ArtsRiot would seem to be in transition at the moment, looking to emphasize the event hosting aspect of the business over the dining. The food is still perfectly nice but there's less of it. The menu - not even available for viewing on the website anymore - is significantly reduced, marketed as tailored to the evening's concert. Servings are smaller, too. I'm pretty sure the 400 Burger I ordered used to come with fries. No longer. This change is not a deal breaker for us. In a fair trade, the prices were lower, too, I believe. We managed under $50 for the three of us, not bad for a night out. The cost was helped by the fact that I was the only one to order an alcoholic beverage: an impressive, pint-size can of Lagunitas Sumpin' Easy. Also, no dessert was offered. We were even warned off what gelato was available. Not soft enough to eat.
Our daughter's favorite thing about the restaurant is the Guns 'n' Roses poster on the ceiling above the loft. She always checks to make sure it's still there.
For the concert, the quartet was joined by a soprano vocalist, Mary Bonhag. She's a wonderfully dynamic performer. I might quibble with some of her classical technique - taller, rounder vowels would be nice - but she more than makes up for it with her daring and her variety. The program began with the atypically conventional "Laudamus Te" from Mozart's C Minor Mass but also included the downright bizarre "Sequenza III for Female Voice" by Luciano Berio.
Ms. Coffey, in the following, offers more of the technique I would wish:
Just to clarify, I like weird. The Berio:
A fun evening.
Squid on the Vine
Terra Santa, Ile d Beaute Vermentinu Chardonnay, 2018
Apple
Smells sweeter than it tastes
Peach aftertaste
My Rating: 8.3
Beautiful voice! That’s funny about the poster. Hey, at least you liked the food and avoided the desserts
ReplyDeleteIndeed, hardly a disaster. They certainly didn't scare us off!
DeleteYou know, Lagunitas is a local beer out here. Of course, it did get purchased by one of the large mega-breweries within the last few years, but they still make all their stuff out here (I believe) and have a bar in one of the nearby towns. (I don't remember which.)
ReplyDeleteTheir Cappuccino stout is one of my favorites along with their Wilco Tango Foxtrot (WTF).
It's a good beer that fits in nicely with the local offerings here.
DeleteI read that one of the owners who was the head chef left the head chef position in October... perhaps that's contributed to the shift and changes in their menu?
ReplyDeleteA quick Google verifies!
DeleteI can certainly understand how that would impact. Still, I would have expected different food rather than less of the same. We will most definitely go back so it could be an interesting story to follow.
A great night out. thanks for the two CDs. The 2nd one was surprising and fun to listen to and see.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Happy to share.
DeleteThat looks delicious! I think I might have to take a trip and visit. :)
ReplyDeleteActually, word is they're going out of business.
DeleteSequenza III for Female Voice was fascinating!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, right? Ms. Bonhag staged it nicely as well.
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