Dinner -- 10/31/08

Chamberlain's Fish Market Grill
4525 Beltline Road
Dallas, TX 75001

972.503.3474

5:30 - 6:45 PM

http://www.chefchamberlain.com/

$$$$

Ramona: Lobster bisque, 1lb Maine Lobster, 8-oz. filet, mashed potatoes

Jim: Lobster bisque, 1lb Maine Lobster, 8-oz filet, mashed potatoes, coffee

Shared: Chateau Rolland-Maillet (French) 2005 (St. Emilion); Warm Chocolate Gateau

Ramona and I still needed to celebrate our 300th Saturday together while we were still in the 300th week. We also wanted to catch the last weekend of the Impressionist Masterpieces from the Art Institute of Chicago at the Kimball in Ft. Worth. Therefore, she decided to take Friday afternoon off so we could make a trip to the metroplex. We picked a good time, since the exhibit was not too crowded. Occasionally we had a minute or two wait for the crowd to clear from in front of some of the more spectacular paintings. We had seen most of these in Chicago a couple of years ago, and we are looking forward to another trip there next summer.

There are so many good restaurants to choose from in the metroplex, and it seems we go to Dallas much less frequently these days. Our primary reason for picking Chamberlain's Fish Market for this visit was that we had received an e-mail announcing a $25 steak and lobster dinner. That price included the steak and lobster, mashed potatoes, and bread and we figured that was a pretty good deal. Chamberlain's, along with its companion steakhouse, were two of our favorite haunts when Ramona lived in Addison. We have had many a fine dinner there.

The meal began with a delicious sourdough bread, fresh and warm, and a glass of wine. We each added a cup of the lobster bisque, which was served with a piece of garlic cheese bread and was excellent. The lobster was also very good, but we weren't too excited about the steak. It was better than some but not top notch. Jim theorized a special like this does not merit top grade prime filet mignon. Ramona enjoyed the mashed potatoes after she added some pepper, but Jim thought they were barely tepid. Jim also thought the gateau was dull and carboardy, although it tasted better if some of the chocolate sauce was scooped up with it.

St. Emilion is Jim's favorite Bordeaux, and since French wines are so rare on menus in Waco, we went with that, but we were mightily tempted by a bottle of Iron Horse Cabernet from California.

The server was competent and attentive, so no problems there, but next time we go to Chamberlain's we'll stick with their fish specialties. Nearby Sullivan's is still our first choice for steak.

-Jim and Ramona