Angelo and Maxie's- Restaurant Week 2010

After a lovely mani/pedi date with the incredible Lori, she recommended we visit Angelo and Maxie’s where not only was her friend, Carlotta, tending bar, but it was also Restaurant Week.  Even though I’m supposed to be on a diet, I figured I could make it work at a steak house with portion control.  Plus, I just need to enjoy SOME of Restaurant Week like I have in year’s past (Summer 2009 and Winter 2009).

In case you don’t know how restaurant week works, here is the menu from Angelo and Maxie’s (they all work similarly with a prix fixe of an app, entree, and dessert with lunch for $24.07 and dinner for $35):

*****

RESTAURANT WEEK 2010 MENU

Sunday-Friday

January 25th-February 28th, 2010 

(excluding Saturdays and February 14th)

_____

First Course

Choice of:

Maxie’s House Salad

Angelo’s Caesar Salad

Soup of the Day

_____

Second Course

Choice of:

Grilled Filet Mignon (au poivre or béarnaise available)

Charbroiled New York Sirloin Steak

1 ½ pound Herb-Roasted Chicken

Broiled Salmon over Fresh Sautéed Vegetables

Marinated Roumanian Steak with Grilled Onions (dinner only)

Maxie’s Chopped Steak with Sautéed Onions (dinner only)

_____

Third Course

Choice of:

Cheesecake

Chocolate or Vanilla Ice Cream

Fresh Fruit

_____

LUNCH:  $24.07

DINNER: $35.00 

*****

Lori and I both chose the caesar salad (per Carlotta’s recommendation) but only I went all in with the anchovies.  (Lori got them on the side but couldn’t bring herself to try one).  I LOVE salt, so I like anchovies, though only in small doses.

We also both chose the Filet, however, I went with mine sauceless (hoping to save some calories).

Lori chose au poivre.

For my dessert, I sucked it up and chose the fruit salad.  It was a sad moment in my life, but I knew I couldn’t have both the steak AND the cheesecake.

Or could I? Lori was gracious enough to give me a few bites. Thank GOODNESS I didn’t get this… it was so insanely good I never would have stopped eating it.

I love the take-home bags with all the cows.

We also each enjoyed a glass of the Malbec, again as recommended by our lovely bar tender Carlotta. It was a Carolores Del Sol and we both enjoyed it very much! Will have to be on the lookout for that little gem.

Overall, I thought our meal was great, and for $24 it’s hard to beat! The steak was cooked perfectly and, if you’re not slaving over a diet, you MUST try the cheesecake.  Holy cow!

Total Nom Points: 7 out of 10

Lori, a fellow food blogger (and lover), wrote about our experience here if you’d like to see her perspective on the same meal.

Zuni Cafe- San Francisco

When I asked one of my favorite foodie friends (Noa) where to eat in San Francisco, she immediately said we had to eat at Zuni.  The only day we could squeeze it in was for lunch the day after Christmas. 

I had read a LOT of reviews to determine what to order and quickly realized it was a hot debate.  Eating the roasted chicken at Zuni was nominated as number one item on the list of top 100 things to try before you die..  Some people agreed that this was THE. BEST. CHICKEN. however, others mentioned that it was good… for chicken.  I knew what to expect… an hour wait… so we ordered a Caesar salad to split while we waited.

The restaurant was actually quite beautiful and set up very well.  Nice atmosphere while you wait.  Mike got another glass of his new favorite beer, Anchor Steam.

Then finally… IT CAME!  It is listed as served over a “bread salad.”  Mike and I speculated exactly what a “bread salad” might be, however, we severely underestimated how delicious this was.  It was really great homemade bread chunks that was browned (char grilled?) and then soaked in dressing (though not at all soggy).  It was DELICIOUS!

The chicken?  Ehhh… don’t get me wrong. It was REALLY… REALLY good… but in the end it’s still chicken.  (And I have a place in my heart for the roasted chickens that came out of a gas station restaurant near my college.. Yes… I am TOTALLY serious).

Completely delicious.  But I wouldn’t say it’s one of the things I would demand you must try before you die.

I think that list really hurts this place, as I probably would have ordered something different had I not heard SO MUCH about the chicken.  And it’s really hard to rate a restaurant on a caesar salad and chicken… but…

Total Nom Points: 7 out of 10

Back to Becco

I’m a big fan of Becco (46th between 8th and 9th) and was there just a few months ago. Mike had never been, so after another full day of packing, we indulged yet again.

Their breadsticks are more like cracksticks. I can never stop eating them.

All entrees and the pasta special come with a caesar salad. Since this means almost everyone eats it, it should be a very good caesar. And it is. Mike reasoned that they must use anchovies in their dressing. It’s especially delicious.

Mike took my recommendation and ordered the Osso Bucco, but decided to add on the pasta tasting for $9 (not a bad deal!) I really wanted the pasta, however, I ran into the same problem as last time where they put red pepper flakes in everything. BOOO. I got to try the pumpkin raviolis from Mike, however, and they were tasty. He seemed to enjoy the others as well.

I went with the rack of lamb this time. It was good, but I found myself really missing that Osso Bucco. It is just so good. (Thankfully my boyfriend is a very good sharer)

We were way too stuff for dessert, but the meal was really, really good. Becco is consistently good, and their pasta tasting and $25 wine list really make it a great destination on Restaurant Row. If you’re going to a show, make a reservation and go to Becco first.

Total Nom Points (no change from last time): 8 out of 10