Hey Bartender

First, I have to give Blue Talon Bistro an honorable mention.  If I didn't work there, it would be one of my favorite places to eat.  The food is wonderful, the atmosphere is great, the wine list is award winning, and the bar has an outstanding variety single malt scotches, cognacs, and absinthes as well as all kinds of liquors that hardly ever appear at your local bar.  The reason that it's not one of my favorite places to eat is because I work there and as an employee I can't sit at the bar.  I always eat at the bars of my favorite restaurants.  It's where I'm most comfortable.  I'm also not a big fan of hanging out at the place where I work.  I like to keep my personal life and my work life separate.  It makes life a lot simpler.  So, although I do highly recommend it, you'll never see me eating dinner there.  But I do hope to see you there some time.  It is a great place to enjoy what we call Serious Comfort Food.  I could make you our cool new drink -- The French Mocha.

Sometimes, I only work the lunch shift.  When that happens, it gives me an opportunity to eat at the other restaurant I enjoy in Williamsburg -- Fat Canary.  It's located in Merchants Square.  I love the atmosphere there.  The bar is really nice and the bartenders are very knowledgeable.  The menu is very good, too.  It changes often, so there is always something new to try.  My favorite meal there is the seared tuna appetizer.  It's delicious.  One unique feature at Fat Canary is that it is connected to the Cheese Shop.  This allows you to purchase wine or beer at the Cheese Shop and enjoy it with your meal at Fat Canary.  They charge you a nominal corkage fee for the wine.  They will even chill your beer or wine for you.  They stock my favorite beers from Stone Brewing.  This fact alone is why I like Fat Canary, but I'd enjoy it anyway.  Keep in mind that Fat Canary is very small, so if you plan to eat in the dining room, reservations are a good idea.

When I have a day off, I try to make it to my favorite sushi restaurant.  It's called Hayashi Sushi & Grill and it's located in City Center in Newport News.  I love sushi and Hayashi has the ability to fulfill all of my sushi desires.  They have everything: tuna, eel, salmon, scallops, shrimp....etc.  They have the best seaweed salad I've ever had.  Their wine list is also very impressive.  Not what you'd expect at a sushi restaurant.  Zinfandels from California, Pinot Noirs from Oregon, and Rieslings from Germany.  With a little imagination, you can pair any of these wines with sushi.  Their bar is beautifully decorated.  There's also a high definition television to enjoy sports and the music that is played all day all over the restaurant is jazz.  Real jazz: Miles Davis, Modern Jazz Quartet, Sonny Rollings....  They even have live jazz on the weekends during the busier months.  If you like sushi or hibachi, this is a nice place to visit.

My new favorite place is Create Bistro, also located in Newport News.  Create Bistro is that place that I imagine when I dream of the perfect place to eat dinner.  It's very small.  There are about ten tables in the restaurant and eight chairs at the bar, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for with its great food, great wine, great staff, and great atmosphere.  I had dinner there for the first time recently and from the moment I walked in I felt at home.  I enjoyed a glass of wine while I checked out the menu.  Who doesn't love wine made with 100% Grenache grapes?  I chose a tiger prawn appetizer with Chorizo and Risotto.  I followed that with monk fish for my main course.  I topped it off with a dessert trio: crème brulee, mixed berry bread pudding, and sorbet made with St. Germain and lime.  I even had an espresso.  I don't even drink coffee, but I was so immersed in my dream dining experience that I even enjoyed the espresso.  I can't wait to have the chance to go back.  They have so many great entrées that I want to try and so many great wines I want to drink.  What an awesome place.  Like Fat Canary, Create Bistro is very small, so reservations are a good idea. 

So, to answer the original question, I love small restaurants with cool atmosphere.  I don't like chain restaurants.  I like locally owned places where the owners put their hearts and souls into what they do.  That kind of dedication is always a benefit for both you and I as it shows up in the finished product.  What I didn't mention was which days and times I like to go to my favorite places.  I usually like to eat alone.  That would be impossible if everyone that reads this shows up at the same time.  So, if our visits happen to coincide, I'd invite the opportunity to enjoy a meal with you.  It's always fun to meet new people.  I hope that my favorite dining establishments become your favorites too.

Until next time...prosit!!!

To create link towards this article on your website,
copy and paste the text below in your page.

<style type="text/css"><!--.quote {width:350px; padding: 6px; border: solid 1px #456B8F; font: 10px helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff}.quote a {font: 13px arial, serif; color: #003399; text-decoration: underline}.quote a:hover {color: #FF9900; }//--></style><div style="float:left;padding:5px;"><img src="/images/heybartenderpic.jpg" width="120" alt="" /></div><div class="quote"><a href="http://insiderspassport.com/bartenders-have-to-eat-too" target="_blank">Bartenders Have to Eat, Too</a><div align="right" style="width:350px"><p style="text-align:right;"><a href="http://insiderspassport.com/" target="_blank">Insider's Passport</a></p></div></div>

Preview :

Bartenders Have to Eat, Too

Insider's Passport

Powered by QuoteThis © 2008