Fuzzy’s Taco Shop recently opened next to the Starbuck’s on University Ave and from the conversations of the few in attendance; they are already building a loyal customer base. After my first meal I’m ready to join.
Food wise this is decidedly more of a baja taco joint than say a taqueria and again that’s fine as that’s their goal. We started off with the chips and queso. The cheese was a good consistency but a little bland. I would rank it above Panchero’s but slightly below Qdoba’s. Chip wise though Fuzzy’s has no peer in the chain ranks. They were fresh warm and had just the right amount of salt. My partner tried the pork and beans appetizer which turned out to be pinto beans topped with shredded pork, a little cheese, and salsa. It was an odd dish but tasty. My partner said she’d order it as an entrée in the future. She also tried the shredded garlic beef burrito. The beef had a great taste to it and certainly was true to its moniker. The tortilla was again the best I’ve had at a chain shop and was nearly as good as some I’ve had at taquerias. The rest of the ingredients were very fresh, although the guacamole got lost a bit. I opted for a trio of tacos. I started with the aforementioned garlic beef in a crispy shell. I strongly advise avoiding the crispy shells, it was almost to the point of stale and had no redeeming qualities. The filling again was top notch though and I especially liked the additional garlic sauce that came on all the tacos. The two soft tacos I had were outstanding. The same pork that came on the beans was housed in one and I opted for the shrimp tempura in the other. Shrimp and fish can be a risky proposition at times but the shrimp here was fresh tasting and the batter was great. Lastly I think I fell in love with a new condiment last night. Fuzzy’s habenero salsa, which technically I’d call a taco sauce, was a revelation. The vinegar based sauce had some heat but not overwhelming…until I drank one almost on its own.
The service was very cheery, almost to the point of overkill. I did really appreciate that when I ordered the aforementioned pork and beans, the counter, who initially told me it wasn’t on the menu, followed up with the kitchen and found that they could make it. It was a nice touch from a new place.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 3519 University Ave, Madison, WI 608-232-1479
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Friday, September 03, 2010
Claiming the blog on Urbanspoon
So in order to prove I'm the me on Urbanspoon and the me on this blog I am stating the following: Urbanspoon rocks
Sunday, August 22, 2010
First Impressions: Graze Pub
When I heard last winter that L'etoile was moving and opening a pub as well, I started to salivate. Two of the best meals I've had in my life where at L’etoile but I wasn't sure when I'd get back again especially with a young child. Graze pub offered the chance to experience Tory Millers skill in the kitchen in a different setting with a more accessible menu. Having the space right next door to L'etoile makes this association clear even to those that don't follow the restaurant scene like myself. So when my partner and I had our first date night opportunity in months it was clear Graze was our destination. The results were unexpected in good and bad ways.
The Food
Both my partner and I had been anticipating this meal so we tried to sample as much as we could. We started with the popcorn with truffle oil. We thought it was a great value for $3 and more than just a cutesy take on bar food. I almost ordered a second basket that we would have bagged up for the movie we went to later that night. We also ordered the cheese curds as a starter, and while you’d want to compare them to The Old Fashioned down the street they are really two different varieties. The squeaky Sassy Cow cheese was battered and fried in a way that reminded me of the Minnesota State Fair (these are the pinnacle of cheese curds in my mind). While we were tempted by more fried goodness in the form of panko crusted onion rings, we wisely moved onto our next course. My partner went with the Graze burger which somehow justified its $19 price tag. The mixture of quality meats (short ribs, sirloin, ribeye) was identifiable and not lost when covered with the perfectly cooked caramelized onions. She also declared the fries the best she’s had in Madison (at least in the frites category). I had a very hard time disagreeing with that and wondered about setting up a taste test with Brassiere V. I wanted pig but instead of the pork done three ways I went with the mac and cheese topped with pulled pork. I’ve read some food columns decrying the overabundance of “gourmet” mac but this is a trend I hope never dies. The Graze variety out does both The Old Fashioned and Vintage Brewery which had held my top spots. The 10-year-old Hook’s cheddar is certainly no small part of that. The pulled pork initially felt out of place but as I ate more the flavors really blended nicely. We were too stuffed for dessert but the sundae that went by almost changed our mind. Despite the $19 burger we both agreed that Graze is a great value. The portions were large and the prices were more than reasonable. Our total tab was under $50 which seemed to fall in line with similarly designed restaurants and the meal was absolutely amazing.
The Space
I love the space but I'm not sure if it fits this concept. The high ceiling and abundant natural light made for a warm dining room. The chairs tables and booths have a similar warmness to them. My favorite touch is the lanterns at the end of the booth that counter some of the modern elements. Still while the design elements are all done well I felt like I was in the wrong place. For example I don't think you should feel bad when dropping popcorn on the floor but that was my initial reaction. Also while the beautiful bar space was certainly hoping by the time we left, it doesn't seem to invite any long-term visits despite very decent tap prices. There's a flat screen too and I find it hard to believe that will get much use especially when compared to say Cooper's or The Old Fashioned. I'm sure going back later at night would give me a different impression but my first was one was not of a cohesive space.
The Service
The space also tied into our first impressions of the service. You can enter through the shared front corridor for L'etoile and Graze or off the patio like we did. A server held the door for us but once we were in it took a moment to find the host stand and several moments for the hostess to find us. While the patio had a decent crowd upon arrival the dining area had only one or two tables full so you'd think our entrance would be heard but it wasn't until we were right on top of her that we were greeted. Our server seemed to be covering too many tables, which is not her fault, but it also doesn't excuse everything. The gaffes included drink orders (diet Cokes) that took too long, no water refills until a manager noticed and dropped off a carafe for us (very appreciated), and a very long wait between ordering apps and entrees. It wasn't until the table behind us was seated with a different server that we heard there were specials and a full explanation of the menu concept and that was almost more troubling. In the end it was one night and the place has only been open a month but if you're cashing in on the L'etoile pedigree then you're facing high expectations when it comes to service. My partner made the point that while L'etoile is fine dining she felt so welcomed and cared for it was like she was in someone’s home. Here at Graze you have a more comforting menu and concept but service that felt like it belonged in an overpriced chain.
Despite the mixed feelings on the space and the poor service, the food certainly demands we revisit Graze. I think we may have hit a bad night but another one of those and I'm not sure that even this food can sustain my business.
Graze, 1 S PINCKNEY ST, MADISON, WI, 608.251.2700
The Food
Both my partner and I had been anticipating this meal so we tried to sample as much as we could. We started with the popcorn with truffle oil. We thought it was a great value for $3 and more than just a cutesy take on bar food. I almost ordered a second basket that we would have bagged up for the movie we went to later that night. We also ordered the cheese curds as a starter, and while you’d want to compare them to The Old Fashioned down the street they are really two different varieties. The squeaky Sassy Cow cheese was battered and fried in a way that reminded me of the Minnesota State Fair (these are the pinnacle of cheese curds in my mind). While we were tempted by more fried goodness in the form of panko crusted onion rings, we wisely moved onto our next course. My partner went with the Graze burger which somehow justified its $19 price tag. The mixture of quality meats (short ribs, sirloin, ribeye) was identifiable and not lost when covered with the perfectly cooked caramelized onions. She also declared the fries the best she’s had in Madison (at least in the frites category). I had a very hard time disagreeing with that and wondered about setting up a taste test with Brassiere V. I wanted pig but instead of the pork done three ways I went with the mac and cheese topped with pulled pork. I’ve read some food columns decrying the overabundance of “gourmet” mac but this is a trend I hope never dies. The Graze variety out does both The Old Fashioned and Vintage Brewery which had held my top spots. The 10-year-old Hook’s cheddar is certainly no small part of that. The pulled pork initially felt out of place but as I ate more the flavors really blended nicely. We were too stuffed for dessert but the sundae that went by almost changed our mind. Despite the $19 burger we both agreed that Graze is a great value. The portions were large and the prices were more than reasonable. Our total tab was under $50 which seemed to fall in line with similarly designed restaurants and the meal was absolutely amazing.
The Space
I love the space but I'm not sure if it fits this concept. The high ceiling and abundant natural light made for a warm dining room. The chairs tables and booths have a similar warmness to them. My favorite touch is the lanterns at the end of the booth that counter some of the modern elements. Still while the design elements are all done well I felt like I was in the wrong place. For example I don't think you should feel bad when dropping popcorn on the floor but that was my initial reaction. Also while the beautiful bar space was certainly hoping by the time we left, it doesn't seem to invite any long-term visits despite very decent tap prices. There's a flat screen too and I find it hard to believe that will get much use especially when compared to say Cooper's or The Old Fashioned. I'm sure going back later at night would give me a different impression but my first was one was not of a cohesive space.
The Service
The space also tied into our first impressions of the service. You can enter through the shared front corridor for L'etoile and Graze or off the patio like we did. A server held the door for us but once we were in it took a moment to find the host stand and several moments for the hostess to find us. While the patio had a decent crowd upon arrival the dining area had only one or two tables full so you'd think our entrance would be heard but it wasn't until we were right on top of her that we were greeted. Our server seemed to be covering too many tables, which is not her fault, but it also doesn't excuse everything. The gaffes included drink orders (diet Cokes) that took too long, no water refills until a manager noticed and dropped off a carafe for us (very appreciated), and a very long wait between ordering apps and entrees. It wasn't until the table behind us was seated with a different server that we heard there were specials and a full explanation of the menu concept and that was almost more troubling. In the end it was one night and the place has only been open a month but if you're cashing in on the L'etoile pedigree then you're facing high expectations when it comes to service. My partner made the point that while L'etoile is fine dining she felt so welcomed and cared for it was like she was in someone’s home. Here at Graze you have a more comforting menu and concept but service that felt like it belonged in an overpriced chain.
Despite the mixed feelings on the space and the poor service, the food certainly demands we revisit Graze. I think we may have hit a bad night but another one of those and I'm not sure that even this food can sustain my business.
Graze, 1 S PINCKNEY ST, MADISON, WI, 608.251.2700
Monday, May 24, 2010
My Lost Thoughts (courtesy of coffee and duck tape)
Lost kicked my ass last night. Emotionally I was spent and now physically the next morning I’m still drained due to staying up for the lame Aloha to Lost and letting my mind ponder for hours on end last night’s amazing finale. Here are just a few of the questions I thought of. I readily admit I might have missed some things as A) I watched half the episode through tear filled eyes and B) I’m freaking exhausted.
Where did Desmond go when Widmore through him into the electro-magnetic chamber?
I assumed that when Desmond flashed in this year’s episode he was travelling between the Purgatory universe (screw it I’m still calling it Sideways since that’s what we’ve all been calling it during the season) and the Island universe. After watching last night’s episode I think that was Darlton using a previous construct to pull the wool over our eyes. I think instead, Desmond did what Desmond does, and flashed through time seeing some of the actions he would take in the finale, and some of the aftermath (being reunited with Penny during Ben and Hurley’s upcoming reign). This would explain Desmond’s utter shock when lifting the cork didn’t work the way he thought it would and send him home.
Did Jacob always intend for the Man in Black to take Locke?
You could argue that Jacob had this all set up for a long time (i.e. Man in Black takes Locke’s form, Desmond comes back to the Island and releases the cork just long enough for Jack to kill Smocke). I’m going to say yes and no. Jacob knew Locke was special, a fact Ben certainly reminded us of later but I’m not sure he knew to what end until perhaps his own end. I think Jacob knew that gathering these people would lead to an end of some sort for him and his brother.
Was Charles Widmore the least redeemable character on the show?
I think “Across the Sea” established more sympathy for the Man in Black than Charles got in 5 seasons. I understand that people in the Sideways need to wake up when they’re ready but even there Charles is more concerned about greed, money and power than he is with his family and that seems to suit him just fine. (Please note I’m writing this off one viewing so perhaps he was lurking about in the final sendoff.)
What’s the deal with Aaron and Ji Yeon?
Aaron made out pretty well as he got his two moms (there’s your spinoff by the way or the island odd couple sitcom with Ben and Hurley). Not only did he get them in the Island verse after the duck tapped Ajira flight presumably got folks home (Kate apparently lived a long life per her comment to Jack in the Sideways) but he also got to crossover with them. I’m assuming his form wasn’t important as Christian Shepherd pretty much implied that physics didn’t matter much in the Sideways. Meanwhile Ji Yeon got orphaned and was presumably raised by her mom’s rather questionable family. Maybe Team Hurley helped her out but we’ll never know. Furthermore she didn’t even get a reunion with her parents other than a sonogram courtesy of our favorite blonde doctor. My partner argues that since time didn’t matter in the Sideways, Jin and Sun could have hooked up with Ji Yeon and hung out for a bit. I don’t see why this couldn’t happen but I think Ji Yeon will have her own Sideways some day and that when she does it will be with the people that were most important to her and her journey and sadly that would not be her parents.
When did I learn to let go?
After Smocke fell to his death I was sure he wasn’t done. In fact the next scene with a post surgery Locke waking up was simply terrifying. For what seemed like an eternity, I thought Smocke had jumped worlds and was going to choke Jack out and walk on towards the concert. Once it was revealed to be good old’ John I let out a sigh and knew it was all going to be alright and I honestly stopped caring about the devil face in the floor of the island or the skeletons at the base of the waterfall.
Was the Sideways universe necessary to telling the story in the Island universe?
Technically, I suppose not. In the end, the Sideways did not affect Island unless Hurley’s visitors (such as Ana Lucia and Charlie) came from there (this is one point I have no strong opinion of. Not sure whether those visits didn’t come from the Island or Jacob or even post Ark of Light (i.e. the church gathering)). You could have told this season’s Island story on its own. The bomb didn’t work except for catapulting our heroes back to the present, what happened, happened, and then there was pain, misery, a few spots of redemption and eventually the island itself persevered while many of our characters did not. I can also see why some might have anger that their time was wasted watching our character’s wake up in limbo when, for example, we could have found out about Dogan’s back-story or who was dropping off those Dharma rations post-purge. I think that’s a valid reaction but for me the Sideways was essential to sending the characters and the show off properly. All the “wake up” moments were brilliant and emotionally charged, especially the Kwons and Charlie/Claire. My partner said, “But you hate Claire!” The truth is a hated what she became post-Charlie but I loved her prior to that. The “wake-up” brought out the best in her which is as it should be in the Sideways. Think about how devastating it would be from an audience perspective to see all that sacrifice then ending the series with the Ajira folks flying off while Ben and Hurley set up shop. I think that would have been unsatisfying. Furthermore the Sideways did not undo the suffering. Jin and Sun still didn’t raise their daughter. Juliet still died horribly and never got to see her sister. Shannon died for literally no reason other than Ana Lucia’s itchy trigger finger. All these deaths and losses still mattered and still carried weight despite the fact that we got a happy reunion prior to the character’s taking their next step. The Sideways universe mattered, and my early reaction is that it will end up being equal in my memory to what happened on the island.
In the end I was completely satisfied with the ending and the series as a whole. Furthermore, in my sleep deprived state, I’m now ready to place it above Buffy as my favorite series of all time and above Angel for the best finale of all time. Like that finale it didn’t tie up everything but it paid tribute to the characters and what they lived, died, fought and loved for.
Elliot’s Top 5 TV Shows
5. Angel
4. SportsNight
3. Twin Peaks
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
1. Lost
Elliot’s Top 5 Series Finales
5. M*A*S*H
4. Twin Peaks
3. Firefly
2. Angel
1. Lost
Where did Desmond go when Widmore through him into the electro-magnetic chamber?
I assumed that when Desmond flashed in this year’s episode he was travelling between the Purgatory universe (screw it I’m still calling it Sideways since that’s what we’ve all been calling it during the season) and the Island universe. After watching last night’s episode I think that was Darlton using a previous construct to pull the wool over our eyes. I think instead, Desmond did what Desmond does, and flashed through time seeing some of the actions he would take in the finale, and some of the aftermath (being reunited with Penny during Ben and Hurley’s upcoming reign). This would explain Desmond’s utter shock when lifting the cork didn’t work the way he thought it would and send him home.
Did Jacob always intend for the Man in Black to take Locke?
You could argue that Jacob had this all set up for a long time (i.e. Man in Black takes Locke’s form, Desmond comes back to the Island and releases the cork just long enough for Jack to kill Smocke). I’m going to say yes and no. Jacob knew Locke was special, a fact Ben certainly reminded us of later but I’m not sure he knew to what end until perhaps his own end. I think Jacob knew that gathering these people would lead to an end of some sort for him and his brother.
Was Charles Widmore the least redeemable character on the show?
I think “Across the Sea” established more sympathy for the Man in Black than Charles got in 5 seasons. I understand that people in the Sideways need to wake up when they’re ready but even there Charles is more concerned about greed, money and power than he is with his family and that seems to suit him just fine. (Please note I’m writing this off one viewing so perhaps he was lurking about in the final sendoff.)
What’s the deal with Aaron and Ji Yeon?
Aaron made out pretty well as he got his two moms (there’s your spinoff by the way or the island odd couple sitcom with Ben and Hurley). Not only did he get them in the Island verse after the duck tapped Ajira flight presumably got folks home (Kate apparently lived a long life per her comment to Jack in the Sideways) but he also got to crossover with them. I’m assuming his form wasn’t important as Christian Shepherd pretty much implied that physics didn’t matter much in the Sideways. Meanwhile Ji Yeon got orphaned and was presumably raised by her mom’s rather questionable family. Maybe Team Hurley helped her out but we’ll never know. Furthermore she didn’t even get a reunion with her parents other than a sonogram courtesy of our favorite blonde doctor. My partner argues that since time didn’t matter in the Sideways, Jin and Sun could have hooked up with Ji Yeon and hung out for a bit. I don’t see why this couldn’t happen but I think Ji Yeon will have her own Sideways some day and that when she does it will be with the people that were most important to her and her journey and sadly that would not be her parents.
When did I learn to let go?
After Smocke fell to his death I was sure he wasn’t done. In fact the next scene with a post surgery Locke waking up was simply terrifying. For what seemed like an eternity, I thought Smocke had jumped worlds and was going to choke Jack out and walk on towards the concert. Once it was revealed to be good old’ John I let out a sigh and knew it was all going to be alright and I honestly stopped caring about the devil face in the floor of the island or the skeletons at the base of the waterfall.
Was the Sideways universe necessary to telling the story in the Island universe?
Technically, I suppose not. In the end, the Sideways did not affect Island unless Hurley’s visitors (such as Ana Lucia and Charlie) came from there (this is one point I have no strong opinion of. Not sure whether those visits didn’t come from the Island or Jacob or even post Ark of Light (i.e. the church gathering)). You could have told this season’s Island story on its own. The bomb didn’t work except for catapulting our heroes back to the present, what happened, happened, and then there was pain, misery, a few spots of redemption and eventually the island itself persevered while many of our characters did not. I can also see why some might have anger that their time was wasted watching our character’s wake up in limbo when, for example, we could have found out about Dogan’s back-story or who was dropping off those Dharma rations post-purge. I think that’s a valid reaction but for me the Sideways was essential to sending the characters and the show off properly. All the “wake up” moments were brilliant and emotionally charged, especially the Kwons and Charlie/Claire. My partner said, “But you hate Claire!” The truth is a hated what she became post-Charlie but I loved her prior to that. The “wake-up” brought out the best in her which is as it should be in the Sideways. Think about how devastating it would be from an audience perspective to see all that sacrifice then ending the series with the Ajira folks flying off while Ben and Hurley set up shop. I think that would have been unsatisfying. Furthermore the Sideways did not undo the suffering. Jin and Sun still didn’t raise their daughter. Juliet still died horribly and never got to see her sister. Shannon died for literally no reason other than Ana Lucia’s itchy trigger finger. All these deaths and losses still mattered and still carried weight despite the fact that we got a happy reunion prior to the character’s taking their next step. The Sideways universe mattered, and my early reaction is that it will end up being equal in my memory to what happened on the island.
In the end I was completely satisfied with the ending and the series as a whole. Furthermore, in my sleep deprived state, I’m now ready to place it above Buffy as my favorite series of all time and above Angel for the best finale of all time. Like that finale it didn’t tie up everything but it paid tribute to the characters and what they lived, died, fought and loved for.
Elliot’s Top 5 TV Shows
5. Angel
4. SportsNight
3. Twin Peaks
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
1. Lost
Elliot’s Top 5 Series Finales
5. M*A*S*H
4. Twin Peaks
3. Firefly
2. Angel
1. Lost
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
First Impressions: Vintage Brewing Company
Usually the failure of a restaurant to deliver on something that's in their name would spell doom. However despite a disappointing brew, the Vintage Brewing Company has enough other things going for it that I'm willing to cut the brewmaster some slack.
Located in the former JT Whitney's on Whitney Way, the Vintage is a welcome addition to the westside. Another patron dubbed it The Old Fashioned West and I'd say that could be an accurate comparison if our first visit is the standard. The space is still huge and JT fans will still find recognizable touches such as the the booths and the fish tank in the bar. However, the Vintage has done more than just slap on a fresh coat of paint. The walls are now ordained with classic beer paraphernalia including the 3D Blatz dioramas I dream about for my man cave. They've also added, dare I say, "vintage" vinyl chairs around the place that give it more of a supper club feel than a brew pub. Another nice touch is the hostess area up front that my partner said makes it a place you wouldn't mind waiting for a table. The familiar fire place is still in back surrounded by comfy couches. Even the bathrooms were not overlooked as they've gotten a nice update. As parents of an infant we really appreciated the brand new changing table.
Speaking of kids, the Vintage really shined on service in that regard and overall. The hostess was great in helping us with our car seat/high chair set up and our waiter even offered to bring us warm water for making up a bottle. These nice touches were further complimented when our waiter brought out our meals and had the kitchen refire my partner's as she was in the restroom changing our son.
Our waiter was also good in steering us to some successful menu choices. We started off with the wings which featured two sauce choices. We settled on the chipotle BBQ which the waiter heartily endorsed. The wings were more meaty than anything I've had in ages and the sauce was not overpowering. We also tried a shot of hot sauce for $1. The Vintage features 4 homemade hot sauces and we opted for the XXX. The sauce was not as hot as I'd have hoped although it had a nice slow burn. However, the flavors were outstanding as it mixed cumin and jalapenos with lime for a sweet, savory combination. For entrees I went with the half rack of baby back ribs. The dry rub on the ribs was excellent and the BBQ sauce was good. The ribs themselves were very meaty and had the perfect amount of fat. Between the wings and the ribs I'd say they've got a winner when it comes to their meat supplier. I'd say the biggest disappointment was that the ribs could have been cooked better as they weren't as tender as I'd have liked. The sides on the dish though were outstanding. The mashed potatoes were standard but perfectly done. The red vinegar based coleslaw was one of the better ones I've had and the corn bread gives Hubbard Ave Diner's a run for their money. It was so moist and sweet you didn't need any butter. My partner tried the baked mac and cheese and we both agreed it surpasses the same dish at The Old Fashioned. The sauce had the perfect thickness and the garlic breadcrumb topping added nice flavor to cut through the cheese. Using fresh RP's rigatoni was also a good call as those noodles certainly held their own. Other dishes that made their way past our table also looked good including a crab cake salad and a massive steak knife burger that a nearby patron declared one of the best in town.
Now about that beer. The Vintage currently has two taps going with a weiss beer and a double oatmeal stout. We tried the stout and found it lacked the texture and creaminess one usually associates with stout. They'll soon have a Belgian ale with 9% alcohol that I'd certainly come back to try. After all with the food standing out so well, I can't imagine that the kinks won't get worked out of the brewery in no time.
Vintage Brewing Company, 674 S Whitney Way, Madison, WI 608-204-BREW
Located in the former JT Whitney's on Whitney Way, the Vintage is a welcome addition to the westside. Another patron dubbed it The Old Fashioned West and I'd say that could be an accurate comparison if our first visit is the standard. The space is still huge and JT fans will still find recognizable touches such as the the booths and the fish tank in the bar. However, the Vintage has done more than just slap on a fresh coat of paint. The walls are now ordained with classic beer paraphernalia including the 3D Blatz dioramas I dream about for my man cave. They've also added, dare I say, "vintage" vinyl chairs around the place that give it more of a supper club feel than a brew pub. Another nice touch is the hostess area up front that my partner said makes it a place you wouldn't mind waiting for a table. The familiar fire place is still in back surrounded by comfy couches. Even the bathrooms were not overlooked as they've gotten a nice update. As parents of an infant we really appreciated the brand new changing table.
Speaking of kids, the Vintage really shined on service in that regard and overall. The hostess was great in helping us with our car seat/high chair set up and our waiter even offered to bring us warm water for making up a bottle. These nice touches were further complimented when our waiter brought out our meals and had the kitchen refire my partner's as she was in the restroom changing our son.
Our waiter was also good in steering us to some successful menu choices. We started off with the wings which featured two sauce choices. We settled on the chipotle BBQ which the waiter heartily endorsed. The wings were more meaty than anything I've had in ages and the sauce was not overpowering. We also tried a shot of hot sauce for $1. The Vintage features 4 homemade hot sauces and we opted for the XXX. The sauce was not as hot as I'd have hoped although it had a nice slow burn. However, the flavors were outstanding as it mixed cumin and jalapenos with lime for a sweet, savory combination. For entrees I went with the half rack of baby back ribs. The dry rub on the ribs was excellent and the BBQ sauce was good. The ribs themselves were very meaty and had the perfect amount of fat. Between the wings and the ribs I'd say they've got a winner when it comes to their meat supplier. I'd say the biggest disappointment was that the ribs could have been cooked better as they weren't as tender as I'd have liked. The sides on the dish though were outstanding. The mashed potatoes were standard but perfectly done. The red vinegar based coleslaw was one of the better ones I've had and the corn bread gives Hubbard Ave Diner's a run for their money. It was so moist and sweet you didn't need any butter. My partner tried the baked mac and cheese and we both agreed it surpasses the same dish at The Old Fashioned. The sauce had the perfect thickness and the garlic breadcrumb topping added nice flavor to cut through the cheese. Using fresh RP's rigatoni was also a good call as those noodles certainly held their own. Other dishes that made their way past our table also looked good including a crab cake salad and a massive steak knife burger that a nearby patron declared one of the best in town.
Now about that beer. The Vintage currently has two taps going with a weiss beer and a double oatmeal stout. We tried the stout and found it lacked the texture and creaminess one usually associates with stout. They'll soon have a Belgian ale with 9% alcohol that I'd certainly come back to try. After all with the food standing out so well, I can't imagine that the kinks won't get worked out of the brewery in no time.
Vintage Brewing Company, 674 S Whitney Way, Madison, WI 608-204-BREW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)