Fearing's

Well, we made it through Restaurant Week 2009! Our wallets are a little (okay, a lot) lighter and our tummies might be a little bigger, but it was so delicious we can't wait till next year!

Our first restaurant was Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton. Making reservations was interesting. The day the list of restaurants came out, I figured out our schedules, and started calling. Fearing's didn't even answer their phone the day the list came out, so I left a message. The next day, when I still hadn't heard back (and was still dealing with The French Room, that story coming later) I stuck J on them. He called and told them we wanted to make reservations, but they said they were completely full with all the voicemails from the day before and didn't have any room. He informed them I'd left a message. They didn't believe him at first, but eventually they came around and gave us a 5:30 pm spot. He can be rather persuasive at times, hehe. Anyway, they ended up calling back later that evening and asked if we could do 6:00 pm as they didn't actually open until then. I have no idea who he talked to the first time who thought they could give us a reservation before they open, but that's neither here nor there I guess.

We went with our foodie friends, C & L. C is a big time chef who has even been to culinary school! They both love eating out and trying new places, so we knew it'd be fun to go and hear their opinions.

We were seated immediately after our free valet parking. The room was very bright and airy. It kind of felt like we were sitting on a patio. The seats were couches with kind of low seating, so L and I both sat on the cushions like we were 12.

The restaurant and bar have an amazing feel, with each room being different than the other and really each providing it's own experience. The room we were in was very bright, almost like eating outside, but complete with huge chandeliers, elegant table cloths, and a very well dressed staff. Everything about this place lets you know you are eating in a very nice restaurant, but nothing uncomfortably. You can eat here and feel at home...just a very nice home!

I was super excited when I saw there wine special with the Restaurant Week menu. It was 8 dollars a glass for Anna Belle (could be misspelling that one) Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon or $30 for a bottle. We decided to split the Cabernet between the four of us. It was delicious and really refreshing to have a choice at that price point!

That last point by A was a great one, so pay attention here! I don't care much for red wine, A says I just haven't "matured" my pallet enough...in other words, my strong love for sweet tea and koolaid are killing my ability to enjoy a good wine! However, if you go, ask for this wine as I loved it, and again I am NOT a huge red wine fan.

Time for a quick segue....we started this blog because of a horrible experience during restaurant week. The whole point is to support two local charities AND provide an opportunity for local residents to try and support our local restaurants at a price that is more affordable for the average Dallas resident. So, when a restaurant signs it self up to participate and then treat you like you are beneath them because you are a Restaurant Weeker, it really makes us mad. So we were very cognizant of our treatment by this year's restaurants and were very pleasantly surprised with all three.

Anyway, back on track! They also had options to order in addition or instead of their menu for supplemental cost. For starters they had a Southwestern Cesar or Dean’s Tortilla Soup. Fearing's is famous for their Tomato Bisque, in fact he even sells it in the jar. L and J both ordered that, C ordered the Crispy Barbecued Bluepoint Oysters (was a little bit more with the supplemental) and I got the Southwestern Cesar. I was hoping it'd be a spicy Cesar, but it was more of a BBQ ranch. Before we got our salads, the waiter brought out an amuse bouche...a Sweet Corn Vichyssoise.

As for the Dean’s Tortilla Soup...it was OK, but not amazing. It all depends on your taste buds, but for me it was just a tad too citrus flavored. It ended with more of a tortilla soup flavor, but it was missing some crunch from the chips and was a little on the light side for me. That being said, the flavor was good, it just depends on what you are after here.

For entree choices, they had a Chili Braised Short Ribs with Queso Fresco Corn Whipped Potatoes and Crispy Tobacco Onions, a Mesquite Grilled Wild Salmon Glazed with Peach Barbecue Sauce-Black-Eyed Peas and Living Watercress Salad, and lastly a "Mopped” Chicken Breast with Anson Mills Polenta, Deviled Egg and Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon/Blue Cheese Dressing.

L, J and I ordered the Short Ribs and Casey got the Salmon. I would have loved to try some of the supplemental options like Maple-Black Peppercorn Soaked Buffalo Tenderloin but it was already going to be an expensive evening! J always orders Short Ribs and then I always wish I had ordered them, so tonight I went ahead and ordered them too. I was kind of disappointed. They weren't as tender as I was hoping, but I still liked them to eat the whole thing. I definitely liked the mashed potatoes underneath.

While I love A to death...I believe she misunderstood the awesomeness of the short ribs, as I looooved them. I similarly loved the mashed potatoes as well, you cannot go wrong with these!

We did order a side of mac and cheese as well. (We told ourselves it was for you guys reading this!) It was delicous! It was a six-year aged cheddar with mushrooms. Even J liked the mushrooms and that is saying a lot! Definitely order this one if you go.

I totally agree with A on the mach and cheese, it's a great add on and well worth the $8.

We rate Fearings a 5.0 out of 5 for the food and a 5.0 out of 5 for twenty somethings. This is a restaurant that is totally oblivious of age. The waiters and host staff were very attentive and treated our table without regard to age and did not treat us any differently than their normal guests, even though we were eating off a lower priced restaurant week menu.

Highlights:
- Mac & Cheese
- C recommends the Chicken Fried Maine Lobster

- Website has a bunch of his biggest dishes' recipes (but sadly not the mac and cheese)

- Rattlesnake Bar, we'd like to go back and check out their bar menu
- Great red wine, ask for Anna Belle Cabernet Sauvignon

www.fearingsrestaurant.com
2121 Mckinney Ave
Dallas, TX 75201-1873
(214) 922-4848