. . . (regardless of how many different ways it appears on their menu) is on a side street in Carmel. Yes, I know ba.food should really be sfba.food but, since it isn't, I guess it's OK to say something about the Monterey Bay area just as it would likely be OK to say something about the Tampa or Coos or South or Chesapeake or Houston or any of the many other bays' areas.
Around seven on a Saturday evening, most places we passed were not only full but had considerable waits. We wanted to eat, dress for the evening, and be at the Regency before nine so were lucky enough to get the last seats in Toots (or Toot's or Toots') Lagoon.
The place is pleasant with a small, but very attractive, bar. In the
back is a battery of plants that are pleasant to look upon while performing their oxygenating function.
There are many paintings of varying quality. One of them struck me as
being the model for the set for "Picasso at the Lapin Agile".
I chose squid picata that was a steak so large and thick that I could
have easily mistaken it for octopus. It was nicely prepared and tender but had a texture that I can describe only as "powdery". I hope that makes some sense.
The vegetables looked overcooked but weren't: yellow squash, zucchini,
and asparagus. The baked potato was a baked potato. No condiments, such as sour cream, were offered and the waitron was so busy that I let it slide.
She had a Caesar [sic] salad topped with pieces of barbecued chicken.
She thought the salad to be good and the chicken better than usual.
We shared a glass of just-fine White Zinfandel.
The bread was nicely warm to the touch and even emitted a bit of steam
upon opening but the farthest interior parts were cold. I assume the bread had been warmed in a micro-oven.
The modest cost was a fair value.
Our server, however, left much to be desired. At the adjoining table, a mistake had been made with an order. On serving another table of two, the dishes were mis-placed. Not once did we see our server smile but I do not want to say there wasn't reason because it appeared to us that the table assignment was too great and that virtually anyone in the same position would have had difficulty.
The helpful busser did smile, had pleasant things to say, and was of a
generally nice demeanor.
Do I recommend it? No, not really. However I don't dis-recommend it,
either. It's just fine.
[Since January 14, most of my posts have not gotten out via my
ISP, a fact that I learned January 24 when two people asked
me why I've been so quiet of late. I hope that this repost,
via DejaNews, might be of interest and is not a duplicate.]
Sun, 17 Jan 1999 23:42:37
Newsgroups: ba.food
Subject: Toots (or Toot's or Toots') Lagoon . . .
Icono Clast -- A San Franciscan posting from San FranciscoMonterey, CA