Orange Glazed Crispy Sole at Session Bistro in Maywood. |
I really can't fault the food and service at Session Bistro in Maywood, but how does a restaurant run out of seltzer?
On
Friday night, I had a satisfying seafood dinner at the small BYO by the
tracks, washed down with a nice Italian red wine I brought from home.
But
it wasn't until after I had purchased a $25 Restaurant.com dining
certificate for $10 that I saw "special instructions" on the printout. I would have to spend a total of $35
and an 18% gratuity would be added before my discount.
Family away
My
family was away for a three-day weekend and I couldn't persuade a
friend to join me, so I went alone, hoping I could find an appetizer,
salad and entree to reach the $35 threshold.
Session
calls itself a fusion restaurant, but it has a hard time filling what
was once an Italian deli, judging from my visit for dinner on Friday
night and a breakfast there on Jan. 27, when a friend and I were the
only customers.
For
dinner, the tables are covered with white cloths, but
industrial-looking electrical sockets are visible high on one wall. At
breakfast, I noticed some of the drop-ceiling tiles were discolored.
Table for one
Table for one
Although
there were empty tables for four on Friday, the host insisted I sit at a
table for two next to a bar, with the register and telephone only
inches away from the right side of my head.
I
started with an appetizer from the specials read to me by the waiter,
Grilled Baby Octopus with Arugula and White-Bean Puree for $9.95. The
tender octopus was delicious and perfectly grilled.
When I asked the waiter for seltzer, he said it had run out. I drank water, in addition to my wine.
Soup had meat
Soup had meat
The
waiter said soup or organic salad came with entrees, but I told him I
wasn't eating meat, so he said I'd have to have the salad.
The
small bowl of greens, blue cheese, diced cucumber and refrigerated
grape tomato was dressed with a French vinaigrette the chef made. Very
nice.
My
entree was a tasty Orange Glazed Crispy Sole, served over rice, for
$17.95. The waiter said the kitchen didn't have brown rice, but offered
me a sweet potato puree instead.
Tempura of fish
Tempura of fish
The
large, moist fillet was prepared in the style of tempura, with what I
felt was too much batter, and served over the sweet potato puree and
Chinese broccoli. The pleasant orange-chili glaze contained fresh
citrus.
I was pleasantly full, but short of the $35 minimum, so I ordered another octopus appetizer, which I like as much as the first.
My
food bill was $37.85 with a $25 discount. Tax was 90 cents, and no 18%
gratuity had been added. I left a $6 tip. American Express credit cards
aren't accepted there.
I
won't be buying any more Restaurant.com certificates. I prefer vouchers
from Groupon or Living Social, which have no minimum spending above the
total value of the vouchers.
I've found Travelzoo vouchers exaggerate the total value of the deals.
Session Bistro, 245 Maywood Ave., Maywood; 201-880-7810.
BYO. Parking in lot.
Web site: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
I am the chef at Session Bistro and I would like to thank you for dining at our establishment. I will make note of your comment, particularly about the seltzer. I apologize that we had run out; that should absolutely never happen. I hope the rest of your visit was enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. You turn out some great dishes, so the dining room is where you can improve Session Bistro. Cheers.
ReplyDelete