Omar's Miss with Downtown Norfolk Restaurant Week

Last night I was out for my second evening taking advantage of Norfolk’s downtown restaurant week. The destination of choice Omar’s Carriage House and sadly I had yet another sub-par experience. What is wrong with you guys? Downtown Norfolk has been complaining about down sales due to construction and the city has an event like this to bring people to you and you keep failing. Get with it!

First off my waiter reminded me of Mr. Snuffleupagus. Not sure why? Perhaps it was his downturned shoulders and poor posture or his less than stellar personality. I have never been ignored for so long and for so often in one setting, especially when he is right there taking care of other tables. Major fail!

I had only been to Omar’s once before for lunch. The one thing I remembered was the fabulous lemon cake I had for dessert. Last night’s dinner won’t stick with me long and will hopefully soon be forgotten. My first course was the summer salad with mandarin oranges, raisins, shave gruyere cheese and almonds atop mixed greens with raspberry vinaigrette. This was actually pretty good but it’s only a salad, the only thing they had to make was the dressing. My entrée was chicken Milanese which was a chicken breast topped with prosciutto, spinach and fresh mozzarella, finished in a sundried tomato cream sauce and served with mashed potatoes and chef's vegetables. The cream sauce was more of an overly thick gravy and the chef’s vegetables resembled the makings of a frozen vegetable medley severely overcooked - mushy madness. I was majorly out-ordered as my dinner companion had the pistachio dusted rack of lamb. The one moment of wit from our waiter “Mr. Snuffleupagus” came when he presented this dish and said “God made them with handles, use them.” Good advice and that is how they were enjoyed.

We knew going in that the dessert menu for restaurant week was lacking. You guys really can’t do anything better than lemon soufflé and chocolate mousse? We ordered one of each and when they arrived all I could think of was “there’s always room for J.E.L.L.O.” So uninspiring. Out of the two the lemon soufflé was the better option.

I’ve spent months telling my dining companion about the great restaurant options in Norfolk. Last night was a complete fail for me, luckily for him he ordered the lamb or else it would have been a waste for him as well. Don’t make me a liar Norfolk, please get with it!

Norfolk Restaurant Week - 219

I love restaurant weeks and the opportunity it provides our local eateries to dazzle customers who otherwise may not have wandered into their establishment. Especially restaurants that recently closed due to the economy and now reopen and want to re-wow the public (and make some coin). This week is Downtown Norfolk Restaurant Week; last night was 219 and tonight is Omar’s.

I was excited for my girl’s date night and the selection of 219. I’ve been there a few times, mainly for lunch, and was hopeful for a knock my socks off experience. No dice. From what I can tell in research it appears to be under new ownership. Owners who run other restaurants in Norfolk that are really quite good.

I ordered off of the restaurant week tasting menu and settled on the chop salad as my appetizer. The portion was, in the table’s opinion, large for a first course. The salad was comprised of crisp romaine with chick peas, cucumbers, tomato, red onions, pepper jack cheese and Dijon vinaigrette, and it was tasty. My second course and entrée was pappardella alla boscaiolla which was braised beef tips in wild mushroom sauce with ribbon pasta. I let the waitress choose between this and the hanger steak which was grilled and finished with bleu cheese and caramelized onions, mashed potatoes and asparagus. Poor choice on her part, especially after discovering after the meal the pasta wasn’t on the normal menu and she hadn’t  even tried it, how can you recommend something you haven’t even tasted? Fail. The dish had a decent flavor but the pasta was over cooked and stuck together which made it complicated to eat (and enjoy).

My final selection was strawberry shortcake with fresh local strawberries layered with house made shortbread and vanilla bean mousse. Now as a southern girl I am quite familiar with this dish, however this was a unique spin on what I am traditionally used to as the cake was more cookie than cake. And it was really good! However, it leads me to question: Is traditional strawberry shortcake made with a hard cake or soft cake? I asked some friends who weren’t clear so I decided to go to who I think would be the authority on the subject, Paula Deen. Via Twitter she said “I think tradition depends on where you grew up, but where I grew up its angel food cake.” Same with me Paula.

Overall my dinner at 219 was average. Not ideal but fortunately for them they will get another chance when I venture in next week for lunch. If you are in Hampton Roads you have till July 18th to enjoy Downtown Restaurant Week so get out there and get you some yum!

To check out more pictures of dishes from 219 check out: http://www.foodspotting.com/?query=219

Happy Birthday 7-11! Sunday is free Slurpee day!

I got really jazzed about this event last year and made a point to hit a 7-11 on the way home from the beach. At first I was a bit surprised about the midget sized complimentary beverage (7.11 oz) but in actuality it was the perfect amount to refresh after a long, hot day on the sand.

Be sure to remember this Sunday, July 11 is 7-11’s official Slurpee Day. The event is in celebration of the store’s 83rd birthday on 7/11 – duh.

There are 8,200 of the retailers in North America (there are 38,100 worldwide) – at the ocean front they are just about on every block.

I’m a fan of the Crystal Light Slurpees, makes me feel a little less guilty. If the low-calorie version doesn't turn you on you can do what my brother did growing up and mix all the flavors for one amazing cyclone of a beverage.

The last howl of the Coyote

The other night I was having a conversation with a fellow foodie who mentioned that she had recently read that Coyote Café has closed. I thought “inconceivable.” I was just at Eurasia and did notice a new establishment, but it didn’t click that the location was the same as the former Coyote Café. To be sure, it is indeed true as it was reported in The Virginian-Pilot on May 24th.

I’m sad. I will certainly miss the Mussels Diablo. That appetizer was off the chains delicious. I loved dipping the bread in the spicy broth jammed packed with jalapenos. And how tasty were their margaritas? This takes me further back. Who remembers when Coyote Café was off of 22nd Street where Lunasea currently resides? In my early twenties that is where I would go every Wednesday night for mug night. Mug night consisted of these GIANT (I’d guess 24 ounces) Coyote Café mugs that you would buy for discounted drinks. I still had that mug up to a few years ago when a friend decided to do horrible things in it and it was quickly tossed. Back in the day when I could get away with extreme partying on a school night I would shuffle into Coyote with my massive mug, request one of their delicious margaritas (raspberry on the rocks, no salt) for $4 and was off to the back room. The back room housed the foosball table and it was there that I first learned the game and played frequently enough to eventually school a number of dudes who would challenge me. (Thanks in a large part to the mentorship from my good buddy Jay – RIP.)

Coyote Café kind of grew up with me. In my early twenties it served my partying interests. I have so many memories associated with that place including friends past and present. I never ate there when it was on 22nd Street. In my mid to late twenties and thirties when Coyote moved to Laskin Road it served my desires of a more mature atmosphere and really tasty food, still serving me those awesome margaritas. There too, more memories flood my mind – some not too pleasant, but memories none the less.

I can’t think of another Virginia Beach establishment that holds as much of my personal history than Coyote Café. Thank you for being there, for growing with me. I’m going to miss what the two of us could have done in my 40s.