatoes, grapefruit (they're doing a citrus theme this time of year across the menu), olives, lime keffir broth. Yum!

DESSERT: The only disappointing part of the meal. Chocolate pain perdu was pretty dry. But they brought a complimentary piece of chocolate hazelnut brittle>

BONSUES: It's pricey but restaurant.com can at least save you $23 if you get a $25 certif. for $2 on sale. Plus Sue Palmer (of SP and her Red Hot Orchestra) happened to be one of the patrons in the bar, and the band made her and her trombone player get up and do a song. Had to get out of my seat and go watch them - that was some red hot jazz right there!

DOWNSIDE: Felt totally overstuffed after, not like at Jai. Food sat in my stomach a bit all night. The Sweetie didn't have this problem....But the experience was an absolute 9.5 out of 10 - just perfect for a special birthday out, and a whole lot better than other places.

Yeah - this time my research paid off and the place was better than expected!!!!

Next on our list....Bite....stay tuned, dear readers!