The Left Bank

yesterday we had our largest turnout yet with thirteen!!! (one new) at one of my favorites (if not the #1): The Left Bank (photos to follow courtesy of Rachel Kranitz and the not ready for prime time photographers). to my surprise, the Left Bank has wednesday asian night serving specials with an asian influence.

we were seated at two round, seven-top tables which the group quickly turned into an impromptu large table. louder than any other restaurant we have been at, it was very difficult hearing others at the table and nearly impossible to hold a conversation with someone not seated within two chairs but that didn't appear to stop everyone from enjoying the evening.

the best part of the meal were the appetizers: we ordered two ahi tuna tar tar's ($14 bucks per and worth every cent - possibly my favorite dish): raw tuna pieces on top of sticky rice with a spicy, drizzle of hot aioli and a spattering of tobiko; stuffed peppers (DNC - did not consume), calamari (very good - see previous emails) and their asian, dumpling special (no balsamic but a sesame soy drizzle = excellence).

it's hard to recall all of the entrées I sampled as I think only four of us ordered the same meal so were working with 9 different dishes that I tried but I'll do my best. I ordered the seafood vermicelli in miso broth special - it was somewhat bland and I barely had five forkfuls with all the other dishes i tried. I'm not a big fan of tuna steaks but I actually enjoyed the one bite I had of their ahi tuna steak but I wouldn't say it was anything more than better than average. my favorite entrée was their Carrot Papardella which was tossed with lobster, shrimp and crabmeat and served in a brandy cream sauce but was in fact served with rice rather than pasta due to a gluten issue. fantastic. I also enjoyed their Penne all’Arrabbiatta which was served with somewhat overcooked angel hair pasta, their Cheese Tortellini served in a romano cream sauce, their panko breaded chicken cutlets topped with avocado and cucumber, and I believe their Pasta & Seafood dish which was linguini with seafood in a light garlic (?) broth. I also had a finely cooked penne dish in red sauce and what I can only describe as a type of lasagna served with in a tomato, spinach sauce. in all, the entrees were pretty good but not 'A number one' compared to some of the other places we have visited.

for dessert the group ordered a chocolate devil's food cake, a chocolate chip mouse torte and a lemon something or other that I didn't try. the devil's food cake was somewhat dry but chocolaty, the torte was very good (mmmm, chocolate mousse) and I can't tell you about the lemon thingy but I was told it was very good.

if The Left Bank was judged by the appetizers I would give it an A+ but the entrees were a bit below my high expectations and the desserts were ehhh, so I'm giving it a B+.