Monday, December 8, 2008

Restaurant Review: Stronghill Dining Company

Last weekend I finally had some time to go to a new restaurant for dinner. Since I live almost within walking distance to Stronghill Dining Company, I thought it was a good time to try it out. The inside of the place is very open. Big chandeliers and artsy things on the wall. It looks nice.

Let's get onto the food. We started with "The Wedge" salad ($5). It's described on the menu as "Iceberg Lettuce, Crispy Bacon Bits and Smoked Onion Ranch". The Smoked Onion Ranch might have been the blandest dressing I've ever tasted. Could I taste a little onion? Yes. Did it taste good? No. I probably should have ordered the Mixed green salad with beets and nuts, but I had just had that same salad the previous night. Beets and nuts are so trendy right now.

The entrees weren't much better. I had the Stronghill Stew, "Andouille Sausage, Shrimp, Mussels, Potatoes, Okra, Tomatoes & Corn over Griddled Grit Cake" ($17). It was ok. The the vegetables and potatoes were a little toothy for a stew. It's basically a $17 soup with 6 medium size shrimp in it. Nothing to write home about.

My lady friend ordered the Pan Seared Seasonal Fish, "Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Asparagus, Oyster Mushrooms topped with Beer Battered Onion Rings" ($26). Wait a second... did that say beer battered onions rings? Yes, yes it did. The dish basically consisted of a bed sweet potatoes and asparagus topped with the "seared" fish and finally topped with two onions rings. Whoever thought of this dish is a a little out there. The dish could have been saved with some properly seared fish or maybe some seasoning, but no. Neither were there. The fish was not seared. It was lightly sauteed.

To properly sear fish or any protein you need a really hot pan with a little bit of oil in it. When the oil just starts to smoke, drop in your protein and don't touch it. Yes it's turning dark... what is that? It's flavor. Caramelization is good. Let it get dark on both sides. Throw it in the oven til it's finished. Maybe even season the food before you throw it in the pan.

Let's just say none of this happened with this fish. It looked like it had just been thrown on the griddle until cooked on both sides. I tasted no seasoning and the griddle was not hot enough to bring out any good flavors in the fish. It was bland. Just like the sweet potatoes and the asparagus. I don't even want to talk about the onion rings.

I've read some good reviews for this place so I don't really know what to say. Maybe I was there on an off night... I might give them another try down the road. Everyone make mistakes at some point.

STRONGHILL DINING COMPANY (map it)
1200 N Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23230
http://www.stronghillrestaurant.com/
Posted by at 1:34 AM
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6 comments:

  1. Wow. Were you having a bad night? Stressed about something? Not trying to start an online tiff but I've never disagreed more with a blogger's review. Stronghill is excellent in every way, shape and form every time Ive been. Give it another chance when you're in a better mood. "sucks" & "crap" aren't very enlightening descriptions.
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  2. As a follower of your blog, your opinions, and reviews, all which I usually agree on and love, I have to completely disagree with you here. Yes, they might have been having a bad night, and I never think any Richmond restaurant does seafood particularly well, but from my visits there, Stronghill is worth another shot from you. I have been in twice, eaten there once, and it was delicious. Expensive, but you can tell that it's going to be pricey right when you walk in the door.

    How was your overall experience though, not solely based off the food. Wait staff, hospitality, menu? Expand a bit more on your thoughts. Don't try and scare people away with words like "suck" and "crap" like Iwishicouldcook mentioned.

    Either way, keep on writing, I love what you have to say, but give them another chance.
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  3. After reading some good reviews. My wife and I tried Stronghill. Food was good (not great). My ribs were great, but the sweet potatoes tasteless. Scallops were also very good, but the sides were just okay. I tried the wedge salad...very bland...

    I ordered apple pie with ice cream. I am a bit of of apple pie snob because I have tasted the fruit of the lattice top apple pie from Shawnee Spring Market in Cross Junction, Va (the best on earth). This Stronghil pie was just ordinary and it was $9.00....It's apple pie!
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  4. I agree with you-- I visited recently with my husband and we were abysmally disappointed. And be glad you didn't try the beet salad-- it was mediocre. Sweet potato gnocchi was bland, starchy and more like bloated, greasy dumplings than gnocchi. The crap all sucked, basically.
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  5. I have to agree with the review here. I was excited to try Stronghill and had a friend's recommendation... however everything we tried was just... okay. It wasn't bad, or very good, just somewhere in the middle. The ribeye was quite good, however the smoked tomato mac & cheese left me craving Buz and Ned's across the street. Stuffed tomatoes were kind of weird but okay. Chocolate mousse for dessert was pretty good. However the $70 bill at the end when you split an entree is a bit disappointing, even with a couple of drinks. Waitstaff was great though and we loved the decor.
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  6. Everything is right but the food. I've been there twice. Service is great. The place is gorgeous. I had a great cheap wine. But they seem to have forgotten the flavor. Onion rings are bland, yet undercooked. Short ribs, though a comfort food, are uncomfortable in their tastelessness, like they'd been abused when they were very, very short. Duck breast was served with a steak knife. That seems a lack of self confidence, but a sound listening to past feedback. Everything that came with it was puffy and grim.

    You want them to win as a Northsider, but it's all pasty and grim. I hate to say it, but fire your chef and find one that isn't afraid of flavor. Sorry if the chef is an owner. That's a less reconcilable problem. Maybe your decorator can cook.
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