575406 Wed Nov 26 00:00:49 -0800 2008 1 8 Midwest 0 4202769 The Burgundy Room, Columbus (Short North) Flew into Columbus, OH on 11/13, Thursday to visit a long-lost friend. Dinner was to be at The Burgundy Room, a tapas-style wine bar. After searching for half an hour, we realized the one in Dublin, OH was shut down so we headed into town, the Short North neighborhood to the other location. The interior is dimly lit and the decor is warm and modern. They offer "flights" of tapas with wine pairings. We ordered two flights which involved a total of six tapas and six wines which worked out perfectly for a light dinner. I think our total tab was about $80 including tip. The food wasn't mind-blowing. Flight#1 shrimp & grits (polenta), fried calamari served with a lemongrass tarter sauce and tuna tartar on wonton chips. Flight#2 beef carpaccio (best one out of the lot), prosciutto crostini and short ribs. Service was mediocre - our server was friendly and cute but definitely had a nervous/hyper twitch of sorts that made my friend and I nervous in turn (she knocked over a glass, a menu and couldn't stop moving her hands). The bar area was sparsely populated but seemed like a "scene". http://www.burgundyroom.net/menu.php Spagio, Grandview, OH My friend wanted brunch/breakfast at Spagio (pacific rim, fusion restaurant) but, alas, it was Friday morning and 11:30am meant lunch at Spagio. He'll be returning to fulfill his craviing for their corned beef hash. It took us forever to decide because we weren't prepared for lunch entrees. Eventually, we started out with beet and goat cheese "tower" served with arugula and candied walnuts - this was a pleasant surprise - very fresh and delicious. For entrees, my companion ordered their daily special of sea bass served on a bed of asparagus and a saffron sauce. The fish was perfectly cooked but the dish was entirely too greasy (can't tell if the grease came from the sauce or because the fish was pan fried). I ordered their charcuterie plate which included pate, a measly slice of salami, overly sour cornichons, a peach jam and a lovely hearty whole-grain mustard. Our server basically BUGGED us every five minutes until we ordered our entrees at which point he disappeared. We finally got our check and made our escape. http://www.spagio.com/spagio/lunch.pdf The Refectory, Columbus/Dublin, OH The crown jewel of our adventure on Friday night! Service from the moment we walked in was professional, polite but aloof. Our server, a young lady, finally gave into our goofy ways and let down her guard and stopped saying "Very well" or "Very good" at everything we said. Appetizers: Coquille St. Jacques (mousse made of scallops and made into kind of a sausage shaped food) and Marble of Escargot. Both were excellent although the escargot (quiche-style) was a little gamey/fishy. Their lengthy wine list was a bit intimidating and I didn't know if they had a sommelier since the services of one were not offered. However, I took a chance and ordered something I liked the sound of on impulse - a 2001 Closa Batllet Priorat ($60). AMAZING - best part of the meal!! I called the general manager a few days later to confirm the name and he mentioned it was one of their rare ones. Apparently! I cannot find it anywhere online!! Apparently 2001 was a phenomenal year for priorat so therefore $60 was a bargain! Entrees: baby rack of lamb for my companion and grilled bison loin combo with pheasant breast for me. I dont eat lamb but I was convinced to try it and have to rave about it. It was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Ditto on my bison loin and pheasant breast. One gripe: sauces were a little overly rich/salty which may have overshadowed the brightness of the meats. Desserts were standard - brioche pumpkin bread pudding: delicious but overwhelming after eating half. We also had the creme brulee which the server insisted that we have (on the house) because it was the best. I have to say...as far as creme brulees go, it was pretty darn good. With the wine, this meal put a not-so-tiny dent in the pocketbook but I have to say it was 99% worth it. If I were a local, I would show up at least once a week for their bistro menu which our server was nice enough to tell us about. http://www.therefectoryrestaurant.com/ Brasa Grill, Cleveland, OH We drove up to Cleveland to watch the Cavs play the Jazz. Prior to that, my companion wanted to try Brazilian style bbq (churrascaria) where they come around to your table, shaving off pieces of freshly bbq meat. The day we went, they were serving 15 different kinds of meat in addition to their walk-up salad bar buffet which wasn't just confined to salad fixings. There was shrimp cocktail, antipasto, a huge wheel of parmesan reggiano cheese and four hot dishes. The whole thing was a lot of meat and just a lot of food. The meat was seasoned well but I've had better Brazilian. Chicken hearts, as always, were available upon request - always my favorite. It took about half an hour to get them but it was worth the wait. Price was also a little steep at $35 a person not including tax, tip or beverages. Snooty server but very attentive until it was time to get the check. We were a few minutes late for our game but it ended well...Cavs beat the Jazz. Go LeBron! Wed Nov 26 00:00:50 -0800 2008 162691 aeonflux 1 4209750 Nice choices. Refectory is my favorite restaurant in Cbus, hands down. Sun Nov 30 09:40:23 -0800 2008 4202769 160718 uhockey