Poco-Cocoa

Our last bit of weekend debauchery was at Justine’s on Sunday night. I’ve heard quite a buzz about this little French brasserie, and I was excited to try it out. Its way over on the east side, in a cute little house, with a lovely patio and a gravel area for playing petanque. I checked out the menu online, and was surprised that the prices seemed reasonable.

(Sorry about the iPhone photo… I seriously just need to have my camera in my purse at all times!)

When we arrived (at about 7:00 p.m.), there were still a few tables available inside and the patio was empty. It was still lively, with music thumping (I could really only hear the bass, but I SWEAR they were playing some Mexican tunes) and people chatting and wine being poured. It’s a cute little place, with red walls and tiny tables and a small bar. By the time we were eating our first course, the place was swarming with people vying for a table, and it was obvious that the restaurant was not quite ready for the mobs.

We ordered some wine and took a look at the menu. We decided to share a few things, so we started with a cheese plate and a steamed artichoke. Justin really enjoyed the cheeses, though we had no explanation from waitstaff or menu on what they actually were. The artichoke was perfect, and just what I had been craving.

We also tried the Soupe des Ardennes, a potato leek soup with endives and homemade croutons. This was so decadent and delicous… big chunks of potato and leek, crunchy garlic croutons, and a creamy, rich base.

We then shared the Cote du Porc, a grilled pork chop with a thyme reduction and potato puree. Wow. I have never had a pork chop so juicy and tender! The thyme sauce was fabulous, and the potatoes were hand-mashed, chunky and possibly flavored with a (bleu?) cheese. So very good.

For dessert, we had to try the creme brulee. I am a HUGE creme brulee fan, but I’ve been disappointed so often in the ones that I’ve tried. This one did not disappoint. It had a thick, crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on top, and the creme was soft and runny, full of vanilla flavor. We scraped the bowl clean.

I would love to try Justine’s again, but not until they are fully staffed and well-equipped to handle the hordes that are pounding down their door. Our waiter was actually not an employee, but a close friend of the owners who was kind enough to volunteer his time, and there only seemed to be one other true waitress in view. There were a couple of runners, the owners, and the bartenders, but it was obvious they needed more staff. I think once they smooth that out, the place will be fabulous… it must be a frustrating but great problem to have… having so many people want to eat at your restaurant that you can’t keep up. So I’d highly recommend you try it out… in an few weeks. 🙂

Saturday night we met some friends at the Shuck Shack for a few games of bocce ball and washers. We didn’t eat here; I’ve tried it before, and unless I’m really in the mood for fried, fried, fried food, I’ll probably opt to eat elsewhere. I ordered a margarita on the rocks, which was so sour that my face puckered when I tasted it. I actually sent it back (I rarely send things back), and the next version was better, if a bit weak. Anyway, the bocce ball was fun.

Afterward, we stopped by Shangri-La to check things out. I’ve heard great things about this place, and I can see why people love it. There’s a huge patio out back and a couple of pool tables inside. When we arrived, it wasn’t too full, but people were smoking on the patio and the indoor bar reeked of pine sol. So we opted to duck out and go across the street to East Side Show Room.

Aaaaah, East Side Show Room. This place really has it figured out. The aesthetic is pretty  much my dream style, which I’ve written about before. When I’m there, I feel like Amelie, like it’s 1940’s France, like I’m in another time, another place, another mood. I wish I had brought my camera, but alas, it was at home.

This time we arrived late in the evening, and the music was pumping, people were scattered around the adorable tables chatting and enjoying drinks, and the place just had that perfect Saturday night lounge vibe. We snagged a corner couch and drank far too many cocktails, because they were just so darned good. (We also used the Shazam app on our iPhones throughout the night to snag song names from their fabulous playlist, which ranged from vintage Bollywood to Rosemary Clooney to The Walkmen.)

Adam Bryan, the barkeep and fabulous mixologist, was kind enough to make some off-the-menu drinks for us, and we loved EVERY SINGLE ONE. We tried the Pink Pony (gin, aperol, grapefruit, cucumber), the Rhum Punch (eight year Barbancourt Rum, Creole Shrubb Liqueur and freshly grated nutmeg – which I adored), the New Chrysanthemum (Lillet Blanc, Strega, St. George Absinthe), a Martinez, a Manhattan, and a Last Word. Such delicious cocktails, and lovely explanations from Adam himself.

Late in the evening, I needed a snack. I decided on the Shrimp Dumpling Soup, the daily special. Oh, but it was wonderful. The broth was full-flavored, perhaps made with roasted shrimp shells or other such goodness that infused it with a meaty, but shrimp-filled flavor. There was a tiny strip of bacon in there, reminiscent of peppercorn beef jerky, tiny leaves of peppery arugula, and the most perfect shrimp dumpling ever. I drank every last drop of that broth.

We also wanted a little something sweet, so we decided on the dessert special – Peach Tart with Basil Ice Cream. So simple, but amazingly good. The tart crust was fantastic, and the ice cream was just bursting with basil flavor (I expected it to be green because it was so basil-y, but it was white – not sure how they did that).

So yes, I adore East Side Show Room, and I’m anxious to get back. Oh, Austin, you make it so difficult for me to eat at home! 🙂