Once Again, It Is The Company you Keep

I had dinner last night with two of my oldest friends (well, two of my friends that I've had for the longest time, is probably a better way to say it).  Anyway...once again, it is the company you keep that makes the night (or day or whatever), and NOT the restaurant OR the food.

We ate at (aged.) on Austin Street.  Yes, I have been here twice before and was not enthused with their food, but I thought to give it another try.  Even sat at the same table all three times (hmmmm?).  Pam and Randy and I have been friends since I was probably 11 or 12 years old.  Yellowstone Park friends, Halsey Junior High and Forest Hills High School friends.  Randy and I even went to Brockport together (me for 4 years, Randy for 1 semester).  We had FUN, we LAUGHED, we REMINISCED and we totally enjoyed each other's company.  It was a great few hours and we need to do it more often, but NOT at (aged.).

The waiter sucked.  He disappeared for twenty minutes at a time (a few times), brought wrong drinks, didn't tell us that one of our appetizers was unavailable, until he brought over the other 2 we ordered.  Didn't smile, wasn't interested in our table at all, well not until the manager got involved!  Then he was solicitous and smiley, but you know me (and my friends are on the same page) TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

We ordered:  Mussels Luciano (Marinated artichokes, roasted tomatoes, gorgonzola & sweet shallots in white wine lemon sauce) VERY GOOD!  Baked Clams (Topped with roasted red pepper, spinach, breadcrumbs and beurre blanc sauce) VERY GOOD, if a bit salty and Keftedes (Zucchini pancakes, feta cheese with capers & sour cream sauce) which was the appetizer they did not have.  We did not replace it with another.

Then we ordered:  Caesar Salad (Romaine lettuce with classic caesar dressing, croutons & shaved parmesan garnished with adriatic white anchovies and marinated cherry tomatoes).  Part of my dinner along with French Onion Soup.  Salad was average, but tomatoes were really good.  Soup was, once again A BOWL OF SALT, cold cheese in a dark brown gravy.  We sent it back and a new one came out hot, but was no better to eat, so i didn't finish it.  Pam wanted the 22 oz. rib eye, but they were out of it (yes, we were in a steak house) so she had the Strip steak instead which came out practically raw, was sent back and the new steak Pam said was GREAT.  Randy had Filet Mignon which he liked a  lot.  On the side we had:  Weak mashed potatoes and pretty good sauteed mushrooms (whole, with garlic).  The manager gave us additional sides of mashed potatoes (still weak)and creamed spinach (YUCKY) for our troubles. Thanks!

They also gave us Creme Brulee as a complimentary dessert and that was DELICIOUS!

Randy tweeted about our experience, Pam put it on Facebook and here I am writing about it.  Please don't waste your time trying this restaurant.  Go out with your friends and have a good time!