Saturday, January 31, 2009

Mealtime At Char No. 4

It took us awhile, but we did finally manage to get a cozy booth in a back corner.

Our Cozy Booth


Jim doesn't like to share the spotlight with the Mysterious Chinese Woman so I promised him his own head shot.

Post Office Wall Worthy


Actually, when I was a kid I tried to see if I could get some of those posters they used to put up in the Post Office. I thought they would be kind of cool to hang up in my bedroom. The post office didn't seem inclined to give any out though. Ah, but I digress.

They don't have an overly large menu here, but they do have some pretty neat stuff on it. We started out with an order of appetizers each.

A guy at the bar who recognized me from my blog and who I chatted with for a bit recommended the House Smoked Thick Cut Bacon with black-eyed peas, so that was kind of a no-brainer.

Umm, Bacon, Bacon, Bacon


It was everything bacon should be. Wonderful smoked flavor with a hint of sweetness. This is what you really want when you order two eggs and a side of bacon at your local diner.

We also had a chopped corned lamb, of all things. Never seen this before, but it was really good. I guess I am thinking breakfast because this would make a wonderful hash. Or just serve it the way it is with a couple of poached eggs on top.

Just Need The Eggs


Our last appetizer was Smoked & Fried Pork Nuggets with Char No. 4 Hot Sauce. Again, quite excellent. I don't know if they bottle and sell their hot sauce, but if they don't they should think about it. It was really very good.

Pork Nuggets And A Dipping Sauce


And on to the entrees. Maybe this is why I keep thinking about breakfast. The Mysterious Chinese Woman ordered the Shrimp and Grits. When I lived in Louisville I used to have grits for breakfast almost every morning. I really like them but am too lazy to make them for myself. And up north you usually just get the instant grits, not the same thing at all. These were the real deal though.

Shrimp And Grits


Nice big shrimp in there too.

Jim opted for the Smoked Honey Glazed Half Chicken with braised mustard. Not sure exactly what braised mustard is, but there was mustard, and the chicken was every bit as good as the ones I smoke myself. I might even say better, but you would have to torture me to get me to say that.

My Eyes Glazed Over, Honey, Looking At This Chicken


I, of course, am a sucker for hanger steak, so there was no way that I could pass up on Grilled Hanger Steak with crispy garlic potatoes and homemade BBQ sauce. Knowing that hanger steak is, by its nature, a bit of a tough cut, and having made the mistake of ordering it too rare in the past, I opted for medium. It came out perfect.

A Perfect Hanger, Plane And Simple


The potatoes dipped into the BBQ sauce were great as well. Not a one was left.

Well, after all that we had to go for dessert. They only had two on the menu so we didn't have to think too much.

Chocolate Cheesecake


This was served with blackberries and creme fraiche and was another great chocolate dessert derivative of the all pervasive warm chocolate brownie.

I was thinking pecan pie, but had to settle for for their Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream topped with bourbon.

Suitable For Children


I love butter pecan ice cream and this was one of the best I have ever had. Better even than Hagan Daz, and that is saying something. Of course the next time I buy Hagan Daz I will be sure to pour some bourbon over it. Hey, it worked for Travis Bickle and his breakfast cereal.

This is another place that I will be visiting again, and if you are in the neighborhood you should drop by as well.

Char No. 4 on Urbanspoon

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