![]() ![]() Slices of seared pink tuna fanned out across a generous salad of fresh baby greens. Coleslaw on the side made perfect sweet/tangy sense with the rich beef. The burger you want when you want a burger. In a delicious bun, one side open to reveal sliced tomatoes, the burger was just plain wonderful. Arriving along with salt and pepper grinders and a little pot of ketchup, my burger was gorgeous, glistening under a glaze of thick bits of bacon in an onion jam, topped with long strips of melting Brie. What a pleasure to find well-trained and engaging service, especially given the issues restaurants have faced during the past two years of upheaval. Our waitperson made sure we had any extras we wanted, and responded to questions or requests with a friendly can-do attitude. A giant bottle of icy San Pellegrino ($5) was the perfect partner on the warm mid-day. So yes, I did want a house burger ($16.95) with bacon jam ($2.95) and cheese ($2.25) (brie on top, please!), and my companion succumbed to an item once found on every menu in California: a seared Ahi Salad Niçoise ($22.95). Patrons come here wanting to enjoy the classic menus that can’t be improved upon. Instead of insisting on updating itself, from menu to decor, Shadowbrook trusts its instincts. Old-Fashioneds, Negronis, Sazeracs, a Tequila Sunrise-remember when those were on every menu? Great prices on these and all the cocktails. Waiting for our main dishes, we surveyed the drinks list and noticed a charming selection of Retro Favorite cocktails culled from 70 years of expertise. A gorgeous pizza was brought over to the adjoining table, the kind with the blistered crust that had us reminiscing about Rome. Especially dipped in the pickled ginger or sesame-mustard sauce. Char-grilled in a tangy soy glaze, these decadent appetizers can’t be beat. I am such a fan of those addictive bacon-wrapped prawns that I didn’t think twice about ordering us a small plate of four ($11.50) to start off lunch. On the contrary, we’ve had some mighty fine meals here at the restaurant my parents too used to frequent, and which owner Ted Burke still hosts with style. “We’ve never had a bad meal here,” my companion recalled as he checked out the menu-salads, pizzas and a few choice entree sandwiches. ![]() Meanwhile, we were returning to check out the summertime lunch at this fabled dinner house. Shadowbrook is the local go-to spot for special occasions, and the terrace at lunchtime last week was hosting a large family gathering, and a 13th birthday lunch. The ladies room offers the sort of cushioned, wallpapered luxury you associate with Elizabeth Taylor movies and wedding receptions. It’s famous for its acres of gleaming woodwork, polished brass accents, the well-kept gardens lining the serpentine walkway down from street level. In fact, its seven decades of dining give it several things few places today can offer-grace, a touch of class and pride in the authentic touches that make dining here memorable. Polished and gleaming, the Shadowbrook wears its age gracefully. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |