One of the ways we try to cope with the (mostly self imposed) stress when visitation MFOM and S in Wisconsin is at the end of the day to try to have a good meal or at least a lunch and find some consolation in the food. And so it was with this trip, with an interesting note at the end. We tried three places, two we had been to before and a new find which I don’t know how escaped my eagle eye for restaurants.
One
Alert readers may remember that when the “family” gathered to celebrate MFOM’s 95th birthday earlier this summer we had a meal at “Piggys” a restaurant in downtown La Crosse. It is pretty much a carnivore’s heaven (hey those winters are cold in Wisconsin), and proudly proclaims: “A hardwood smoker on property is always stoked with hickory and Minnesota apple wood from the surrounding hills and bluffs. Prime Rib, Baby Back Ribs, Pork Chops, Salmon and Chicken are a few of the menu entrees that are smoked to perfection”; and in fact it does flavor the air around the place. We had enjoyed an evening in their bar this summer so we thought that after a day of schlepping boxes this time, we’d try again. Mercifully this time there was no live music (Monday night) so conversation was easy. Servers were again friendly and casual, no names, just drink orders. I did the dirty martini and MFO had a glass of something from Lyeth. Menu was same as last time (including the “soup of the month”), sandwiches, salads (including Ice Berg Wedge), and beef, pork, chicken and fish. There were vegetarian pastas available. We talked a while and then each ordered one of the 6 (?) choices of burgers, along with fries, and we ordered a starter of “Dairy Fresh Cheese Curds” – basically fried cheese but a good bar starter. It got to the point that the server had to assure us the burgers would be out shortly. That’s not good. Anyway the burgers were served, nothing special, just a burger on a plate and fries. And, although we ordered the burgers “medium rare” as we always do, they were gray throughout. And, no wonder it was only slightly (or not) thicker than a quarter-pounder. And, my “five cheeses” would all lift off the burger intact, not exactly melted. But what the hell you gonna do, we ate them as served and they weren’t bad. When the server asked how everything was, I pointed out the “well done” medium rare preparation. She was sorry and would let the kitchen know. No, we don’t want another. They did offer a complimentary dessert, but we were past that.
Something about that burger stuck in my mind, so I dug into my little brown notebook for notes from 3 July and what do you know? “Burger very overdone”. I suppose it’s a problem to the kitchen to deal with the “undercooked meat may be a source of….” Which always shows up on their menu. I guess we’d go back but seek another source for burgers. Maybe one of those smoked things. So that meal was not too satisfying, although the dirty martini and Glarus Spotted Cow was quite fine.
Two
So the next evening we decided not to go back there and instead carried out a threat to “We gotta eat dinner there sometime” as applied to the Hungry Peddler. If those alert readers are still awake, they may also remember that I love the breakfast(s) we have had there on earlier trips. The place is a museum of the past, great pictures on the wall, dark paneling, beer cans over the bar, servers with thick Wisconsin accents (don’ cha noooo). Breakfasts were always great so we were anxious to see what they would do with dinner. Well, to be fair, ours was awful. There was a little plaque from some distributor about how many steaks they have served. I think it was over 10,000. The blackboard special was sirloin tips with mushrooms. As we were seated there was a little plate of radishes, carrots, and pickles, laid side by each. There was also a little dish of (dried) toast squares and a basket of rolls. In honor of the place, I ordered a Brandy Manhattan, and I guess it was okay, although I’m certainly no judge of that drink. I ordered a T-Bone and selected the side of shrimp prepared scampi (or coconut, fried, or chilled). We each had a cup of soup, chicken vegetable and a fairly passable French onion. Our main courses were brought out smartly. The “steak” I had was probably the worst attempt at the noble T Bone I’ve ever seen. A pallid gray hunk of something with islands of “meat” in between rings of fat that were somewhat impervious to the knife. Taste was not present. MFO’s “tips” were tough little hunks of meat that had some very odd seasoning on them. Maybe over thymed, or something. On the good side (or bad) is that the portions were huge. Most of the tables were occupied by what appeared to be “locals”, so they probably make a good living. We would not go back for dinner, but in no way would it deter a visit for another breakfast.
and Three....
So when Wednesday, our last day rolled around, we planned to celebrate Christmas with MFOM & S in the evening so we decided to have a nice lunch. Good idea, but where. On advice from both of the FOJ’s I used the “Yelp” app on my phone and it came up with The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern. It had great reviews with words like “I never knew there was a fine dining restaurant in La Crosse, but there it is!” Turns out it is in one of the sleek new buildings on the downtown waterfront. We were even more surprised when it turns out that it’s been there five years (!) and we never knew about it. The space was done in muted wood tones, and several partitions that gave it some sense of privacy. We were seated at a half banquette with a couch on one side and chairs on the other. MFO gave the chairs a thumbs up for comfort. The menu was brief, but contained several luncheon salads, sandwiches, some appetizers (calamari rings, for instance). And what I thought was really a nice touch. There is a section called “you pick two” and a list of nine choices:Turkey, artichoke and spinach wrap; Italian Club Panini; Cranberry cashew chicken salad croissant; Albacore tuna salad croissant; Waterfront house salad; Pear and Gorgonzola salad; Classic Caesar salad; Fresh Seasonal fruit; and Soup du jour. And it was only $7.75. The other choices on the menu were pretty fairly priced. The most expensive of which were “land and sea sliders” for $12. We decided to celebrate with a split of bubbly, but it was Korbel’s (the value priced one not the classic). Severs were dressed in white tops and black slacks with aprons, very tasteful. Other guests in the restaurant were adequately DFL, although a young couple next to me had a T Shirt, but with a logo and they had a young child in tow, who was very well behaved. I decided on the classic Caesar and Italian Club Panini, and MFO decided on the cranberry chicken salad croissant and the gorgonzola salad. I was not given a wine list, and sort of accepted a suggestion of their 14 Hands Merlot. Eventually our plates came out, and were very nicely presented
My salad as you can see had grated parmesan, a very nice lavosh “crouton” and although there was no physical anchovy, it’s presence was apparent in the dressing. Those greens were as crunchy and fresh as they look. The sandwich although a bit dry (it did have some zesty dressing, just not quite enough) but was ample and had good ingredients. Not just bologna, for instance..
So there, under our noses was apparently a very nice restaurant, and upon exiting we went through the bar which was quite classy. Dark wood paneling overstuffed chairs, an elegant bar, a great place to have drinks. Next time..
Unfortunately there was a little footnote to our lunch. Our celebration of Christmas was to start off with a dinner at the local Olive Garden (MFOM is queen and we go where she says). After getting her and the wheel chair out of the Momster, navigating MFOM to the door and getting her inside, MFO said “I don’t feel very good” and headed for the rest room. We did carry out and went back to the apartment. MFO didn’t have a very pleasant evening, to say the least. Early in the morning the “symptoms” seemed to have slacked off, and we loaded her into the chock full Momster and headed home. Although she felt like heck, there were no panic stops and we held up early in Lafayette IN instead of our usual Richmond Indiana stopping place. Was there food poisoning? Who knows, it’s hard to prove although we did file a report with a nice man at the La Crosse Health Department. I would hope a restaurant like that would have proper food care procedures, but you never know. When we return, we’ll definitely go back to Waterfront, just maybe no chicken salad for old time’s sake.
No comments:
Post a Comment