Every once in a while, the man and I enjoy dinner on the town.  This past weekend, after the executive decision was made that I would have to run a half marathon another day (Side note: I feel a little like a 90-year-old because I’ve been having issues with my hip … it hurts!) we decided to have a date night.

We took Lucy Lou for a nice hike at Valley Green (she loves running off the leash and Valley Green has a doggy paradise) in the morning and then headed downtown to meander.  I had to stop in at work and afterwards, we just enjoyed the city on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

And then we hit up an amazing restaurant for dinner.  We went early (further cementing my 90-year-old status) but on the plus side, we got great service at a busy restaurant on a Saturday night, and we got home before Lucy decided to disown us as terrible doggy parents.

We arrived shortly after the restaurant opened, and while perusing the wine list, discovered our favorite local vineyard (previously only featured at one restaurant -now closed- in Chicago, Charlie Trotters).  Then we made the executive decision to do the Chef’s Tasting Menu.

Delish.

I won’t go into detail about each course ( two amuse-bouche, four full courses, a cheese course, dessert and a final bite) ~ but it was an incredible and worthwhile experience.

I will say that I loved the autumn spaetzel and New York Game Hen (the fourth course), the ridic Fois Gras Tart and Cranberry Compote (first full course) and the Sweet Pignoli Cookies with lemon curd perhaps a little more than the rest.  But what an experience.  Our server was equal parts friendly conversationalist and informed foodie (side note: I actually hate that word but use it here with much respect for her knowledge and enthusiasm).  We received a complimentary glass of bubbles for our Tasting Menu order as well as granola to bring home and had an incredible dinner.  I could wax poetic about it for paragraphs but I feel as though that would be extremely excessive.

Something else that was impressive to me ~ the cheese course, which consisted of three Pennsylvania cheeses, one New York and one Virginia.  Pretty locally awesome.  Loved it.

A detail that also made my heart swell?  The quote at the bottom of the menu ~ by George Eliot (considered one of the most prominent writers of the Victorian Era).