10/15/08

Terrific new fall menu

by bruce_mccullough

The editor's review predates current chef Erin O'Shea. When O'Shea took over in Jan. 2008, the change in focus to an all-Southern menu didn't excite me and I had not been back this year. That approach has been softened recently and the menu this summer, and now this fall, is Southern-influenced (she still puts bits of tasty ham in a number of dishes) but it is not overwhelming. Call it creative cuisine with a Southern flavor.

We had butternut squash soup with a vanilla-poached fig in it and mussels with sausage and yellow pepper cream. Both were delicious and I was sorry I hadn't accepted the offer of another roll so I could sop up the last of the yellow pepper cream. For entrees we had pork loin with oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and wax beans and halibut with brown butter, braised fennel, kalamata olives, and tomato fumet. Both dishes, particularly the halibut, had layers of flavors and both were top-notch.

I was pleased to see that the decor now includes white tablecloths as I had thought that the previous bare, modernist, electric-blue tables clashed with the Victorian ambiance of the dining room. Service was friendly, relaxed, and attentive. We brought both red and white wine and our server immediately offered to bring out a second set of wine glasses. A couple that came in after us did not know the restaurant was BYOB and a server graciously gave them a bottle of wine that had not been finished at an earlier table.

Entrees are fairly priced in the high teens to low $20s. Portions are not huge but are adequate in size and are top-quality. A minor point, but I still don't get charging $4 for a cup of tea (particularly when the La Colombe coffee is $2.50).

• Pros: Quality of food, service
• Cons: Small dining room has the tables close together

10/12/08

Great food

by alg542

I went here for the first time in the spring and have been back twice because I liked it so much. The food is unique and delicious. In the spring I especially like their vidalia onion soup and the halibut. I love that they change their menu seasonally so you can be sure that you're getting the freshest produce. The only con is that the seating is really cramped, particularly for parties of two. You feel like you're having dinner with the people next to you. Other than that I definitely recommend it!

• Pros: fresh, delicous food
• Cons: cramped seating

03/30/08

Good time at This Old House

by glentc

We visited Saturday evening and had a very satisfying meal. We were seated in a second floor room, which lent intimacy to our meal, although the more raucous first floor had its proponents, too. Two of us had the featured appetizer of cornbread, greens and a sunnyside egg, and we loved it. The ladies opted for the butter lettuce and found the dressing a bit overwhelming. Main course the ladies chose the scallops and mussels, cleverly paired with pearl tapioca. Scallops were done to perfection and the mussels very tender. I had the braised shortrib and it was tender and tasty with mushrooms, carrots and pureed cauliflower. The other choice was the pork tenderloin with white beans, and it too was excellent. For dessert we had three selections, the banana bread pudding, chocolate cake and apple tart. We found each one to be very good, the chocolate cake probably the favorite and the banana bread pudding maybe a bit dry, despite a dollop of coffee ice cream.

We felt the atmosphere at Marigold was very inviting. We had a lively, friendly waitress who shared our enthusiasm for the wines we brought, and the neighborhood had a college town feel, as one would expect. The ambience reflects the fact that you are eating in an old house, and if the decorations are spare, there is a charm to the bold colors and authentic feel. We'll definitely return.