October 1, 2009 | Story by: Matt Young | Categories: Food, Go Local, Restaurants, Shop & Dine
My wife, Chris called me and said we were celebrating one of her career successes and we should “go out”. Since I am the cook in the house now (Chris did it for 20+ years) I’m usually ok with that.
We talked about where we should go, looked in our “coupon book”…and couldn’t decide. I said, “How about some place close?” So we settled on the “moderately expensive” Stonewood Grill and Tavern on Cary Parkway.
We hadn’t been there in a “million years”. I’m a foodie and a restaurant snob, having worked my way through college as a dishwasher, waiter, bartender, host, cook and manager in a half dozen places in the New York/New Jersey area. I’m impatient, can recognize schmaltz, don’t like chatty waitstaff or poor value and I notice chef shortcuts.
We had a waitress named Mary Beth. She was all about getting our dinner to us and made recommendations. We started with crab cakes and bruschetta (it’s pronounced “broo-sketta”!). The crab cakes are good, no back-flips, but the bruschetta is amazing, and served with a balsamic sauce on the side which was new to me flavor-wise, but out-of-this-world.
I had trout from their oak grill, served with a side of perfectly al dente vegetables and great garlic smashed potatoes. I hadn’t had trout in a long time, and grilling over oak wood is the perfect complement to it, bringing me back to my days of camping as a youth. Chris had mahi-mahi with goat cheese (“no goat cheese please” of course) which was the night’s special. By the way I usually avoid specials, because…well… that’s another column. My daughter, Sarah, had the Asian chicken salad: beautifully ginger-y with a great tangy lime sauce. All nice. For dessert it was mint chocolate chip ice cream and crepes – not bad, and chocolate Kahlua mousse - wow. The hostess and Mary Beth were pushing the chocolate bread pudding hard. But we didn’t go there.
Stonewood Grill and Tavern is a Cary exclusive in North Carolina. There are other versions in Florida. The CEO and president, Doug Sullivan, was prompt in returning my call. He told me that they were looking to expand “up north” and he chose Cary because it was a “great market”. Doug’s resume reads like an American restaurateur success story. But don’t be fooled, this is not a franchise. Each restaurant is individually operated and managed. The managers have a stake in the restaurant’s success. And it shows.
Kudos also to Dan Hoskins, the executive chef. Give it a try – again. By the way, while you are at it, share your fine dining experiences with CaryCitizen!
Doug Sullivan, CEO Stonewood Grill and Tavern
Pingback: Preston Walk Summer Nights! | CaryCitizen