I cut my steak teeth on The Palm and the Palm Too in NYC and The Palm in DC -- even enjoyed the Dallas outpost on several occasions in another life. Not tonight.
The positive: the Caesar salad was as good as any I've had (and I make a mean Caesar myself). The blizzard of romano or parmesean in the dressing clearly is the key.
The average: the wine list is unspectacular except in the mark-up. For summer, we stock the Chalone Chardonnay at home for about $21/btl. It was on "summer special" for $56. That mark-up is just not necessary. We chose red, and our waiter brought the 2004, not the 2003 Conn Creek cab that was listed, acting surprised that we noticed, as though one would pay the same price for two very different vintages. He returned, unapologetically, with the correct bottle and it was excellent.
Two of the three prime filet mignons consumed at our table had robust streaks of gristle in them that made it a bit tough - no pun intended - to navigate even with the gargantuan knives we were supplied. The broiled halibut was overcooked by several minutes, losing any juice or flavor it might otherwise have had. The steamed broccoli was perfectly tastless, the creamed spinach embarrassingly bland and the so-called hand-cut french fries so ordinary as to make one yearn for Chili's.
The cheesecake was as good as you might buy at Tom Thumb.
The service was slow, way beyond fashionable. I finally perched my Amex card on the corner of the table where it sat for a good 10 minutes before any of the waiters or management walking by took the hint and relieved us of an excessive amount of money for a really very average meal.
Alas, I miss The Palm of my youth. I took my daughters so this might be their introduction to the pleasures I've had in NYC and DC and, formerly, in Dallas. . In all, too bad. And, I won't even mention how bad the caricatures are, but I dare someone to actually name John McEnroe from looking at his "likeness" and not the name.
Pros: Valet Parking, Caesar Salad
Cons: The steaks, the seafood and the caricatures
Posted 08/15/07