Steakhouses are an
American tradition. And somewhat abundant. There are the chain steakhouses we
all know about.; and every region has their local specialty steakhouses as
well. I am not particularly prone to dining at steakhouses. So it was with some
trepidation that one Sunday evening, after wrapping up some errands, I happened
across Rafferty’s Restaurant & Bar here in Louisville, in the parking lot of a
shopping strip where I had just picked up some art supplies. It had occurred to
me that my buddy Ken had lauded the place on more than one occasion, so perhaps
it was time to give it a try.
I was immediately
impressed with the cozy, rustic, lodge-like atmosphere when I walked in. The
lights were dimmed, and I was pleased by how inviting it was. I was led to a
perfectly quiet, peaceful spot in the outer ring of windows where I could
wistfully enjoy the view of our wonderful city here, and peruse the menu. And,
of course, the first thing I examined were the appetizers.
I settled on
something called “Ol’ Boy Bacon Cheese Fries”; a wonderful plate of piping hot,
flavorful and spicy fries topped with bacon and cheese. Provided, was a small
bowl of Ranch dressing. I was taken aback at first, to learn that there was egg
in my Ranch dressing, fully unexpected. My server, Jordan, explained to me that
Rafferty’s makes all their dressings on site, home-made. Egg in the Ranch was
one of their signature touches.
I moved on to an entrée,
not sure for what I was in the mood. But the picture of tasty baby-back ribs
captured my attention, and I settled on that. To say that I was impressed and
shocked at the quality of my meal is an understatement. The succulent and
tender rib meat literally fell off the bone as I tried to eat them. I soon
found out this was a meal to be eaten with a fork. The ribs were hickory
seasoned with a slightly sweet and tangy after-bite. I have eaten at a lot of
BBQ places in my life, and I have to say that these baby-back ribs were easily
some of the very best I have ever consumed. As a side I chose broccoli, which was
fresh and perfectly steamed.
Since it was a
Sunday, and I had spent a long day running errands… AND I was still just a
little bit hungry, I opted for dessert as well. After conferring with Jordan-
who I must say was personable and attentive- I chose something called “White
Chocolate Banana Cream Pie”. At the risk of sounding like a 14-year-old girl:
Oh My God. This creamy, sweet, tangy, banana confection was the definition
of decadent. My one and only complaint about my entire meal is that the white
chocolate shavings got a little bit lost in my whipped cream. The graham crust
was also delicious; something of which I am not always fond.
All in all, it was
a fantastic meal, and I was glad that Ken had eventually steered me towards
Rafferty’s. If you are in the Louisville area, or a city that has a Rafferty’s,
it is a must to eat there at least once and enjoy their unique and delightful
take on the steakhouse experience.
The appetizers
average around $6, with the average entrée somewhere between $10 and $15.
Desserts range from around $4 to $7 depending on the luxury you require. Great
place for a date, a family meal or catching up with friends.
To learn more about
Rafferty’s, peruse their menu, or get directions, check out their official
website here: http://www.raffertys.com/
My Rating: * * * * *
No comments:
Post a Comment