5-21-15, Editor’s Note: The Dish is hanging up the towel.
June 2012 – Last weekend Ms. Karen & I had the pleasure of dining with 3 other couples at The Dish. These are folks we used to play golf with once a month, but since some of us don’t golf anymore, we meet monthly for dinner and now they all help me write restaurant reviews.
One couple had dined at The Dish ages ago, but this establishment was new to the rest of us. I was told that it was a small restaurant, but I quickly found out that “small” is an over-statement. For those of you who have never been there, The Dish is just a tiny back area in the Rumrunner, a wine, spirits, & deli place just off Speedway & Country Club on 1st Street. It may have 10 small tables tucked into various nooks and crannies.
For us, they had pushed together 4 of these little tables and it was clear that we would be the largest party that evening. All that said, the ambiance was pleasant and didn’t feel crowded at all.
The RumRunner has a very good selection of wines as well as gift baskets full of gourmet cheeses, crackers, nuts, fruits, truffles & other goodies. I hear that at Christmas the place is packed with shoppers looking for that perfect gift. Later this year, I may be one of them.
I did meet Tom Smith, one of the owners, and asked how competitive his pricing is compared to the big box stores like BevMo & Total Wines. With a certain amount of pride, Tom said he is very competitive. Later, when I compared prices for a couple of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, they were the same price I pay at Total Wines.
Noel was our waiter. I asked about ordering a bottle of wine from the store and he explained that we could have any wine in the store, but that there would be a $12 corkage fee per bottle. David thought that was reasonable, so we ordered a couple of different wines.
Noel seemed experienced so I described the kind of wine Ms. Karen & I like (white/dry, not sweet/fruity). He suggested a bottle of Chasing Venus Sauvignon Blanc. I must say…very good…at least as good as another of our favorites, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. We have yet to have a mediocre New Zealand wine. Most from Chile & Argentina are very good as well.
David ordered a German Riesling and declared it “excellent”. His lovely ordered the half lobster with roasted garlic flan & eureka lemon butter which she told me later was quite good, cooked perfectly. David had the ribeye and, knowing I have been searching for a restaurant that had a better ribeye than I can BBQ at home, he gave me a taste after saying it was good but not great.
I begged to differ. Medium rare, juicy, flavorful with an excellent cabernet demi glace. I need to ask Tom if he sells it. Delicious! Ms. Karen also got a taste of David’s ribeye and said it was excellent. Same steak, different opinions.
Ms. Karen ordered the halibut and said the sauce was very good but the fish was a bit dry, not fresh. Gary had pork chops with cauliflower & ivory lentil gratin, wilted spinach, walnut & tart cherry juice and thought it was very good. Gini ordered the poached salmon and seemed pleased. It came with chanterelle mushrooms, wild rice, green beans, roasted onion & parsley butter.
Rob had the halibut and a large bowl of soup. I can’t recall what the soup of the day was but Rob all but licking the bottom of the bowl. I took that as a sign it was more than satisfactory.
Sue had the mussel and beet salad and thought it most tasty. I had the Moulard Duck with peppercorn crust, braised red cabbage, crispy potato, blackberry sauce. I was surprised to be disappointed… the duck itself didn’t have much flavor.
Noel cleared our table as soon as we finished our dinners and I was thinking that I could give service high marks. We poured some more wine and settled into after dinner conversation, enjoying each other company as we always had. And then it happened.
Noel, seeing us relaxed and enjoying the evening came over to tell us that we had only 40 more minutes before the next patrons had our tables. Well, I can tell you, that was a conversation-stopper. No longer relaxed, we felt hurried and, after dropping around $500, somewhat under-appreciated.
To quote Gini: “The more I think about the repeated “we’re going to need this table later” the more I think 3 Saguaros is better. 4 bottles of wine, eight dinners, 4 glasses of wine and they need the table for later? What, we didn’t spend enough? This ain’t New York.”
So, what can I tell you? Some of our dinners were quite good, others a bit disappointing. And while the service was excellent until we seemed to dawdle a little too long, I have to give The Dish a mixed review: 3.5 Saguaros.
For a review of the Dish’s Steaks see our review of Dish’s Steaks here.
The Dish Bistro
3131 E 1st St Tucson
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