Dinner -- 04/04/08

135 Prime
1201 Hewitt Dr
Waco, TX 76712
254.666.3100

http://www.135prime.com/

6:30 - 8:15 PM

Ramona: Lombard Salad (spring greens, apples, pecans, bleu cheese, house dressing), 6 oz. Monroe filet, coffee

Jim: Caesar Romero salad, 16oz. Sir-Loin Oliver (center-cut sirloin), coffee

Shared: Shrimp Cocktail Astaire, Parmesean garlic mashed potatoes, Belgian chocolate cheese cake

Wines: Freixenet C. Negro Brut champagne 2005, J. Lohr Hilltop Vineyards Cabernet (2004)

When one is married to the most wonderful woman in the world, a fourth wedding anniversary deserves an ultra-special celebration. In planning such a dinner, time, place, and price are not a factor. We always celebrated our anniversary at the recently closed Northwood Inn, where we had our wedding dinner for family the night of 04/03/04. There was never a question that 135 Prime would become our new restaurant for this important occasion.

The ambience is quiet and serene, with low lights, Sinatra and friends playing softly in the background, exquisite table settings, and a competent, pleasant wait staff. Our thanks to Alen S. for help making this dinner a memorable experience.

We started with two glasses of the house champagne, and it was excellent. Bubbly always sets the mood for relaxation and prepares the palate for what is ahead. It also complimented the Shrimp Cocktail Astaire with three sauces. The shrimp were large and firm, and as the menu promised, sweet. The salads were crisp, fresh, and tasty. My Caesar Romero Salad was much better than the last two or three we have had at other local restaurants.

The wine was balanced, with a hint of spice, a great aroma, and a more than pleasing aftertaste.

Our steaks were perfectly cooked. We shared a bit of each others, and I have to admit, Ramona's filet was better than my sirloin. Quality or quality and quantity is always a tough decision when it comes to meat. We shared a side of pamesean garlic mashed potatoes. The sides are large and plenty for two people.

The dessert. The generous slice of Belgian chocolate cheese cake had two layers -- dark and milk chocolates, with a flower of shaved dark chocolate on top, drizzled with chocolate sauce. Yes, we do love chocolate.

Even the fresh brewed coffee was excellent, and Alen served us a complimentary half-glass of the champagne with a strawberry for closure.

135 Prime has made us forget Sullivan's in Dallas, now our second favorite steak house. This dinner is light-years ahead of anything else in Waco. We actually spent less than we did at Green Room Grill in January for a dinner that was, at best, mediocre. Not to say you should forget your wallet -- you will be washing dishes a long time if you do!

To enjoy a meal like this, it is better to ignore the numbers beside the dishes. Think only of the pleasure, sharing wonderful tastes with the most important person in the world.

Michaelangelo believed perfection was not possible in his art. On the left buttock of his renowned statue of David in Florence, Italy, a round, marshmallow-sized piece of marble protrudes from the smooth surface of this ultimate and magnificent work. Likewise, perfection, in my opinion, eludes 135 Prime because of the wine list. Not a single bottle of French wine is included. No Montrachet, no Margaux, not even the humble Pouilly-Fuisse. On our first visit, shortly after it opened, the owner visited our table and promised a fuller selection once his wine storage cabinet was completed. Here is hoping for a correction of this extremely minor deficit.

-Jim