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| Down the Rabbit Hole |
I had heard so much about this new restaurant located right across from Boca Park, that my taste buds were beginning to go on strike. After the holidays were finished and the new year started I was craving a night out, away from the stress of a new job, and a place to escape the existence of reality. Honey Salt took over the old location of Nora's Wine Bar. Nora's was one of my favorite lunch restaurants in the city and to experience the new venue was on top of my to-do list. The fact that they reinvented the property in such a bold way really enticed me.
I walked in and was immediately taken back by the warm atmosphere that the restaurant gave. The décor was ideal for the vibe the dining room put out. It was so chilly outside that it was nice to come into such a cozy nurturing environment. The eye-catching main accent wall was lined with Victorian mirrors that had me falling through the rabbit hole and into wonderland. With the mismatched chairs and the elegant but eerie lighting, Alice would have felt right at home with a suited Mad Hatter and a suave March Hare.
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| Parisian |
I love how the way a room looks can positively affect the way you feel and this restaurant accomplished just that.
The experience began as soon as I sat down. The simple yet polished table settings were too cute to handle with their one of a kind personalized napkins. Guilty as charged, I couldn't help but take one home for a souvenir. I was glancing about the room for a member of the service staff, you know slacks, white shirts, the global uniform for the slaves of the culinary industry. I came to find our server in a blue and white plaid button up with jeans and a down to earth smile. He very eloquently chatted us up with some suggestions on the cocktail list as well has some of the house favorites on the dinner menu. Given that he was so casually dressed it was quite literally a walk in the park for him.
He brought me one of their signature drinks called Queen Bee. It had me feeling like Blair Waldorf faster than you could say Upper East Side. Strangely I'm at a loss of words trying to describe the taste of this cocktail, guess you'll just have to experience this on your own.
Next it was time to get comfortable. The yellow tail crudo was too enticing to pass up so it served as the kitchens first impression. You know that feeling you get when you go to the movies and you know that the film is going to be good just from the previews? Welcome to the first course. The flavor of the tuna was so perfect with the zesty Peruvian salsa that it set the bar very high for the rest of the meal. Act two just happen to be one of my personal favorites. It was the restaurants twist on a caprese salad where they added fresh blood oranges in the mix. The cheese was so straight on it was beyond compare. It was a dish intended to share but sinfully I devoured the whole thing. I really wish it was socially acceptable to lick your dinner plates in public.
Next up, pasta! I wouldn't feel good about myself if I didn't get to sample their turkey bolognese. I hadn't ever seen a turkey Bolognese before so I knew this restaurant was going to do something special with it. I was not disappointed in the least. The farro pasta was perfect with the lightness of a rich meat sauce and given that I always enjoy multiple courses it was fool proof in avoiding that painful glutton like feeling that washes over by the end of a good meal. For the main course I couldn't help myself in ordering the Caramelized
Sea scallops. The dish was served with a small mound of charred cauliflower on a vanilla bean cauliflower puree. I would have never thought of adding something rich like vanilla to sea scallops but it paired so well together it seems crazy to me if there not coupled now. I am a full-on scallop enthusiast and I can truthfully say that these were the best scallops I have ever had. Feeling full and almost tapped out I had to order dessert after reading their menu. It was one of the most difficult decisions to pick between warm bread pudding, the pumpkin cheesecake, or the brown bag baked apple pie I heard so much about. But with the chill sharpening outside it was the bread pudding for me. Just like the rest of the dinner, the pudding did not last long. It had such a comforting taste I could only characterize it as a hug from grandma. From the servers suggestion there was a side of salted caramel ice cream that was so good my exact words were "that's hold the phone, shut the door, slap me silly yummy."
The whole meal was such a treat. The only slight hiccup in the night was the fact that I could count the stitches on the back pocket of the servers jeans. Our table got to know his derriere on a personal level. The combination of honey and salt first sounds like something weird and abnormal. But so does the thought of fine dining on ma' and pops porch and that was exactly what I got to experience. I am thoroughly looking forward to many many more meals here.
