Should I expect good wine service when I am ordering a $50 steak?

Why, yes, I should.

We had delicious filets. The salad and sides were more than satisfactory. The timing of the presented food was spot on. Our bus person was prompt and courteous.

But I left extremely tweaked over this bottle of wine while dining at Buckhead's.

A nice Bordeaux. Not the most expensive item on the list; not the cheapest either. Our waiter opened the bottle and presented without a hitch. And then we never saw him again until it was time for dessert/coffee. I was forking over $50 for a hunk of beef and I could not get decent wine service?? I want to support local restaurants, but the upscale chain steakhouses have the service bit nailed. Sadly, Buckhead's did not demonstrate this concept when we dined. Maybe I have to order a $200 bottle? Is there a wine service monetary threshold?

Many years ago before I even started this blog we dined at Buckhead's and the waiter then attempted to steer me towards a wine that I already knew I did not like. He assumed I knew zilch and thought I was taking too much time perusing the multi-paged list. And the evening spiraled from there. We forgot about Buckhead's for a long time. When we finally returned we still experienced wine issues.

At least our waiter did not lay some wine BS on us like he did at a neighboring table.

Bottom line - if I have to pour my own wine, I want my meal to be comparably priced.

Drool-worthy Dixie Donuts

Always a yummy indulgence - Dixie Donuts.

A vanilla cake donut with pineapple icing (and red sprinkles). Mmmm...

Burger Time at The Betty on Davis

The Betty on Davis offers burger specials on a regular basis. They even have a contest for the special burger on Mondays right now.

I indulged in a Patty Melt with bacon, caramelized onions, and Swiss on grilled Texas toast.

A delicious combination for my tastes. Of course, the bacon is always a favorite, but the onions added that over the top touch.  And the size ensures that you will not leave hungry.

The burger came with a choice of side. I chose the fries. Next time I might try the warm German potato salad. The fries were tired and limp. I brought most of them home and reheated the next evening attempting a revival with minimum success.

So, enjoy the cozy atmosphere at The Betty while chowing down on their creative burgers. Consider ordering non-traditional side.

New Year's Eve at Tastebuds American Bistro

New Year's Eve at Tastebuds Americn Bistro always is a good time. Here are a few reasons:

• Gracious owners and staff - Andrew even sported a Happy New Year necklace
• Fabulous patrons - we all arrived in packs of two, but quickly scrunched up tables to celebrate together. Bow ties and sparkles graced the group.
• Cherry Manhattans (with real cherries!)
• Reasonably-priced wine
• Delicious four course meal
• A sparkling toast
• Walking home just in time to see the New Year arrive

A few photos of the meal:

Ancient Peaks Merlot from Paso Robles

Lemongrass Poached Shrimp

Mixed Green Salad with Roasted Red Peppers, Shaved Fennel, and Parmesean

Beef Filet Topped with Fresh Mozzarella and Mushroom Pate and Served with Fingerling Potatoes and Asparagus Sauteed in Duck Fat

Chocolate Torte with Vanilla Ice Cream, Candied Citrus Peel, and a Sherry Sauce

Make a resolution to visit Tastebuds American Bistro in 2015!

A Toast to Lunch

We recently went to Toast for lunch. First time. I really liked the welcome sign (although I did not imbibe any of the tempting whiskeys - next time).

Lots of options at Toast

The place was packed so we sat at the bar.

Tempting Whiskeys

Hubby had a salad and I ate a sandwich.

Smoked Gouda Chef Salad with Turkey, Egg, and Bacon

Turkey Avocado with Muenster on Wheat

While both were simple, they were delicious and satisfied some formerly unknown craving that we had. Hubby enjoyed the smokey Gouda and bacon. The herbed mayo and guac on my sandwich was both creamy and tangy. And I could order mashed potatoes as a side instead of fries. Right on!