Category — restaurant review
Chimayo Restaurant review
Last night we went with my husband’s work mates to dinner at one of the top rated Park City restaurants, Chimayo. Now, we were not a large group, about 15 people – just ready for some amazing food after a day out on the slopes. Our bill was a number that is larger than most of you pay on your monthly mortgage by far, just to let you know. The entree’s range from $35 – $45 each. And a bottle of beer is $10.
We started with appetizers – Crab Empanada: Crab Meat, Pablano Chiles, Tomatoes, Onions and Queso Fresco. Served with Roasted Corn Avacado Salsa. These weren’t finished, not that great, and I found that most of the tables did not like the corn avocado salsa. Next appetizer was Goat Cheese and Mozzarella Chile Relleno With a Poblano Pumpkin Seed Pesto. Again, the sauce was not a hit, but the stuffed pepper was. Everyone loved that. Next we had Calamari: Dusted with Flour and Fresh Herbs. Served with Two Distinct Aiolis; Lime Cilantro and Lemon Chipotle. Again, the aiolis were not a big hit, and I have to say the Calamari… we’ve had better. I must say that I worked for a number of years with Gastronomy, and lived in Seattle for a number of years, so I do know what great calamari tastes like, this was not it. Finally we had the Queso Fundido: Manchego, Gruyére and Provolone Cheeses Melted Together and Served with House-Made Corn Chips and Jalapeño Peppers. Peppers, gone, corn chips, gone…. Fundidio, a little too hot, and way to awkward to pass around a group since the pot is like 10 pounds or something crazy. Save the fondue for The Melting Pot. And the chips in my opinion looked like many I’ve seen at Costco, very much not worth the price.
The only Merlot by the glass on the menu was not the greatest, nor was the Pinot Noir. The Rios Rojo was a nice fruity red wine and would really be the best selection based on the menu for those of you drinking a glass of wine.
Next – entrees.. here is just a few that came by our table.
Stuffed Breast of chicken “Nachos Grande Styleâ€�: Roasted Chicken Breast Filled with Chimayo’s Special Nachos. Served with Stuffed Avacado and Nacho Mashed Potatoes. The chicken was great, but the rest was not enough to make it work the crazy price on their entrees. And they have these crazy sticks in everything, that are like uncooked pasta – and really the dumbest thing I’ve seen a restaurant do to try to be avant garde. Someone has watched too many episodes of Top Chef, but not taken much away from it.
Kobe Beef with Papas Fritas especial: Brushed with a Tres Chiles and Negro Modelo Beer Demi Glace. Served with Creamy Spinach Tarta. Let’s just say that she would have rather had her husband’s salmon, and she ate more of her papas than her kobe. Enough said there.
Cumin-Coriander Dusted Lamb Roulade: Lamb Loin Stuffed with Southwestern Pesto, Goat Cheese, Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers. Served with a Bean and Grilled Zucchini Chimichanga. The lamb was a hit – but again this restaurant failed to come through with a fully amazing dish. The Bean and Grilled Zucchini Chimichanga was sub par to say the least.
Crown Roast of Barbecued Spareribs: Chipotle and Caramelized Pineapple Glaze, Ancho Chile Onion Rings, Buttermilk Whipped Potatoes and Zucchini-Corn Salpicon. Looks really cool! Seriously. And for the record probably the best item on the menu, minus the salpicon. The glaze was really great, and the onion rings perfect. With the presentation this is one to order when you come into Chimayo off the slopes.
London Broil of Elk: Seasoned with Toasted Black Peppercorns and Sesame Seeds. Accompanied with a Potato and Cheddar Quesadilla. Finished with a Green Chile Béarnaise. By far the best cooked meat of the night. And the Potato and Cheddar quesadilla is more like a potato ice cream, just smooth! This was another dish done right that I would recommend at this restaurant. The Elk was not gamey at all, and it was very tender and just seasoned perfect. The sesame seeds could be done without, but I guess it is their way of taking this presentation up, but the odd sticks on the potatoes was more then enough to be a weird presentation on it’s own.
Finally we have Grilled Buffalo Flank Steak: Topped with Wild Mushrooms and Served with Corn-Poblano Potato Gratin. Finished with a Red Chile Sauce. First let me say that our house eats a lot of Buffalo, and I’ve had far better. It was tough, and poorly cooked. I could tell that they didn’t let it rest enough before carving it up as well. I did not do the corn-pablano potato gratin because I am allergic to corn, instead I opted for the whipped sweet potatoes. And I can say that I believe my five year old could do a better job on creating better sweet potatoes than this staff did. It was sweet potatoes whipped with goat cheese and ginger, and it really wasn’t great. Seriously. It was like the newlywed’s first attempt at Thanksgiving dinner – and the mother-in-law says, “Oh those were so great dear…”wink wink.
For dessert the ginger cake was great, and the popsicles are amazing – but you get three of them, not just one so be prepared to share. The pie… well, pass on it. The espresso was okay, but just putting brown sugar on a spoon for the espresso isn’t nearly as innovative as you think.
Now the atmosphere is so so. They spent a lot of money on cool glasses and the walls, and then bought the drapes they use to separate everything from Ross Dress For Less. Not kidding, ugly and low quality. The track lighting in the basement, also very cheap, and not placed well at all. You have to wonder if anyone here has the guts to be honest with the money behind this group because someone should. They need to revamp the menu and they need to change a few things about appearances.
With all of that being said, we all had fun, the kids were a little bored, of course. But here is the real kicker. After spending that much money – just the entree pricing was about $800 before drinks, desserts, appetizers and 20% tip. The leader of the this group lives in Boston, so it was a fun catch up, right? So here comes the manager — “I just wanted to see how long you guys were going to be. We have a table of 15 that has been waiting for a long time and want to give them an update on how long before you are leaving.”… Excuse me??? We just dropped how much money in your restaurant, and you are politely asking us to get out? Poor service. In all of my years of restaurant management I never asked a party how much longer they were going to be. NEVER! Bad call. There was lots of money at that table, and I know 15 people that won’t be back to this restaurant, or any of the others that they own.
My call for you, don’t waste your time going to Chimayo. The locals seem to love the Green Pipian seared Trout Fajitas – but I think you’ll find better quality food at Chez Betty for a similar price point. For just okay food you might as well go on to Squatter’s Roadhouse Grill for a better atmosphere and a far better price.
February 25, 2011 No Comments
