Dakota Grill
Karen Deyle
Restaurant critic
THE
PLACEThere's
an eclectic diamond-in-the-rough quality at the Dakota Grill. You'll find it in the décor. The walls are a crazy
quilt of artifacts and ephemera ranging from fine wines and French bistro signs to canoe paddles and horse saddles.
It's quirky, and by golly, it's really pretty good!
THE FOOD To start, my dining companion ordered the artichokes French ($4.95). The half-dozen hearts
were given their crisp egg-and-flour coating, then tossed in a lemony sauce. A sprinkle of parmesan and a quick pass under
the broiler gave it an extra layer of flavor and crunch that we really enjoyed.
My cup of lobster bisque ($3.50) was
rosy and rich and contained spoon-sized chunks of lobster. It was incredibly thick, almost too much so. Crackers rested, rather
than floated on the cup, which was filled to a surface-tension defying level.
The companion's entrée,
steak au poivre ($19.95) was worthy of exclamation. Two slices of fillet were patted with coarse cracked peppercorns and grilled
until tender and pink in the center. They were then tossed in a wonderfully rich brandy and cream sauce that drew out the
punch of the pepper.
My crab cakes ($16.95) were splendidly spiced with a near perfect texture. They were moist, but not soggy
inside and crisp but not dry outside. Did I mention generous? Each was easily a quarter pound or more. Accompanying them was
a tangy remoulade sauce, a mound of cooling coleslaw, and a heap of french fries.
Alas, by dessert, we could not manage
another bite and we opted for a post-prandial coffee instead.
The Mexican coffee ($4.95) included a shot of Tia
Maria and came topped with whipped cream. No hoity-toity pedestal glasses here. In Dakota's down-home fashion, these coffees
came in a colorful, casual mug.
THE DRINKSThere is a full bar with several beers on tap for those who still enjoy the roadhouse feel of the bar
side. Diners can choose from a wine list.
THE ATMOSPHERE Entering the dining room is a little like entering one of those curious roadside museums. There
are all sorts of objects perched on beams and soffits and room dividers. From the elegant (wooden box ends from wine crates,
including the upper echelon Chateau Lynch-Bages) to the earthy (a box of fishing lures), most patrons will find something
amusing to catch their attention as they dine. On the other side of the restaurant, the updated and paneled bar is casual
and comfortable for drop-in patrons and gatherings of race fans. Outside the back door is a deck that fills up on summer weekends.
THE SERVICEOur waitress was attentive and informed with just the right touch of "what can I get for you, honey?" charm.
Her recommendations were good.