Finally, this week, I get to write about a dinner meal that I had. My husband and I, and a work colleague of the husband, all trooped down from campus to “Just a Taste,” which is located just off the Commons. I had been looking forward to trying this restaurant out, as I walk by it nearly everyday, but had never been able to go in. I hate to start off my review with a negative comment, but I have to. Just a Taste is only open for dinner! I was very disappointed when I first realized this. To me, tapas is also a great meal for lunch - not just dinner.
However, as the work colleague was willing to get out of Collegetown for some eats, we stopped by Just A Taste. We got there early - which is what I recommend you do as well. They do not take reservations and seating (at least inside) is incredibly small. Definitely not for the claustrophobic.
There are two things that you should know about this restaurant, in addition to their no reservation policy. First, they have a rotating menu. You can view a sample menu online, but there is no guarantee that any of the dishes on that sample will actually be served that evening. Second, they also tout themselves as a wine bar. I will have to disagree with them to a point. For me, a wine bar is for tasting new wines. While they do have a few flights, they do not have a lot of wines by the glass. I saw some very interesting wines on their menu that I would have loved to try, but they were only sold by the bottle and as I was eating with two teetotalers, I wasn’t about to get roaring drunk.
So, since we got there early, we were seated immediately and with a pretty good people watching view. The front of the restaurant is very small. I was told there was also a outdoor deck to seat customers at as well, however with the weather being hot and sticky for most of the summer, none of us thought sitting outside was a good idea.
To start us off, the three of us ordered their cheese plate. From what I understand, this changes from time to time, to highlight new cheeses. We had a delicious, if slightly salty, manchego cheese and another, softer cheese that I couldn’t remember the name of to save my life. Served with jam, almonds, and toast points, it was a nice, if a little messy first course.
The boys both ordered the Cuban Soya Beef, and I ordered the Roasted New Potatoes, the Sauteed Brown Butter Squash, and the Grilled Asparagus. While I only had a bite of the beef, which was a little too rich for my tastes, the boys both zoomed through theirs, and made appropriate “yummy” noises.
The roasted new potatoes were excellent - very simple, very rustic. They sort of melted in your mouth. The squash was prepared in a way I’d not tried before, by sauteing in brown butter. I definitely plan on trying to recreate the dish. The last dish I tried were the grilled asparagus. I was disappointed when the dish arrived to find fat, green stalks. Although, when we went, it was after the season, so I’ll give that dish a pass. It would have been fantastic two months earlier.
All in all, the food was interesting, if rustic, and the idea of an every changing menu is very intriguing to me. I’m sure I’ll be back soon to try some new dishes. However, Just a Taste doesn’t muster up to my expectations of a wine bar, so I’m not sure I’d bring my wino friends with me.
However, as the work colleague was willing to get out of Collegetown for some eats, we stopped by Just A Taste. We got there early - which is what I recommend you do as well. They do not take reservations and seating (at least inside) is incredibly small. Definitely not for the claustrophobic.
There are two things that you should know about this restaurant, in addition to their no reservation policy. First, they have a rotating menu. You can view a sample menu online, but there is no guarantee that any of the dishes on that sample will actually be served that evening. Second, they also tout themselves as a wine bar. I will have to disagree with them to a point. For me, a wine bar is for tasting new wines. While they do have a few flights, they do not have a lot of wines by the glass. I saw some very interesting wines on their menu that I would have loved to try, but they were only sold by the bottle and as I was eating with two teetotalers, I wasn’t about to get roaring drunk.
So, since we got there early, we were seated immediately and with a pretty good people watching view. The front of the restaurant is very small. I was told there was also a outdoor deck to seat customers at as well, however with the weather being hot and sticky for most of the summer, none of us thought sitting outside was a good idea.
To start us off, the three of us ordered their cheese plate. From what I understand, this changes from time to time, to highlight new cheeses. We had a delicious, if slightly salty, manchego cheese and another, softer cheese that I couldn’t remember the name of to save my life. Served with jam, almonds, and toast points, it was a nice, if a little messy first course.
The boys both ordered the Cuban Soya Beef, and I ordered the Roasted New Potatoes, the Sauteed Brown Butter Squash, and the Grilled Asparagus. While I only had a bite of the beef, which was a little too rich for my tastes, the boys both zoomed through theirs, and made appropriate “yummy” noises.
The roasted new potatoes were excellent - very simple, very rustic. They sort of melted in your mouth. The squash was prepared in a way I’d not tried before, by sauteing in brown butter. I definitely plan on trying to recreate the dish. The last dish I tried were the grilled asparagus. I was disappointed when the dish arrived to find fat, green stalks. Although, when we went, it was after the season, so I’ll give that dish a pass. It would have been fantastic two months earlier.
All in all, the food was interesting, if rustic, and the idea of an every changing menu is very intriguing to me. I’m sure I’ll be back soon to try some new dishes. However, Just a Taste doesn’t muster up to my expectations of a wine bar, so I’m not sure I’d bring my wino friends with me.
You're right; a place can claim to have an extensive wine list, but to say the establishment is a wine bar means that's what they specialize in, and than any food served therein is related to said wine.
ReplyDelete/rant
Love reading your reviews! Have you thought about linking to them? Asking for their retort? May be a way to increase some traffic.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the excellent food descriptions --- I'm off to eat, sadly, not tapas.
Miss you --
www.LifeofJosieM.com