Apps, Dinner, and a Puzzler...

This is kind of out of chronological order, but so am I. While we alluded to our food experience during the journey entry, this one is more focusing on that than the travel…


We arrived in LaCrosse/Onalaska late in the afternoon Monday (what day is this again?). After seeing MFOS for a bit we retired (as has been reported already) to our Courtyard in downtown LaCrosse. Kind of beat up from the two day drive, we freshened a bit, unpacked some and decided to return to The Waterfront, a restaurant we discovered during last year’s Christmas visit. We eschewed the nearby Piggy’s, wanting a bit more upscale than Piggy’s has to offer. So we mid range DFD’s and walked down a block or so. The bar area is very comforting, dark wood, upholstered chairs, and so forth. Yes, there might be a fern somewhere. The bar was fairly full of holiday revelers, in various states of sobriety and loudness, but we found kind of a quiet corner table where I could observe what was going on and settled in.

I must admit it took longer than I wished for a server to approach the table, but finally she did with “Tavern” (not a bar, see) menus and asked if we would like a drink. Ya, you betcha!! MFO did her Sapphire Gimlet request, and I ordered the DMOTRWAT. I knew I was in Wisconsin when she immediately asked “Brandy or Whiskey?”. As you know,Brandy Manhattans are a time honored cultural stable up here, and I should have known that. I clarified that I was non-native and asked for Jim Beam.

The menu was kind of interesting (you can check it if you wish) in that it had that “Three for Sixteen Dollars” option with some nice choices. There were a la carte items as well, like a cheese or antipasti board, P.E.I mussels, flatbreads, burgers, Panini’s (including a Cubano) and so forth. The “three-fer” menu was also attractive with a caprese bruschetta, mixed olive an nuts, some tenderloin skewers, and a couple of other attractive options.

About this time, the server appeared with the drinks, and the light through my glass revealed there might be some sweet vermouth in there, it had that reddish cast. I questioned same to her and she whisked off to the bar. Very soon the barkeep himself appeared and apologized, he didn’t read the ticket closely enough, and delivered the paler, correct drink. So we sipped while we vacillated around the menu several times, definitely settling on this, or wait, maybe that, but what about?…. the sign of a nicely prepared menu. We finally chose to do the three-fer of the bruschetta, the chicken skewers, and the blackened chicken quesadilla. Soon after the order went in, she returned with the news that the tenderloing skewers were off, but chef could do chicken. Okay, fine. Bring me another drink. She did.

Soon the food arrived, all on one plate, and I would have to say that it was quite good. The “blackened” part also referred to the tortilla, making it a bit unsightly, but it added a nice crunch and the chicken was just a little spicy. A pretty nice evening.

So the next day (Tuesday) was spent in looking at and photographing things like MFOM 200 packs of playing cards, knick knacks and other objects that will have to be adjudicated. We also spent some time in the attorney’s office and were thankful that MFOM had pretty much taken care of things. Still some forms to be taken care of with the IRS, local agencies, but nothing that seems to be more than procedural efforts.

We decided to return to The Waterfront for dinner, this time with MFOS along with us. We had made a reservation the previous evening, and when we arrived we were glad we did, because several parties were in the lobby. We were shown to our table which turned out to be one of the banquettes on the sides of the dining spaces, and although that isn’t my first choice I said nothing as the rest of the party seemed content. The main dining area (if you don’t remember the last review) is very nice, nice tones, white tablecloths, properly dressed servers and generally a first class place. Unfortunately when the server approached we had to endure the “be taking care of you” speech, but after that (probably management requirement) she proved to be a very proficient server. About this time, there was a little fire at the table across from us, when a careless diner dipped his menu into the tea candles at the table. Our server said it happens fairly often and she can tell what’s burning by the smell (menu, napkin, etc.) We first chose drinks, and I was again asked “Brandy or Whiskey”. I’ll learn. With the water, we were offered our choice of lemon, lime, or….cucumber!

The dinner menu was also very intriguing. A single landscape page, with one side devoted to their “philosophy” and the other side contained the food. It was divided into Beef, Seafood, and Pork/Poultry/Lamb and Veggie. The beef was all prime, and the seafood all “fresh” such as the: “ALASKAN DAY-BOAT HALIBUT • winter savory taboulleh, caramelized leek, cracked pepper aioli” or the “WILD CAUGHT SALMON • barley, asparagus coins, wild mushrooms, goat cheese, pickled beet”; on the bovine side were such things as “8 OUNCE PRIME TENDERLOIN FILET • aged 30 days; and their Signature 10 OUNCE BONE-IN PRIME TENDERLOIN FILET • aged 30 days” prices were fairly high, upper twenties and lower thirties. A green salad was included, but for an additional cost you could have a wedge, or Caesar, or roasted beet. There were also sides available, the nowadays ubiquitous mac and cheese, and that sort of things. Appetizers were kind of a repeat of the Tavern menu items. She explained the specials of the evening, there were some half shell Oysters from (I think Maine), and a dinner item of seared sashimi grade tuna. The soup du jour was a “New Orleans gumbo”, and she said that she thought on a scale of one to ten, it was a six in terms of spice”. I thought that was very considerate..

A lovely basket of fresh bread and crunchy lavosh was served along with the drinks (strike two on the DM). Our server said our evening would be fabulous, and upon my reply of “I don’t do fabulous” she said she’d work on it. Water remained filled, and we were brought a little dish of sliced lemons and limes for it. I should have taken the cucumber. Interesting option.

MFO requested the COLOSSAL SHRIMP & DAY-BOAT DIVER SCALLOPS • linguini, grilled asparagus, cream sauce of black truffle, lobster, pancetta & oven-roasted tomato with cabernet reduction; MFOS took the Salmon; and King Oyster requested a half dozen of his subjects, and the seared tuna.

Things were brought to the table in reasonable time, and everything was quite tasty. In fact, really good.

Now, at this point (if you’re still with me) the feeder has a bit of a problem. If you recall, our first visit last winter to the restaurant was for lunch, and MFO spent a rather uncomfortable night and early morning. She had had a cranberry chicken wrap for lunch. That sort of lingered in my mind, and this morning I am sad to report that I also had some intestinal difficulties. It is hard for me to believe that a high end restaurant would have contamination issues. I must admit that raw oysters and seared tuna would be a candidate for bacteria, but geez, would you think? Could be stress, I just don’t know. Perplexing.. I didn’t make it up…

So tomorrow we load the MOMSTER, point south to STL for Christmas. We may have to return after Christmas to get some more paperwork. Oh, the place we’re staying in in STL doesn’t have internet. So sketchy may follow.

Tired tonight, but maybe still

DFD