Caesar's Ristorante Italiano

This week, we discovered that we have visited to a number of restaurants that begin with the letter C. We were almost ready to give up and go to Captain D's when Tracy took out the phone book and flipped the restaurants section of The Yellow Pages. Caesar's Ristorante Italiano was was the first "C" on the list. After settling on that, we received a tweet recommending it as well so we thought it would be a safe bet. We had heard great things about their lunch buffet but hadn't heard anything about dinner so we were excited to explore new territories.

If you didn't know it was there, you would miss it. Caesar's is tucked into the corner of a strip mall on White Bridge Rd. right by Target. It is hardly visible from the road so you pretty much have to know where you're going to get there.

As we walked up to the restaurant, we were greeted with a neon sign and outdoor speakers playing classic Italian music. Then, walking in felt as if we crossed the ocean into Italy. The smells of garlic, basil and tomato sauce led us to think that we were definitely in for an authentic Italian meal.

We were led to our table and started looking over the menu and wine list. We quickly noticed that there were separate bottle and by the glass menus. While the bottle menu listed vineyards, the by the glass menu just listed varietals (type of grape). In addition, each glass was the same price ($5.95). Not feeling up to the task of drinking a whole bottle of wine, we asked the waiter to explain the by the glass menu to us. He explained that each of the by the glass wines come from a Franzia box. Don't get us wrong, we are recent college graduates and are not at all above drinking boxed wine, but paying $6 for a glass that comes from a $10 box is not economical. We opted for water.

As per usual, we decided to go family style and order a few dishes to share. We always find ourselves unable to fight the urge to order calamari whenever we see it on the menu, so ordering that was a given ($6.95). Next, Ben saw the mozzarella alla caprese (8.95), imported buffalo mozzarella, sliced tomatoes and fresh basil seasoned with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. He chose that as our second dish. Finally, we chose the petto di pollo alla marsala, or chicken marsala ($13.95).

First to arrive was the caprese, which was hands down the best part of the meal. It must be noted that the couple at the table next to us asked the waiter if it was our dessert because the mozzerella halves were so big that they looked like scoops of ice cream. All the elements of a traditional caprese were accounted for: mozzerella, tomatoes, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. However, this particular salad was laid on top of a bed of salad lettuce giving it a bit of a homemade twist. It reminded us of something you might prepare in your own kitchen. The dressing also had a homemade quality. It was a bit more tangy than your standard vinaigrette and it had an unexpected bite that made our cheeks pucker.... in a good way. We also were served a few rolls, slathered in garlic butter to accompany to meal.

Shortly thereafter, our calamari arrived. It wasn't anything too special. Being the calamari connoisseurs that were are, we're use to having each restaurant deliver their own version of the popular starter. This could have come from any restaurant in town and, quite honestly, could've been store bought.

When our entree arrived, the kitchen was kind enough to split the chicken marsala on to two different plates. The mushrooms were fresh and plentiful, but that's about where the complements end. While Ben thought the marsala sauce was "tasty," it was not nearly thick or creamy enough. Plus, the cut of chicken was thin and overall the dish was disappointing.

For dessert, we ordered spumoni, a classic Italian ice cream with a combination of chocolate, cherry and pistachio flavors. Bits of cherry and pistachio were scattered throughout, which offered some good texture differences.

As a whole, the experience was average. The atmosphere was homey, but the food was less that impressive. Friends have advised us that the pizza here is good, so a trip back to try it out may be in order once we make it through "Z."

Pros:

Caprese salad

Italian theme

Cons:

Wines by the glass

Average cuisine

Price: $$

Location: Tucked away, but easily accessible

Food quality: average, but included definite highs and lows

Drink quality: As mentioned, wine by the glass selection was disappointing, but bottle selections offered enough options

Service: You may notice the absence of a server from our description. That's because he was equally absent from our experience. He was there for the high points, but not much else.

Ambiance: The feel of a classic Italian joint will make you feel at home. The music was an integral part of the evening, with not only Italian selections but also The Beetles, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles and, best of all, the chicken dance. Let Tracy demonstrate...

Join us for "D" next time!

Batter’d and Fried

Our second adventure took us across the Cumberland River to the historic East End of our city. While we rarely visit the unfamiliar Five Points area, the legend of its laid back and eclectic atmosphere always proves to be intriguing.

Tonight’s choice: Batter’d and Fried. The restaurant coins itself as an authentic Boston seafood restaurant with a sushi bar on the side.

As we arrived, the area was alive and the numerous restaurants and bars must have all been busy because finding parking was a challenge, but we didn’t let that ruin our appetite.

When we walked in the front door, the hostess greeted us and offered our choice of indoor or outdoor seating. Even though the crowded patio would’ve provided a lively environment for our dinner, we opted for a more quiet experience inside and next to the sushi bar. The Boston Red Sox décor all over the walls made it obvious and pretty much impossible to forget that we were in Boston territory…. Tracy, having been born and raised a Yankees fan, tolerated it for the sake of the meal.

The expansive menu left no stone unturned. In addition to a variety of fried fish, seafood and sushi, the menu offered various salads, pasta dishes and sandwiches. So if seafood isn’t your thing, don’t worry, you have some other options.

With so many options, we each found it impossible to choose just one dish, so we decided to go family style (a common occurrence when we get together). We started off ordering the Boston clam chowder ($2.75 cup) because, why wouldn’t you at a Boston themed restaurant? And keeping with the Boston theme, Ben also ordered a Sam Adams Boston lager on draft. It came in one of those weird glasses that have recently made appearances in Sam Adams commercials. While they’re a bit gimmicky, Ben thought they contoured nicely to the lip. For the main course, we opted for the seafood platter ($16.99) and a Red Dragon sushi roll ($13.29).

On top of that, we also decided to take a walk on the wild side and ordered a couple oyster shooters. They came in a small martini glass, instead of the customary shot glass, making it difficult to “shoot” them. But we didn’t mind.

Soon the clam chowder arrived. Being in Nashville, we were glad to see that this sometimes watered down soup was creamy and thick, true to the Boston style. Each spoonful offered a bit of sweet clam and potato goodness and would’ve kept us warm during a cold Northern winter. We found ourselves scraping the bottom of the cup, wishing we had ordered the bowl. It was a great way to kick off the meal.

But before we could get too attached, our attention was brought to the steaming seafood platter set in front of us. Deep fried shrimp, clams, cod and “oysters” sat on top of a bed of seasoned French fries. Accompanied by tarter sauce, cocktail sauce and cole slaw. We say “oysters” because that’s what we were SUPPOSED to get, but instead we received a helping of fried sea scallops. Ironically enough, they were our favorite part of the dish. Overall, the platter was what fried seafood should be. The cornmeal-based breading was crisp, but not overbearing. And the food wasn’t overly greasy. Our least favorite part of the dish was the cole slaw. We found it too heavy and not as refreshing as we would liked.

Before we could make much of a dent in the seafood platter, our Red Dragon roll was brought out. The hefty roll was filled with spicy tuna, avocado and unagi inside, had unagi and tuna outside, and was topped with tobiko (flying fish roe) and unagi sauce. The use of unagi, rather than the English translation “eel,” was a good move as the thought of eating the animal might deter the unadventurous eater. Of course, we had no problem digging in.

The roll presented several complex flavors and textures without one overwhelming another. The sauces had a bit of sweetness, the avocado was a creamy and the spice from the tuna left you with a slight (and pleasant) after burn.

To finish off the meal, we went with the Brownie Decadence ($4.99). This was a massive fudge brownie, served warm and topped with chocolate sauce, vanilla bean ice cream and toasted walnuts. We were REALLY hoping for some Boston cream pie, but unfortunately it wasn’t an option.

The experience as a whole was very, well, Boston. The casual atmosphere combined with tons of food choices makes this a place we’ll be destined to revisit. It’s affordable enough to be part of the regular rotation. All we need to do now is get us some Sox gear for the next time we visit!

Pros:
Thick and creamy clam chowder
Attentive but relaxed service
Boston atmosphere

Cons:
Parking
Mixed up item on platter (which turned out to be a pro!)
Oyster shooters weren’t, well, shootable

Price: $$
Location: In the hustle and bustle of Five Points
Food quality: The best slice of Boston you’ll taste in the South
Drink Quality: Good selection with several Boston-themed cocktails
Service: Attentive and easy going
Ambiance: Casual and fun, unless you’re a Yankees fan. Great for a night out with a small group of friends

We'll "C" you later!

The Acorn

Last night, we officially started our alphabedible adventure at The Acorn restaurant—a classy, but laid back, eatery rich with Southern hospitality and heritage at the edge of Centennial Park on West End Avenue.

As we walked past the fountain and garden in front of the freestanding home-like structure and into the front door, it was obvious we were in for a treat. We were warmly greeted by our hostess, who asked our preference of indoor or outdoor seating. The night was cool with a slight breeze, so we choose the second floor patio after noticing several diners already enjoying an al fresco evening. Once we walked up the stairs—passing several colorful canvas paintings hung on the walls and two cozy bar areas—to the outside seating area, the hostess offered us the table of our choice.

The patio was simple yet gorgeous and had a view of West End Ave (while Ben noted that patio with a downtown view would make this the ultimate restaurant seating). The lights strung from the ceiling offered the perfect amount of illumination for the evening. We were immediately greeted by our waiter, who filled our glasses with water and waited nearby as we perused the weekly changing menu. His recommendation was the chorizo and potato crusted halibut, which he explained was their signature item that had been on their menu for six years. But when asked why he liked the dish our somewhat timid waiter he couldn’t give us a reason.... Our entrée decision-making continued.

Being the wine lovers that we are, we each started with a glass off the extensive list. Our choices for the night were the Lonely Cow Sauvignon Blanc (Tracy) and Montes Cabernet Sauvignon (Ben).

Despite not heeding the waiter on his first recommendation, we did take him up on his second—the calamari appetizer. The lightly breaded rings sat atop a “green goddess” dressing (a creamy/herby dipping sauce) and were sprinkled with salty nicoise olives and sweet peppadew peppers, which balanced each other out perfectly. Along with our appetizer, the waiter presented the most creative reuse of a cigar box we've seen. It was filled with warm slices of sourdough, a mini baguette and a raisin roll accompanied by butter and an olive oil/balsamic vinegar combination.

We sipped our wine and enjoyed our appetizer while we waited for our main course to arrive.

Tracy’s Order:

Grilled Filet of Beef

Toasted Sally Lunn Bread, roasted Mushrooms,

Bacon braised Onions, and sweet Garlic demi glace

Ben’s Order:

Grilled Sea Scallops

Baby Arugula Salad, roasted New Potatoes, and Sun-dried Tomato,

Pine Nut, and Sultana demi glace

Our dishes arrived and the presentation took our breath away. The filet was perfectly cooked and sandwiched between roasted mushrooms and demi glace-soaked bread. The scallop dish was equally beautiful, with four large, slightly spicy scallops arranged around potatoes that offered a contrasting texture. We hardly spoke while we devoured our meals but of course managed to ask each other for a taste. To say that we were impressed would be an understatement.

Soon it was time to order dessert. Everything looked delicious but we decided to go with Ben’s favorite dessert, Crème Brule. The classic dessert was served as usual with a torched sugar shell. It was definitely the most ordinary part of our meal. We were a little unhappy with the dish our dessert was served in. Our preference is that crème brulee to be served in a shallow dish (for a better crust to custard ratio), but this one was served in a deep ramekin. It tasted good, but it was nothing special.

Overall, The Acorn offered fantastic food, warm service in a quaint space. While you definitely get what you pay for (we spent just under $60 each with tax and tip), the younger crowd (i.e. those with less income such as ourselves!) might make The Acorn a “special occasion place instead of a regular staple. Guess that gives us something to work towards!

Pros: Patio, friendly staff, delicious entrees, new menu items at every visit

Cons: Awkward waiter, ordinary dessert

Price: $$$

Location: Prime space in the heart of Nashville

Food Quality: Excellent, fresh ingredients, creative presentation

Drink Quality: Extensive wine list and martini menu

Service: Great hostess, quirky but competent waiter

Ambiance: Great for a date or business dinner

Check back soon to find out what our B will be!

Welcome to our blog!

Hi there. If you're reading this, chances are you love food just as much as Tracy and me.

First off, let me tell you a little bit about who we are. My name is Ben and I've lived in Nashville since 2003. I've loved every second of it: the city, the people and especially the food. While I definitely consider myself an experienced Nashvillian, I feel like there are plenty of places (specifically in the local restaurant scene) I have yet to discover.

About four years ago, I met my soon-to-be best friend--Tracy. She shares my passion for food and we soon found ourselves going out to eat four nights a week.... But we were sucked into the black hole of chain restaurants.

We needed an escape and a little variety. Thus, Tracy and Ben's Alphabedible Adventure was born.

Here's the scoop: Tracy and I are going to visit a locally-owned restaurant in Nashville once a week that neither of us have visited before. The trick is that every week the restaurant has to begin with each subsequent letter of the alphabet, starting with "A" until we reach "Z."

How will we choose these restaurants, you ask? Some are restaurants that we have wanted to eat at, but just haven't gotten around to. Some we will spontaneously drive by and add to our list. Some we may find using a phone book. And some will be suggested to us by friends and hopefully, our readers!

Here is a rundown of how we will be rating each restaurant:

-Price

-Location

-Food Quality

-Drink Quality

-Service

-Ambiance

In some ways, this project is a hobby, but in other ways, we're hoping this helps us answer the question that always seems to stump us--"Where are we going for dinner?"

Regardless, hopefully by the end of this project we will have expanded our food horizons and encouraged you to visit some of the places we have.

We will begin our adventure tomorrow, September 2nd with our "A," The Acorn (located at 114 28th Avenue North). Stay tuned for our after dinner post and follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/alphabedible) for a play by play of our dining experience. Also, feel free to email us with any restaurant suggestions or comments of any nature (alphabedibleadventures@gmail.com).

Happy eating!