Part VII Raul, our top-notch Brown Derby buddy
How appropriate - as I start to type it is exactly one week to the minute that we ventured in....
The Hollywood Brown Derby got the nod after I sent MS and BS the menus (remember the hours of planning?) About two weeks out I made a reservation for 2:10 which probably wasnt necessary since the place wasnt even half full but the lobby was packed at 3:30 when we left (post-parade walk-ins, I think).
The exemplary customer service began as soon as we walked in the door. The host, properly fitted with a brown derby (what a great retirement job!) greeted us graciously and our table was ready before we all got back from the restroom. We were escorted to a booth by another retiree (wooed BS with young lady reference) and then proceeded to drool over the menu.
Enter Raul.
Hailing from Columbia, he ensured our leisurely meal was entertaining, educational and lively (sorry, couldnt complete the 3 Es) Each of us was more than satisfied with our meals and nobody coveted someone elses choice, as I usually do when I splurge on a special restaurant.
Heres what we ordered:
Me:
Orecchiette with Rock Shrimp, zucchini and Portobello mushrooms in a white truffle-pesto cream sauce $17.89
BS:
Barbecue Breast of Chicken with romaine hearts tossed in green goddess dressing and grilled flatbread $15.19
she chose to have the dressing on the side
MS:
The Famous Brown Derby cobb Salad with finely chopped greens, turkey breast, bacon, egg, tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, chives and cobb dressing $13.29
What? You dont know the history of the Cobb Salad? Ask for Raul, hell give you the lowdown. Its also on the back of the menu (which you scrapbookers will be pleased to know you can take home) but the Raul version is better.
Before the toss
After Rauls skilled tossing (the Cobb at the table next to us didnt get nearly the perfected toss as MSs did)
Yes, this is really the same salad.
PS Rob Cobb? What mother in her right mind would do that to her son?
All three meals got double thumbs up. The bread (how did I forget to take a picture of the bread? Wait, you can catch a glimpse of one next to the Cobb) served as a lovely accompaniment (sp?) and enabled us to save the dishwasher some time.
We thought we should have received special certificates for the clean plate award!
Dessert simply put a cherry on top of the whole experience
Double Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee with Dark Chocolate dipped biscotti $7.59
White chocolate macadamia nut praline cheesecake with blood orange sauce $7.69
Ask for extra sauce, yummy!
OK, we cleaned all of our plates - where's our prize?
Seriously, I got some evil eyes from BS when I licked the creme brulee dish. At least I used my finger! Apparently someone from the other table (the jealous one cuz her Cobb wasn't perfectly tossed) gave me a look mid-lick. BS was embarrassed by LS. Oh the horror! I paid good money for this! You bet I'm getting every bite!
Beer drinkers beware Michelob Ultra Draft $5.50
Even though the restaurant wasn't very crowded. There was still plenty of PW going on.
Man behind us ordered and received three, yes three and all at the same time, very large glasses of coke. Downed them all. Bet he knows where all the potties are
Huge group sitting together when we arrived with kids, lots of kids. Hope the children's menu was good to them cuz I can't imagine what the bill was. And they didn't even eat all their dessert. Yes, I admit, I was tempted to just grab a little bite of the Brown Derby original Grapefruit cake - grapefruit icing? Yes, another reason I'll have to go back!
And the kids - all big bowed kids. Not in the knees, in the hair. Big bodacious bows in their locks. Teenagers too. Someone once told me that the size of the bow is in direct proportion to the size of daddy's wallet....
And, of course, the usuall entertainment of the rowdy siblings chasing each other around the table. All was fine and dandy, ma and pa were paying the bill, chatting, letting them roam wildly...until it happened. Big time collision with the server. Luckily she was just bringing their receipt. Dad's wrath was flowing and out the door he went with the little bronco - I was afraid a walloping was iminent...hmmmmmm...what a little proactive discipline can do for one's sanity...
A fantastic dining experience. We were rejuvenated and ready to hit the road.
We're heading to the Kingdom
) pairs of capris so she could match any possible color!
Too Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
