An oasis of comfort food done with exceptional skill. This establishment exhibited fine-dining quality with a casual and friendly vibe. Located at 331 Hartz Avenue, the outside patio was just off the pedestrian-friendly street and the knowledgeable and helpful staff made for confident ordering. The squashy leather-bound booth seats were easy to sink into and the entire experience was paced well, and overall, very pleasant.
http://www.revelkitchenandbar.com
Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.
Miyagi Oysters. From the waters off California, these were mild with a hint of brine and finished sweet. The accouterments of a sweet horseradish ketchup and tangy onion and fresh herb vinegar gave just the right amount of seasoning to an already delicious mouthful.
Mary's Natural Chicken Wings. A spicy Calabrian Chile glaze coated these crispy morsels. The blue cheese aioli had the right amount of funk, but the creaminess of it balanced out the vinegar, spice and finger-licking juice of the chicken.
Mediterranean Local Lamb Sliders. Four bites of juicy lamb were encased in a challah roll. The enhancements of feta cheese, cucumber yogurt sauce, fresh arugula, and tomato brought it all together. The hand-cut Kennebec fries were crunchy and had that distinctive texture that lets you know its Kennebec.
Fried Mary's Chicken Breast & Buttermilk Biscuit Sliders. The cutest golf-ball sized biscuits did not detract from how buttery and flakey they were. The fried chicken was crispy and juicy. The addition of red pepper jelly, cheddar cheese, and garlic aioli made each bite perfectly delicious. The palate-cleansing fresh and crisp Napa cabbage slaw with a sweet sesame dressing was very enjoyable and the Kennebec potato chips were crunchy and satisfying.
Butterscotch Pudding. This was a soft pudding, gently sweetened with that nutty, toasty taste of butterscotch. The salted caramel covered the top, creating a visually pleasing layer that was runny enough to coat the tongue rather than stick to the teeth. The fresh whipped cream brought it all together and the chocolate shortbread cookie gave it just the right amount of texture.
As a restaurant that is close to the Saturday farmer's market, this might be a welcomed destination after a morning of shopping. I look forward to my next visit so I can try the other tasty-sounding menu items.
