tournee

Recently, I ate at The Woodsman Tavern. It had an impressive cocktail selection, but I started off with a Bear Republic IPA from the cask, which was very nice and not too hoppy. For an appetizer, I had grilled asparagus wrapped in country ham with a poached egg. The dish was a very nice combination, but the asparagus could have either been cut shorter or had the stalks shaved because the lower portions were quite woody. The egg could have been poached slightly longer because the whites were not completely firm. Regardless, the dish was done quite well.

The bavette steak with fries, onions & mushrooms, and housemade steak sauce was done very well, even though the meat and fries could have used a bit more salt. A bavette steak is similar to a skirt steak, so it is on the tender side. Plus, the meat was done properly to temp with the proper rest time before service. I had a Cotes du Rhone that had a slight spiciness and went very nicely with the steak.

For dessert, I had a meyer lemon cream pie. The pie came in a single serving jar, which worked well but limited the amount of crust available, as the crust was only on the bottom but not the sides. Yet, the tartness and smoothness of the filling made easily enjoyable on its own, with the occasional nutty sweetness of the crust.

All in all, the meal was very nice, and I would highly recommend The Woodsman Tavern. The restaurant can get quite loud, so it may not be the best spot for a quiet, intimate meal or for those of hard hearing. However, I was seated in the bar area, which is typically louder than other parts of a restaurant.