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| Super Filet Mignon Cheeseburger at Slate Wine Bar + Bistro |
Leave it to me to visit Slate Wine Bar + Bistro twice, and not have a glass (or two) of wine. As a rule, I don't drink alcohol during daytime (apologies to Chef Danny Lledó) but I do eat hamburgers. Lucky for me, Chef Danny makes amazing burgers, including their pièce de résistance... the Super Filet Mignon Cheeseburger. What does a $20 burger (with fries) taste like? H-E-A-V-E-N on a plate.
It starts with great assembly. Chipotle mayo, crispy onion straws, Gruyere cheese (sans cheese for me) leafy lettuce and a thick slice of tomato, gently tucked inside a big, soft, brioche bun. Said bun is toasted (of course) and the meat, a delectable blend of black angus tenderloin and garlic/Porcini mushrooms, in honor of the The James Beard Foundation’s (JBF) Blended Burger Project™... to die for.
The burger is (as you'd imagine) super moist, despite being cooked a tiny bit past my requested MEDIUM. The flavor of the meat is plenty tasty on its own, but coupled with the crispy shallots (vs. caramelized onions in the regular Filet Mignon Cheeseburger) and the juicy tomato, the aforementioned Heaven on a plate. As if that wasn't good enough, the rest of the plate is packed with Slate's crispy, salty shoestring fries. They were great three years ago (click here to read review) but they're even better now. Ketchup? Why bother? I'd prefer even more fries. Goodness, am I greedy or what?
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| Shrimp Taco |
Atmosphere (in the back of the dining room) is just the way I like it, cool and quiet. That's what happens when you schedule a late lunch (after 2.) But if you're normal (and like to be around people) fear not, Slate's bar is full of diners/drinkers, even in the middle of a weekday afternoon. The music is terrific (40 Thieves/Qzen, Parov Stelar) and service, friendly and very attentive (I lost count of water refills, after half-a-dozen.)
One more thing, Tuesdays are Taco Tuesday. Individual tacos (big soft ones) are only $3 a pop, and rival nearby Surfside for taste & value (FYI, Surfside makes a mean taco, one of our favorites.) I chose Shrimp (plump with a wonderful citrus/salsa marinade) over Fish and Pork, but I imagine you can't go wrong with either one. Rest assured, I'll be back next Tuesday to make sure. Hopefully, Taco Tuesday is an every week event. Who knows, maybe I'll stop by in the evening, so I can (finally) order a glass of wine (or two.) And dessert...
