Dinner #2

Last night was Dinner #2 of Restaurant Week with some of my girlfriends. We don't get together a whole lot, so meeting up for a special dinner and some (lots) of wine was really nice. Restaurant #2 was in a really trendy area of town, and they had seating on two levels, and even outside, since the weather was so nice last night. So here's the breakdown. (And to WahooKate - I tried to take pictures, but because of the low light, they didn't turn out so hot, please excuse! Will try better tonight)

First Course: I tried the she-crap soup. It was creamy and delicious. There was a substantial amount of crab meat in there too. A few shells, but still delicious. The other ladies got the fried green tomatoes. Two generous slices of tomato, breaded and fried to perfection, piled on top of crab meat salad. The tomatoes were not as salty as I expected them to be, and they were both hearty and delicious.

Second Course: I ordered the braised short ribs - two hunks of perfectly cooked beef ribs, so tender! They were piled on top of grits, and paired with a rich savory sauce. The meal was much heavier than I anticipated, almost decadent. I enjoyed every bite! Two of my dining companions had the Carolina shrimp and grits - I wasn't as much a fan of this dish. The shrimp and grits were topped with a sauce, and the dish took on the look of curry. The sauce also embodied an overwhelmingly smoky flavor, and took away from the basic meal that is shrimp and grits.

Third Course: Dessert! My favorite part. I had the apple tart - this was your basic apple tart, pieces of apple encompassed in a pastry shell, topped with crumbs and oats, and paired with a whopping dollop of real, rich whipped cream. The apples were not as sweet or as traditionally cinnamonny as I would have liked, and the dessert was somewhat bland for my taste. The alternative dessert offering, the bourbon chocolate pecan pie, was amazing. This twist on the Southern classic offered a depth of flavor. The rich chocolaty taste was complimented with the complexities from the bourbon. This was my favorite.

It was a good meal overall! Looking forward to Restaurant #3, will post that menu later today!