MY DINING partner and I strolled into Redbones the Blues Cafe, 21 Braemar Avenue, New Kingston at around 8 p.m. one Saturday and were immediately greeted by a waiter eager and anxious to serve.
After we chose a table, our glasses were filled with water and we were given menus. As we took some time perusing the same, he later popped back up to ask what we wanted to drink. I ordered a Heineken yeah, I should probably have had a glass of wine, but truth be told, I was not in the mood while she had a Strawberry Daiquiri, light on the alcohol (one would think she did not trust me or something).
APPETISER
For an appetiser I went for 'soup de la nuit' the soup of the night, which turned out to be creamed corn and not one of my best ideas ever. Suffice it to say that it reminded me a little too much of a breakfast food I have never been fond off and it went back practically untouched.
For the main course I finally decided on the 'Seafood trio of shrimp, mussels and salmon' while she, declaring an allergy to seafood, opted for the 'Redbones blues steak', well done. The drinks had arrived and, as we sat around and engaged in some small talk, a basket of fresh garlic bread appeared, which I found rather tasty and the lady declared was 'O.K.'.
The drinks had arrived as well and we started talking about the ambience of the restaurant. We had chosen to sit down inside the main building as opposed to dining outside on the patio or under the stars. The main source of lighting was lamps on each table, which I found somewhat... soothing shall we say? Thin shadows floated on the walls, mixing with the whispered conversations going on. I liked it, but she found it a tad too dark. Then again, she was supposed to be wearing glasses and she did not have them on then...
WONDERFUL JAZZ
Some wonderful jazz was wafting through the night air, which both of us enjoyed. We chit-chatted to the sounds of B.B. King and Billie Holiday as we waited for what seemed long enough to catch, gut and clean the salmon and kill and carve the cow. Fine, that is a slight exaggeration, but truth be told, the wait was made more than bearable by the music and the surroundings. Off course, good company is always a bonus.
The menu described my choice as being 'sautéed in a spicy coconut sauce, served on a bed of capellini pasta' and it arrived looking good enough to frame, on a plate sprinkled with parsley I think. The steak in turn was 'marinated with thyme, rosemary, parsley, garlic and olive oil, grilled and served with salsa verde' and judging by the way she dug in, she did not mind the way her meal looked either.
I was especially impressed by the salmon, which was light and flaky, but not too flaky and practically melted in my mouth. The mussels were a little too difficult to detach from their half shells, but went down smoothly. The shrimp was nicely prepared, beheaded and de-tailed (I know there is no such word, but you get the idea) and de-shelled long before it got anywhere near me. The taste of coconut was most obvious here and it was quite an enjoyable experience.
The capellini pasta I could have lived without, but that could have been because I have yet to figure out to eat long strands of pasta without potentially embarrassing myself. I always seem to find myself slurping in the last couple of inches or so after some inept attempts to get it strung around my fork.
Oh well.
The young lady, on the other hand, had no such problem. The steak parted easily under her knife and fork and it was indeed well done to a turn in fact. After a bite or two she declared it 'better than O.K.' and yes, she does have a more extensive vocabulary, but she does not get paid to describe stuff like, say... me. Then again, saying I get paid for doing this is something of an exaggeration. Besides, she enjoys eating, as opposed to talking about it.
FRIENDLY WAITER
Prior to the delivery of the main course the friendly waiter popped up again and asked what we would like for desert. After another glance at the menu I went for the apple bread pudding while the lady, saying she wanted to watch her weight there are times when I wonder why women bother eating opted for the carrot cake.
The apple bread pudding arrived warm and tasty as if fresh from the oven and there was nothing to complain about. She, on the other hand, spent a ridiculous amount of time removing the raisins from her carrot cake do not ask before having it and declaring that she enjoyed the same.
A waiter was never far from sight and a request for the bill had it, tastefully enclosed in a mini-folder, within five minutes.
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
Now, dining at Redbones is not for the faint of heart or weak of pocket, as the menu clearly demonstrates the moment you open it, but very good food and prompt, efficient service make it worth it. When I noticed that a 12.5 per cent service charge was added to the bill, I had a mini-internal debate about whether or not to leave a tip, which I eventually did.
Would not want to seem a cad to the lady now would I? and besides, the service was worth it.
