{"id":4240,"date":"2009-03-14T10:04:47","date_gmt":"2009-03-14T14:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/foodembrace.com\/?p=4240"},"modified":"2009-03-14T22:55:54","modified_gmt":"2009-03-15T02:55:54","slug":"march-13th-2009-dinner-review-of-mccormick-schmicks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/2009\/03\/march-13th-2009-dinner-review-of-mccormick-schmicks\/","title":{"rendered":"March 13th, 2009: Dinner (Review of McCormick & Schmick’s)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi guys!\u00a0 Sorry this didn’t get posted last night but we didn’t get home till going on 10pm and I was a bit on the passing out side.\u00a0 Food coma and totally exhausted. :p<\/p>\n

\"McCormick

McCormick & Schmick's<\/p><\/div>\n

Last night we had reservations at McCormick&Schmick’s<\/a>, which is a seafood restaurant located in the Easton shopping center<\/a>.\u00a0 Easton is a cute yet gigantic outdoor mall.\u00a0 Lots of high end things there and it was created by Les Wexner, owner of Bath&Body Works and so on.\u00a0 McCormick&Schmick’s boasts having fresh seafood and keeping nothing longer than 48 hours to maintain peak freshness.\u00a0 We had not tried this restaurant before and decided that now would be a good time.\u00a0 Scott made our reservations, via Opentable.com, for 6:45pm yesterday evening.<\/p>\n

\"Main

Main dining area <\/p><\/div>\n

\"bar

bar area <\/p><\/div>\n

Upon entering, we were greeted with two things, one was the decor.\u00a0 It was nice and cozy, seemed like a place where lawyers and upper rank business men would dine.\u00a0 Lots of wood, and lead glass type of designs.\u00a0 The second thing that we noticed was the noise level.\u00a0 Wow but it was extremely loud in this place.\u00a0 Perhaps it was because it was a Friday evening so there were lots of people hanging out at the bar?\u00a0 Or maybe that’s the way it always is, regardless, it was a bit too noisy for us.\u00a0 Scott and I like quiet dining experiences, not places with shouting and people trying to talk over others.<\/p>\n

When we grabbed the manager’s attention and let them know we had a reservation, they seemed a little in a panic.\u00a0 When Scott made the reservations, he specifically said that it was his wife’s birthday and he would prefer a booth or private table if possible.\u00a0 I don’t think they realized this until they actually read the reservation.\u00a0 Perhaps if he would have called the restaurant directly and spoke with someone it wouldn’t have been an issue?\u00a0 They told us that they didn’t have any booths available and one would not be ready for about 1\/2 an hour.<\/p>\n

We decided to wait it out.\u00a0 The booths he was referring to were these big deep wooden framed booths with green velvet curtains you could pull shut if you wanted.\u00a0 They sort of reminded me of an old time train car.\u00a0 It was in a different section of the restaurant and we decided that our eating experience would be more enjoyable in one of those booths.\u00a0 So we waited even though both of us were very hungry.\u00a0 The managers were extremely nice to us and did what they could to make the wait a little more enjoyable.\u00a0 We let them know it honestly wasn’t a huge deal and we didn’t mind.\u00a0 They offered to get us drinks but we both declined.\u00a0 I was too hungry and a drink would have gone straight to my head.\u00a0 We would have waited in the bar, but as I mentioned earlier, it was very very crowded and there was just no seating.\u00a0 And also there was a woman in there whooping it up and she had one of the most annoying laughs ever.\u00a0 I couldn’t go near that for fear of scratching my ears off.\u00a0 Harsh?\u00a0 I don’t know but I do know we’ve all come across someone with an annoying laugh, right?\u00a0 It was clear she was trying to get some male attention.\u00a0 I know guys love it when you laugh at their corny jokes but I’m not sure they dig on the whooping crane kind of laugh.\u00a0 But I’m not a guy, so I could be wrong.<\/p>\n

Finally a booth was ready for us!\u00a0 We got seated and started pondering over the menu.<\/p>\n

\"It's

It's me <\/p><\/div>\n

\"My

My dining companion<\/p><\/div>\n

Then immediately our server was back bringing us a nice little snack plate.\u00a0 She said it was from the managers thanking us for being so patient and pleasant.\u00a0 Awesome!\u00a0 Check out how pretty it is.<\/p>\n

\"smoked

smoked salmon crustini <\/p><\/div>\n

A very fru-fru smoked salmon with creme fraiche, capers, and dill on a piece of crostini.\u00a0 After taking the picture, I laid the salmon across the crostini and dove in because I was starving.\u00a0 It was so good!\u00a0 And that was also a very generous piece of smoked salmon.<\/p>\n

\"Tuscana

Tuscana <\/p><\/div>\n

First up was the wine list because it’s my birthday and if I’m out at a nice restaurant I would like a glass of wine to help me feel sophisticated and like the class act that I am. ;)<\/p>\n

\"classy

classy <\/p><\/div>\n

I ordered the Tuscana and sprung for 8oz of the darling.\u00a0 There was a wine listed that was $23 for 8oz.\u00a0 Schnikie, that best be a darn good glass of wine and perhaps also help you with your taxes.<\/p>\n

\"Scott's

Scott's drink <\/p><\/div>\n

Scott ordered a mixed drink that was a twist on a whiskey sour.\u00a0 Neither of us expected the martini type of glass it came in though.<\/p>\n

The menus were the kind of menu where it is just one gigantic sheet of paper.\u00a0 This is due to their menu changing every day, which I fully understand.\u00a0 However, for me, those are the worst menus.\u00a0 I feel like I’m bumbling around as I try to read the menu.\u00a0 It’s so big, it covers the table and lays all over your glasses and silverware.\u00a0 Yet you have to be mindful not to allow it to creep into your dining companion’s space while hoping they are doing the same.\u00a0 We had trouble deciding on what to order for our main entrees, but we picked an appetizer right away.<\/p>\n

\"coconut

coconut shrimp <\/p><\/div>\n

Coconut shrimp with a dipping sauce described as a horseradish marmalade.\u00a0 I had one whole shrimp and a bite of another piece.\u00a0 The rest Scott ate.\u00a0 He was starving and I was pacing myself for my meal.\u00a0 Plus in full disclosure, I found the shrimp very greasy and heavy.\u00a0 Fried things can be a gamble.\u00a0 Either they come out light and delicate leaving you amazed they are fried.\u00a0 Or they are like eating a brick, they are so heavy with grease.\u00a0 These were little bricks.\u00a0 The sauce was awesome though! Although I am solo in that opinion as Scott didn’t care for it.<\/p>\n

\"my

my meal <\/p><\/div>\n

\"Scott's

Scott's choice <\/p><\/div>\n

I was confused by the menu because other than a salad section there were no vegetables listed.\u00a0 Nothing mentioned with the main entrees and no a la carte or side menu at all.\u00a0 I found that a bit odd.\u00a0 Both of us flip-flopped for ages before deciding on what we wanted to get.<\/p>\n

I picked the mahi-mahi and Scott ordered the wild mixed grill.\u00a0 Our server then informed us that each dish comes with mashed potatoes and asparagus as the vegetable.\u00a0 Whew, that’s something!\u00a0 I also ordered a house salad for some extra greenage.\u00a0 I assumed that came dressed because there was no dressing listed on the menu and the server didn’t ask what I wanted when I placed the order.<\/p>\n

\"House

House salad <\/p><\/div>\n

The salad was a basic mixed greens combo with blue cheese and candied walnuts.\u00a0 Normally I try to avoid eating fungus and mold as much as possible, but I decided to give the blue cheese a try.\u00a0 The salad only had three ingredients and as a good foodie, I gave it a try.\u00a0 I was impressed!\u00a0 It reminded me a lot of goat cheese in its texture and tartness.\u00a0 There was a very light vinaigrette on the greens which was awesome.\u00a0 I ate my salad up, leaving a few bites for Scott so he could try it.\u00a0 Then our meals arrived!<\/p>\n

\"my

my plate <\/p><\/div>\n

Here is mine which looks pretty but disappointed me a lot.\u00a0 I’ll get to that in a second.<\/p>\n

\"Scott's

Scott's meal <\/p><\/div>\n

Here’s Scott’s meal, all loaded up with stuff.\u00a0 And his even comes with dessert afterwards!<\/p>\n

As I started pulling the asparagus out from my fish, I realized it was a fake out and I did not actually have two pieces of asparagus.\u00a0 I had one and a 1\/4.\u00a0 The first piece on the left is only the tip top of the asparagus.\u00a0 Meanwhile Scott had four full stalks.\u00a0 I also had no mashed potatoes, only a small scoop of plain white rice.\u00a0 Meanwhile Scott had a huge mound of what seemed to be mushroom risotto.\u00a0 Very not fair at all guys. We each had a tablespoon size scoop of spaghetti squash.<\/p>\n

“I have to admit that I’m very bummed out that I did not get any mashed potatoes.”<\/p>\n

“I know. You cannot dangle mashed potatoes in front of my baby and then not deliver. She gets cranky.”<\/p>\n

Indeed.\u00a0 I did not eat the rice but ate my 1 1\/4 stalks of asparagus.\u00a0 Good thing I ordered the salad!\u00a0 Sheesh.\u00a0 My fish?\u00a0 Just okay but I was a bit disappointed in that as well.\u00a0 I thought the bbq sauce would have more of a presence, but instead if was just a small dollop\u00a0 which was very thin.\u00a0 The description of the meal said “bbq glaze” so I assumed a nice thick layer of bbq sauce was to be had.\u00a0 I had maybe 1\/3 of it?\u00a0 I know it wasn’t half, and gave the rest to Scott.\u00a0 I picked at his salmon, probably 1\/4 total, some of the sea bass, and some of the crab cake.\u00a0 The crab cake was not good at all.\u00a0 It tasted way too fishy, which crab should have a sweet taste to it and not taste like turned fish.\u00a0 And it was too thick, causing the middle to be just a mushy gross mess.\u00a0 I tasted his risotto but it had an off taste to me as well.\u00a0 Oh but I did steal an asparagus stalk since I was robbed and he had loads of food. Seriously more squash would have been nice.\u00a0 More veggies and no starch.\u00a0 I am not looking to eat plain white rice when I go to a “fancy” dinner.<\/p>\n

After our meal, (Scott’s leftovers were boxed up), our server brought out the dessert tray.\u00a0 She informed me that she “was required” to bring me out a slice of their chocolate torte which was a flourless cake but she thought we might want something else instead.\u00a0 I think she forgot that Scott’s meal came with creme brulee.\u00a0 She listed off the other desserts and honestly it was hard to hear what she was saying.\u00a0 The place was so loud and she was such a light talker, I only caught bits and pieces.\u00a0 And I also was only half listening.\u00a0 I’m not a sweets person guys, so dessert honestly holds no interest for me.\u00a0 I said the torte was fine and Scott was supposed to get the creme brulee, “Oh! Right of course, yes.”\u00a0 Ah ha! She did forget! :p<\/p>\n

She brought out our desserts and check out how huge they are!<\/p>\n

\"dessert

dessert time <\/p><\/div>\n

Crikey!\u00a0 That’s a lot of sweets.\u00a0 Scott loves creme brulee and I honestly do not.\u00a0 It’s creamy and smooth yet not super thick so to me it comes across like it should be a sort of filling for something.\u00a0 Not something you sit down and eat a whole bowl of.\u00a0 My chocolate torte was very good.\u00a0 I had two small bites and then asked for it to be wrapped up.\u00a0 While I may not be big into sweets, I’m also not passing up free food.\u00a0 That huge torte is $8!<\/p>\n

We paid our bill and plunked down a generous tip.\u00a0 I wish we could tip the managers because they were so nice.\u00a0 We passed them on the way out and thanked them for their hospitality.\u00a0 Then we headed home.\u00a0 I didn’t feel like I overate but when I got home I realized that I totally had.\u00a0 I tried drinking some water which left me feeling bloated and over full.\u00a0 If water has that effect, I totally over did it.\u00a0 Oh well, it was my birthday, it happens.\u00a0 It was about 10pm when we got home and after I changed into my jammies, I got in bed. I laid chatting with Scott and snuggled with Rocky for a bit, then I kicked them out so I could get some sleep. :D<\/p>\n

Our experience was a nice one but it’s not a place we would patronize again.\u00a0 The atmosphere was too loud and the food was just not as good as it could have been.\u00a0 I would also rather have a menu listing every aspect about a dish (like if the salad comes with dressing and where the vegetables live), because I don’t want to feel like I’m interrogating the server asking 50 million questions.\u00a0 Also if the meal isn’t going to have the vegetables you told me about, please let me know ahead of time.\u00a0 I know fish is the focus here but, in my opinion, they need to take a look at their vegetable offerings and bump those up more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi guys!\u00a0 Sorry this didn’t get posted last night but we didn’t get home till going on 10pm and I was a bit on the passing out side.\u00a0 Food coma and totally exhausted. :p Last night we had reservations at McCormick&Schmick’s, which is a seafood restaurant located in the Easton shopping center.\u00a0 Easton is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4KYWa-16o","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4240"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4240\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}