March's dinner was at Yellowstone Cafe in Chesterfield. It was snowing quite a bit that day, and made travel for some a bit challenging. Sreenu Dandamudi was the host but was unable to make it. But still, ten brave souls attended. Because of hazardous driving conditions, many diners were late arriving at Yellowstone, including myself, and it was brought to my attention that the hostess wouldn't seat anyone at the table until the whole party arrived - not exactly a great greeting when coming in from out of the cold. They eventually seated most of the party after Shelby could confirm that those not yet present were on their way. We understand that restaurants don't want to waste table space, but the dining room was sparsely occupied and we had called ahead with reservations. Nevertheless, our group was happily seated in the warm "outdoorsy" dining room that had decor reminiscent of the Bass Pro Shop by the time my tardy husband and I arrived.
We had a nice waitress who was quick to take drink orders as we perused the menu. Oh - which reminds me - no beer on tap - only bottles, just an FYI. I was really looking forward to a frosty cold one, however the waitress was happy to supply me with a frosted glass so I could pretend it was draft. Another quirk to mention is the bathroom. The bathroom was a single stall, unisex bathroom, located right off the dining room with just a little drywall to separate it from our table. We deducted, however, that given the restaurant location, the space was most likely retail space originally, so Yellowstone had to work with what they had, and they did seem to make the most of it, as it was nice and clean. You may just wish to ask for seating that is not so conveniently located by the bathroom if this sort of thing erks you. It didn't bother me at all, and I'm not sure if it necessarily bothered anyone else, but the topic did come up amongst the diners.
Next, appetizer orders were placed, and instead of bread and butter, the restaurant provided crackers and cheese spread, which proved quite tasty. I tried the crab cakes and they were delicious! The dinner menu was expansive and very reasonably priced, with salads, sandwiches and burgers in the $8-10 range, and entrees and pasta dishes for $15-20. I didn't hear any complaints over anyone's dinner selection. A few folks ordered the Walleye, a featured menu item, and quite enjoyed it. Some entrees were a little on the salty side, but flavorful still.
And then there was dessert. This was probably the highlight of the evening. Yellowstone had a great dessert selection of cobblers, pies, etc. and the options excited the crowd. I must say the caramel apple pie was amazing. Also available is a variety of fun-flavored coffees that are more like desserts in their own right - they at least sound amazing but you'll have to see for yourself as we opted for the fully-loaded desserts instead of drinks.
All in all, it was an enjoyable evening and the food was down-home good. I think I'd rate this restaurant with 3.5 out of 5 spoons. What do you think of Yellowstone? Rate and post thoughts below!
3/11/11
Bacana Brasil: Restaurant's Response
Bacana Brasil read our blog and contacted me with their response. There is some good information here I wanted to pass along, although I'm still hoping they install diaper changing tables. ;)
"We are glad to be included as one of the reviewed establishments of your blog. We would like to bring to the attention of your readers that we offer a vegetarian option for $15.95 at the bar area, as well as our signature single skewer. The Signature skewer includes all you can eat hot bar and salad bar as well as a one skewer of seven of our most popular items for $18.00 at the bar area. Plus we our offering a $25 certificate of value for $10 at our website: www.bacanabrasil.com"
Please note, the certificate they refer to is only valid on dinners Sunday through Thursday, with a $35 or more purchase.
"We are glad to be included as one of the reviewed establishments of your blog. We would like to bring to the attention of your readers that we offer a vegetarian option for $15.95 at the bar area, as well as our signature single skewer. The Signature skewer includes all you can eat hot bar and salad bar as well as a one skewer of seven of our most popular items for $18.00 at the bar area. Plus we our offering a $25 certificate of value for $10 at our website: www.bacanabrasil.com"
Please note, the certificate they refer to is only valid on dinners Sunday through Thursday, with a $35 or more purchase.
3/8/11
February Good Dinner: Bacana Brasil, 2/25
February's dinner was at Bacana Brasil in Chesterfield, and I'd say it was a bit of a family affair. My mom and 4 month old daughter came along with my husband and I, and Shelby, Good Dinner Club President, also brought her mom. I believe there were ten of us in attendance. Tiffany Phifer was the February host, and her restaurant selection did not disappoint.
This Brazilian restaurant offers quite a unique dining experience. Dinner is a set price and entitles patrons to a bountiful buffet while fine cuts of meat (and shrimp) that have been grilled over an open fire are continually brought to the table on skewers, and shaved onto your plate. And don't let me forget the grilled pineapple - it was by far the most surprising item, and something you just have to try for yourself. I don't even like pineapple that much, but this was absolutely delicious.
My husband Fibbens, who serves as GDC's Chair of Alcohol Affairs, recommended diners try a Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça sugar and lime. Many ordered the drink and enjoyed it. I had a taste myself, and it was quite refreshing.
So how did this restaurant rate overall? Well the food without question was fresh, of the highest quality, and in abundance. I heard no complaints from even the most discerning of pallets. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and we were even provided a private dining room for our larger group, which was appreciated.
One disappointment was the lack of a diaper changing table in the restroom. This really only affected me who had to kneel on the tile floor to tend to my daughter, but an important component to those looking for family-friendliness. Another consideration that deserves mention is the hefty price tag. With dinner being a set price around $30 a person (not including drinks), the sticker shock at meal's end was, well, a bit of a shock. Don't get me wrong, I think the quality and abundance of food validated the price, but this may just be a special occasion destination, not a regular treat. One thing that might make the restaurant more welcoming to a wider range of patrons would be to offer a variety of meal options at different price points. For example, a vegetarian who would not partake of the meat cuts might be able to opt for just the buffett for a lower price.
All in all, I'd say all GDC attendees enjoyed their meal and the unique dining experience Bacana offered.
Good Dinner Diva Rating: 4 out of 5 Spoons
This Brazilian restaurant offers quite a unique dining experience. Dinner is a set price and entitles patrons to a bountiful buffet while fine cuts of meat (and shrimp) that have been grilled over an open fire are continually brought to the table on skewers, and shaved onto your plate. And don't let me forget the grilled pineapple - it was by far the most surprising item, and something you just have to try for yourself. I don't even like pineapple that much, but this was absolutely delicious.
My husband Fibbens, who serves as GDC's Chair of Alcohol Affairs, recommended diners try a Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça sugar and lime. Many ordered the drink and enjoyed it. I had a taste myself, and it was quite refreshing.
So how did this restaurant rate overall? Well the food without question was fresh, of the highest quality, and in abundance. I heard no complaints from even the most discerning of pallets. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and we were even provided a private dining room for our larger group, which was appreciated.
One disappointment was the lack of a diaper changing table in the restroom. This really only affected me who had to kneel on the tile floor to tend to my daughter, but an important component to those looking for family-friendliness. Another consideration that deserves mention is the hefty price tag. With dinner being a set price around $30 a person (not including drinks), the sticker shock at meal's end was, well, a bit of a shock. Don't get me wrong, I think the quality and abundance of food validated the price, but this may just be a special occasion destination, not a regular treat. One thing that might make the restaurant more welcoming to a wider range of patrons would be to offer a variety of meal options at different price points. For example, a vegetarian who would not partake of the meat cuts might be able to opt for just the buffett for a lower price.
All in all, I'd say all GDC attendees enjoyed their meal and the unique dining experience Bacana offered.
Good Dinner Diva Rating: 4 out of 5 Spoons
3/7/11
Welcome to the Good Dinner Club blog!
Hello and welcome to the Good Dinner Dish, a blog created to document the dining experiences of St. Louis' Good Dinner Club (GDC).
GDC was created by GDC President Shelby Watson and the first GDC dinner was in March 2009. GDC is a great way to experience the many restaurants St. Louis has to offer while catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
Once a month, GDC meets to have dinner at a local restaurant determined by the host. The host for each month's GDC dinner is determined at the prior month's dinner: whoever sits to the right of the host of the current month's dinner becomes the host for next month's dinner and selects the dinner destination. (There are exceptions to this rule which is fully explained in the GDC Rules). The host must pick a restaurant that he or she has never attended.
So who's on the reservation list, you ask? It's always evolving. The "club" is not made up of a select group of people, however there are regulars who attend the dinners often. Who gets invited to dinner is simple: everyone at dinner gets automatically invited to the next month's dinner, and anyone invited can also invite anyone they'd like. Sometimes there are 5 in attendance and sometimes more than twenty.
As the self-proclaimed Good Dinner Diva and a long standing GDC member, my goal is to educate you on the good, the bad and the ugly of St. Louis eateries. We hope as our blog gains popularity, our local restaurants will also take notice and read our reviews....and who knows, maybe we'll get a free appetizer or two in the process.
So that's the scoop. Eat & enjoy!
GDC was created by GDC President Shelby Watson and the first GDC dinner was in March 2009. GDC is a great way to experience the many restaurants St. Louis has to offer while catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.
Once a month, GDC meets to have dinner at a local restaurant determined by the host. The host for each month's GDC dinner is determined at the prior month's dinner: whoever sits to the right of the host of the current month's dinner becomes the host for next month's dinner and selects the dinner destination. (There are exceptions to this rule which is fully explained in the GDC Rules). The host must pick a restaurant that he or she has never attended.
So who's on the reservation list, you ask? It's always evolving. The "club" is not made up of a select group of people, however there are regulars who attend the dinners often. Who gets invited to dinner is simple: everyone at dinner gets automatically invited to the next month's dinner, and anyone invited can also invite anyone they'd like. Sometimes there are 5 in attendance and sometimes more than twenty.
As the self-proclaimed Good Dinner Diva and a long standing GDC member, my goal is to educate you on the good, the bad and the ugly of St. Louis eateries. We hope as our blog gains popularity, our local restaurants will also take notice and read our reviews....and who knows, maybe we'll get a free appetizer or two in the process.
So that's the scoop. Eat & enjoy!
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