Arcadia: Michael You Woo Me....

Okay Michael Mina....and fellow food lovers. I was really ready to be disappointed thouroughly; but something happened that I didn't expect. I actually liked this place and I'm trying to figure out who I should go there with next as to not feel guilty about spending $150.00.


I don't think my dining companion was quite ready for this, and I have to say, neither was I...


At first look, the menu and wine list were quite intimidating. The lowest priced entree on the menu, I think I clocked at about $24. But I digress--After looking at the selections I really thought more of it. I wanted to go for the lobster corn dogs, and I rationalized it by thinking of this fu@%ing diet I'm on and how I would be really disappointed if we went all out and the meal wasn't good. It was, after all, a restaurant of one of the most celebrated chefs in the Bay Area. No matter me not trusting the reviews, and the palets of a few unhappy burger goers from the South Bay.


So I got over it, and ordered the pomergrante Cosmo, and the Chicken Mac & Cheese. Fellow yelpers raved about it and OMG, they were right! Truffle oil, aldente maccaroni, herbs and a very light and loose cheese sauce that reminded me of Gruyère and that special Amudeus cheese I get from whole foods. Both sharp and mild at the same time and it absolutley danced on my palet like a ballerina in the nut cracker. Did I mention the nutty undertones and smokey after tatse? I should have. I've never been able to think of such pleasure from a single entree. It's usually the the whole experience--apetizer, salad, soup, entree, dessert and attentive service; and "prefix", my favorite word on any sandwich board. But they knew we were yelpers and they actually did act the part. Although we went with the restuarant like hippies in a Board room; they managed to make us feel like we were alright.


The waiter was cute and almost got me in a bit of trouble as I tried to tell him that I eat slow and if he moved my plate/bowl, he would pull back a knub; he took it to mean somehing else, I think....and before I knew it he was offering me his finger in the most suggestive way he could--can you say WTF? I almost choked on my Cosmo.


Anyway....I tatsed my dining companions' lamb chops (and BTW he was really cool about it) which were flavorful and a bit under dressed with the veggies that accompanied them. Apparently they were a bit under seasoned and not enough...some of us do love our veggies! I must proclaim that he was right; I was so intent on tasting the lamb that I totally forgot about the tourney veggies and didn't even notice until he mentioned it after we left.


All in all, the experience was for me....really good; and I thought to myself, I should I give this place another go. And I will.....I will! :)