Since we were staying at Beach Club, it made sense to have dinner at one of our favorite signature restaurants, Yachtsman Steakhouse. We really enjoy this place for the creative and seasonal items on the menu. There are several "meat and potatoes" entrees available here (and they fit quite nicely with the traditional steakhouse atmosphere), but Yachtsman's menu also offers a lot more than that.
Here was the menu. As you can see, there are some exciting additions to the menu, like soft shell crab (a seasonal addition - other signatures also add it to the menu at this time of year, like California Grill and Flying Fish) and surf and turf (watch out, Narcoossee's!):
Of course, our meal started out with Yachtsman's delicious onion popover-style rolls, as well as sourdough rolls, butter with sea salt, and roasted garlic.
My mom chose the appetizer that I wanted to order (don't you just hate when that happens).
Local Florida heirloom tomatoes with burrata, black garlic, basil, and sherry vinaigrette. This was a delicious take on a caprese salad, and the burrata was super creamy.
I'm not sure what the gelatinous cube was, but it tasted like basil to me (my mom disagreed) and I thought it was refreshing and unique.
Because I try to avoid ordering the same thing as someone else, I picked the grilled delta asparagus with bacon-hazelnut vinaigrette, frisee (I'm using a different computer than usual, so I can't type the appropriate accent
), and spring radish. It might not have been my first choice, but it was still delicious. I loved the oak-grilled flavor of the asparagus with the meaty bacon and nutty, slightly acidic vinaigrette.
My mom also picked my first entree choice, the wild Alaskan halibut. However, she requested to have sauteed mushrooms instead of the intended accompaniments. I tried some of the halibut and it was absolutely fantastic - perfectly cooked, flaky, and with a warmly spiced carrot ginger puree. The mushrooms tasted extremely fresh, but I wouldn't have chosen them. The halibut was truly perfect. I just wish I could've tried this dish as it was meant to be served (with the olive oil crushed potatoes, ramps, and green garlic).
Because of my stupid, self-imposed rule of ordering different things, I chose the Colorado spring lamb with seared lamb loin, house-made lamb sausage, fava beans, fiddlehead ferns, wild morel mushrooms, crispy garden potatoes, and minted pea coulis. This was a continuation of the 'adventurous' theme, since I hate the taste of lamb (it's too gamey for me). But alas, I had to order something different, and I didn't feel like steak, chicken, or pasta.
This dish looked like a work of art, but how did it taste?
Honestly, I really, really liked it. Sure, it was lamb, but it was so well-prepared and paired with great flavor profiles that I didn't mind. The crispy potatoes were wonderfully salty and provided a great textural contrast with the tender lamb. The morels added a strong earthiness, while the beautiful fiddlehead ferns provided a somewhat grassy contrast. I would have liked a bit more mint pea coulis, and I'm still not sure what the white powder on the plate was (but I ate it anyway).
The sausage was nicely spiced but still had a strong lamb flavor. Overall, this dish took what Yachtsman does with its steak entrees ("meat and potatoes") and elevated it into something fantastic. I'd order it again, even though I don't love lamb
(although I have to try that halibut dish first!).
Thanks!
the colony salad at LTT! We've ate at LTT the last two years in February and that was my choice both times!!!!!! Yummmmmm! The dessert you picked won my over also this year. I haven't made a reservation for LTT for our June trip. Our son picked The Plaza. I've also got a question for you about gelato. Is it made with heavy whipping cream? Sounds good, looks good, but I get really really sick when I eat anything made with whipping cream! Darn gallbladder!!!!!! Loving your reviews and thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!
Lobster at the YM, you made my day! Hope they have it on Friday night.
