"I don't know, let me check." :scrolls through Droid: "Yeah, a pretty extensive one, actually."
"Sweet. Okay. Let's check it out."
We were celebrating. It was 5:45ish on a Tuesday, not 7 o'clock on a Friday. Another family with children came in right behind us. The staff was beautifully accommodating, putting the girls' order in first, moderating water amounts, bringing out special cups and straws. Sure, I nursed Dina in the restaurant. Sure, they were both seen and heard, though not loudly. And we took them outside once they'd eaten their way through their meal and were getting antsy. But, despite all this, if a kitchen gets your kids food out in about 15 minutes, and 45 minutes in, you still don't have the adult entrees, do you give them a good review? Ah, Garlic Lover's Corner, I wish you'd make it easier for me to make up my mind.
Maybe it is our fault. We knowingly brought our children to a restaurant whose dinner entrees run between $17 and $25. But they list Children's Menu as a whole separate link on their website! And the portions on their kids menu were incredible, as was the speed at which they reached the table.
The Children's Chicken Kabob at $9 was seasoned beautifully with cinnamon and Mediterranean spices, the chicken itself was juicy, perfectly cooked. The rice was well seasoned and well cooked. Even the veggies had crunch, with enough garlic to live up to the restaurant's name. And the french fries! Perfect crunch, not greasy, I wanted to transport them over to a place filled with aioli and call it a day.Even with HALF of the food removed, the Chicken Kabob was an adult size portion for Dave or I to make a meal of. Which we did as we waited for our entrees. And waited and waited.
We did order an appetizer. Maybe that caused the delay. Humus, just the way I like it, with enough tahini and enough garlic, but not so much that it overwhelms the chickpeas, turning the dish bitter. The cinnamon dusted over the top was an addition I'd never seen before, complimenting the dish perfectly. Even the pita was good: fresh, warm and turned into garlic 'bread.' But still no entrees. And our children were going to sit like this...
...for just so long. Eventually, Dave corralled them outside, when it became clear that running could no longer be avoided, and that the seeing in the "seen and not heard" maxim was soon going to be completely overwhelmed by the hearing. In other words, their cuteness factor was quickly being eclipsed by their annoying quotient. Plus, we were moving in to the late dinner crowd, which is decidedly less kid friendly.
Because it was 7 o'clock. And our salads were just arriving at the table.
I asked for our entrees to go, as I ate my salad in the momentary peace of my children leaving the restaurant (not that they were loud - I'm talking in "getting to eat by myself for once" terms). The Cucumber-Garlic Vinaigrette was lovely, as were the fresh greens, the salty kalamata, the fresh cucumber, the crisp, cold tomato....
Wait, what? A crisp, cold BEEFSTEAK tomato? In AUGUST? In LATE August? When I am get 3/4 bushels of beautifully ripe Roma and Heirloom tomatoes at the height of the season, picking them up just a five minute drive away from this kitchen and they're serving.... Sigh.
We brought our entrees home. They were large portions, pleasantly seasoned. Even with the travel, the pasta was perfectly cooked, and mine was cappelini to boot. With two kids meals, a side of fries, a humus appetizer and two adult entrees, our bill, sans tip, came to $68.
I think Garlic Lover's Corner is worth another shot. The flavors are good, the staff is pleasant and accommodating, the atmosphere is lovely. Next time, though, if I promise to get a babysitter, can I skip the free salad with the cold tomato and just get my entree in less than 45 minutes?
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