Yachtsman Steakhouse
A meal I'd been dreaming about, and it mostly lived up to what I wanted it to be.
First though, was a ridiculously long wait. I had an ADR, and as a solo diner I would have thought it wouldn't have taken so long to get a table. I was wrong. I can only hope they were short staffed, I had 2 CMs walk past and ask if I needed something because I apparently looked lonely and lost. "A table?" I said. Maybe they don't get a lot of solo diners?
After finally being seated, I had a lovely server who explained everything I needed. Originally I wanted to get a few additional items, being the bone marrow and the beef fat potatoes. She wasn't negative about the bone marrow, but based on her description of it being very greasy on the tongue, I decided to pass on that. There wasn't anything that would have stopped me from getting those potatoes though. The server said I could sub out the mashed potatoes that came with the filet I ordered, but well, POTATOES! I was on vacation and potatoes in all forms must be given a chance.
My beautiful basket of rolls was brought out and I fought valiantly not to inhale them. It was a battle that was doomed to failure. Those onion rolls are gold. Quite shortly after my entree arrived, as well as my little potato gems. I ordered the filet, and asked for medium rare. I really should have gotten medium, simply based on the thickness of the steak I was served. Obviously I had no way of knowing that, and the outer rim of the meat was perfectly fine, just the center was a bit under for my liking. This isn't something I'd ever hold against the restaurant because they gave me what I asked for. I should have said I would take it however the chef felt it should be cooked and I would have likely been better off. Either way, it was seasoned well and the meat itself was of fantastic quality. The mashed potatoes the meal came with were beautiful and silky, but the real star was those beef fat potatoes. They weren't exactly what I pictured and it was all the better. These lovelies are cut up fingerling potatoes, which have been cooked with onions and bacon, but first beef fat is added to the skillet and rendered down a bit. Seriously they were everything I could ever ask for in a crispy potato. Simple concept and well executed to really be a fantastic bite of food. Or in my case, several bites.
For dessert I decided on the Lexington Sundae. Salty and sweet sounded good to not blow out all the food I'd just enjoyed. I was a little stunned when my server brought over a giant dish that easily could serve 3 people. Featuring salted caramel and buttered popcorn gelatos, a toasted marshmellow and crispy pearls, it really was fantastic. It definitely hit on different textures and the play on salty and sweet, it was just enormous. Even my server agreed they could reduce the size of it because no one finishes it alone.
The weird non potato related highlight of this meal? When subtly, I was told to look past a particular diner, and check out who was sitting alone. None other than Kenny G. My server said she won't typically point out if there are celebrities dining in, but she knew I'd be discreet. And I tried, really I did. I only stealthed one little picture and honestly I don't think anyone would realize it was him if I didn't say first. But I will tell you it was very hard no to stare and probably good that I was heading out anyway. I was slightly less excited when I found out he was playing the Eat to the Beat concerts and thats why he was in town, but hey! I still ate at a place an international music star ate and I was pretty darn excited.