We were very excited to get a last minute reservation for four at Flames. It is supposed to be the best steakhouse in Westchester among the cognoscenti. It is a bit out of the way in Briarcliff, towards the end of what seems to be a fairly residential street.
When one is in the northern area of Westchester, one tends to think of the Clintons (that is, if "one" is my husband). So he asked our waiter if the Clintons had eaten at Flames. Our waiter was proud to tell us that the Clintons had been turned away. How could this be? Well, it wasn't as if they came all dressed up for dinner and were shown the door. How embarrassing would that have been! No. One of their people called first, to see if their party (them and their entourage) could be accommodated that evening. No, they couldn't. They didn't have that many tables available!
There has been a heated discussion on Chowhound about the inability to find great steaks in Westchester. And this place was recommended. Apparently, dry-aged steaks are the thing that foodies love. Most of what passes for great steaks in Westchester (at least I think they are great) are inferior. The Chowhounders didn't like Willets House (I love it!), nor Ruth's Chris (I love it!), and had especially horrible things to say about Mighty Joe Young's - whose steaks my entire family salivates over.
So back to Flames. We started with shrimp cocktail, which came with three enormous shrimp. They were good, but not outstanding. For three of us, we ordered the porterhouse for three. Sorry to say, after all the build up, it wsa very fatty, and gristly throughout. If that was dry aged, I'll take mine wet! The waiter asked how we liked our steak. We showed him all the fat and gristle. Yes, he agreed, it was fatty and gristly. This never happens! But sorry as he was, he didn't offer to get us another steak, or even comp us for dessert. Yuri ordered pasta with seafood, which she often does. It was not an impressive dish and she tired of it quickly.
That was it for Flames.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Back to Tomatillo, Dobbs Ferry, November 21, 2007
The kids are home for Thanksgiving. And they want to eat at Tomatillo, a local Tex-Mex joint in Dobbs Ferry. Since we were turned on to this place about a year ago, we like coming here. The atmosphere is great. It is always super-crowded with people of all ages - young dating couples, old married couples, families, teens. We agree that the owner looks exactly like a shorter version of Will Forte from SNL.
While waiting for a table, you can get a drink at the bar. We are partial to the frozen margaritas. They have strawberry, mango, and passion fruit as well as just a plain frozen margarita. I particularly like the combination of brain freeze, yummy mango, and a lick of salt along with the buzz that goes with it.
Finally, seated, we order our usual. We always get the same thing. We start off with a bowl of unremarkable chips and salsa, that tide us over until they arrive....the quesadillas. Husband and son always order a mix or steak and shrimp (Tomatillo's version of surf and turf). Daughter and I always get the steak quesadillas on whole wheat tortillas, with sour cream and guacamole on the side. The service is always really nice - but the guys' order is invariably screwed up. Finally it works out - yum!
I have recently started watching my weight, and the thought of the amount of weight watcher points that must be in an order of quesadillas makes me feel GUILT with every greasy bite. I think that it would be a good idea on my next trip to order my quesadilla without cheese - but then I realize how crazy that is. For what is a quesadilla exactly, but a tortilla filled with cheese, and possibly something else, then folded and deep-fried. The cheese is so integral to this dish that the word for cheese....queso....is the main root of the word.
I need to find another dish, I muse aloud, as I lick my fingers to get every last bit of grease.
While waiting for a table, you can get a drink at the bar. We are partial to the frozen margaritas. They have strawberry, mango, and passion fruit as well as just a plain frozen margarita. I particularly like the combination of brain freeze, yummy mango, and a lick of salt along with the buzz that goes with it.
Finally, seated, we order our usual. We always get the same thing. We start off with a bowl of unremarkable chips and salsa, that tide us over until they arrive....the quesadillas. Husband and son always order a mix or steak and shrimp (Tomatillo's version of surf and turf). Daughter and I always get the steak quesadillas on whole wheat tortillas, with sour cream and guacamole on the side. The service is always really nice - but the guys' order is invariably screwed up. Finally it works out - yum!
I have recently started watching my weight, and the thought of the amount of weight watcher points that must be in an order of quesadillas makes me feel GUILT with every greasy bite. I think that it would be a good idea on my next trip to order my quesadilla without cheese - but then I realize how crazy that is. For what is a quesadilla exactly, but a tortilla filled with cheese, and possibly something else, then folded and deep-fried. The cheese is so integral to this dish that the word for cheese....queso....is the main root of the word.
I need to find another dish, I muse aloud, as I lick my fingers to get every last bit of grease.
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