Sunday, August 29, 2010

It's all Local

Maggie hosted our latest gathering and chose the Westside Local located at 17th and Summit Streets.  We met on a Tuesday night instead of our usual Friday night.  The restaurant strives to use local produce and has a definite urban feel.  The space has exposed brick walls decorated with works by local artists.  It opened about a year ago and this was a first visit for most of us.  We started out in the enclosed beer garden patio which has large communal picnic tables.   The bar area is a tiny space tucked in a side room leading to the patio.   After indulging in a couple cold glasses of beer, we headed inside to our table.  We had the option of sitting outside for dinner but the seating is communal.  We opted for our own table inside.
Our waiter brought us a bowl of the most amazing Castelvetrono olives.  One member may have had more than her fair share of the olives but you can't blame her.  We ordered up their cheese plate for an appetizer passing over other choices such as deviled eggs and garlic fries.  The cheese plate was fine but not really big enough for six people.   We asked for extra bread and were a bit surprised to find they charged us for it when we received the bill.  The dirty martini was excellent but more on that later. 
The beer list is filled with unique craft beer.  I didn't recognize some of them.  The menu is filled with local fare and includes everything from salmon to grilled cheese sandwich.  We ordered a variety of entrees off the menu which is rather short.  Everyone enjoyed their picks.  Those of us who ordered the steak and garlic fries for an entree enjoyed them.  The pork chop was great.  Each was slightly unique.  Our service was fine except for when the waiter spilled my dirty martini all over the table and then didn't offer to wipe it up until I asked him to after realizing he hadn't left to get a towel.  I appreciate he tried to serve me a full martini but it was dripping off the table on to my legs.  
We ended the evening with dessert.  A trio of ice cream that included a berry, a lavender and some kind of honey bacon flavor.  Trust me when I say the bacon flavored was divine.   It was just enough for each of us to have  a few tasted of each scoop.
The Westside Local has a neighborhood feel and we all said we would definitely return.   We'd like to sit out in the beer garden on a Friday night.  Meeting on a Tuesday night shortened the evening for all of us.