Last night Winnie and I visited the Blue Talon Bistro. The BTB is located in Williamsburg, in Merchant's Square, just a block from the historic area of Colonial Williamsburg, and about a block from the campus of the College of William and Mary.
We hadn't been there in several months, though we had gone fairly regularly before. Why? They had a fire in December. It started in a dumpster out back, and spread to the roof. The fire damage itself wasn't too bad, but the smoke and water damage put them out of business for months. They only reopened this past week.
Not being excited by the single menu choice at home, and it being my turn to cook, I suggested we go over and see how it was. As always, it was great.
The menu is the same as it had been before, with a lot of what they refer to as "Serious Comfort Food". Roasted chicken, braised beef, homemade macaroni and cheese, and some great starters and salads. Plus, a good selection of wine by the bottle and 15 or 20 varieties available by the glass. Non-stop Julia Child playing on the plasma TV above the bar. What more could you ask for?
I even had what I consider, in this restaurant, about the best seat in the house. A table along the far wall opposite the entrance to the kitchen, facing away. I've had this table, or the one adjacent, several times. I can talk with Winnie and at the same time watch the action in the kitchen in the mirrors behind her head. (The kitchen also has a window to the street so passers-by can stop by and watch what goes on inside a real restaurant kitchen.)
I started with the red pepper soup (creamy with the smell and taste of roasted pepper) with shitakes, and then went on to the roasted salmon served over lentils (a dish I've made myself). Winnie had a green salad (almost a meal in itself), and then liver and onions (with the liver sauteed in Marsala). A bottle of Pinot Noir to go with it, and a shared Creme Brulee.
Ah, yes, we'll be back again.
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