Ruth's Chris Anniversary

Last month we went out to Ruth's Chris steak out for our anniversary. Two years! In fact now that I think about it, I have been doing this blog for two years. I guess it seems appropriate that this restaurant is the one that gets the honor of being the anniversary post.

We wanted to go back to Ruth's Chris as it is the place we got engaged. Well, ok, not actually in the restaurant. It happened in the Amway prior to going to dinner there. Nonetheless we felt it would be nice to go back for a special dinner. First off, the staff were awesome and continually congratulated us on our anniversary. The wait staff were attentive without hovering and did a great job moving the dining experience along.

(Pics to follow soon)

We started with a plate of tempura fried onion rings. The onion was sweet, which meant it was cooked through. The batter was light and crispy, as a tempura should be. It was also free of excess grease which means that it was fried at the correct temperature. The dipping sauce was Asian inspired with tastes of soy, green onion, a hint of chili pepper and ginger. It was a really good pairing of the sweet onion rings with the savory sauce.

For our entree we both ordered the filet. I ordered mine Med-Rare, Mel, Med. Their steaks are always so tender and flavorful. I barely had to use my knife to cut through my steak. I don't know if they finish with butter or not, but their steaks just taste better than any other steaks I have eaten. And it is surprising because technically, this is a chain restaurant. You just don't get the same quality control of the food with other chains. The beef melts in your mouth. A few chews, let the flavor linger, then swallow. No need to chew for 30 seconds to break down the steak. It is that tender. I could almost use just my fork, and we are talking about a thick piece of meat.

For the sides (they are ale carte) we chose the au gratin potatoes and fresh asparagus, because it's spring and asparagus is in season. The potatoes were perfectly cooked. They kept their shape and integrity, meaning they weren't over cooked into a mash. They were covered in butter and delicious cheese that was gooey and melty and delicious. The asparagus was cooked beautifully with a hint of salt and was served with a perfect holandaise sauce accompaniment. Both paired well with the steak we were eating.

For dessert there were multiple options, but we chose the special of Key Lime pie. When it came out, around the rim of the plate was written "Happy 2nd Anniversary" with a little heart. It was a nice touch. The pie had a wonderfully sweet and intense lime flavor with a little bit of sourness on the finish that created a nicely rounded dessert. There were also little dots of cherry flavored syrup that added a nice punch with the key lime and chocolate. It was one of the best Key Lime pies I have ever had, and that is saying something as I love Key Lime pie.

Overall it was a wonderful night out on the town where we could splurge a little, as we had been saving up for a night out for our special day. The food, the service, the little touches, all contributed to making this a great experience. I happily recommend Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to anyone. Is it pricey? Yes it is. But I think it is worth it.

Harmony Brewery

A few weeks ago Mel and I went over to Harmony Brewing in East Town. We had heard that they made a mean pizza, so of course we had to try it out.

We started off with some of their bread sticks. To be blunt, they were really good. They start out like many other bread sticks you would find at any number of restaurants, flat bread topped with cheese. But then they add a balsamic glaze, drizzled on top. It is just the right amount, where there is a nice acidic bite that cuts through the heaviness of the butter and cheese on top of the bread. So you get this great butter and cheese flavor accented by a bright burst of acid. On top of that is a little bit of oregano that adds a little herbaciousness to the bread sticks. It is really an interesting idea that I am surprised more places haven't done.

We ordered the crispy pig pizza. It comes with prosciutto, pepperoni, ham, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. There were generous portions of each meat on the pizza. They definitely do not skimp on it. The cheese has a great creaminess and elasticity. It is very mild and allows the other toppings to shine. The basil balances everything else out. Because of course basil, tomato, and mozzarella go together like peanut butter and jelly. The crust was good as well. I would have liked it to be done just a little bit more. One side started to get this great, browned, almost charred edge. After being in Italy, I am convinced that every great pizza should be almost burnt on the edges and underneath. It adds a lot more flavor to the crust, especially if it is wood fired. As it was, only half of the pizza started getting this. The other half was fairly dough colored. That is not to say the dough wasn't any good. It was. I personally would have liked it a little bit darker. Overall though it is a really good pizza. Up there with the best GR has to offer.

I recommend giving this place a try, especially for the pizzas.