I’m so sorry, I know there is never an appropriate occasion for a Jar Jar Binks reference, but I drew a blank for a title.

My girlfriend Chic Ritzy and I realized we needed to treat ourselves at the end of a dreary week.  Mesa Grill, one of Bobby Flay’s original restaurants in NYC (now that Bolo isn’t around), still holds up (though the 90’s vibe is obvious).  The warm cozy colors were very welcome on that dreary rainy day.

I had the garlic shrimp tamale to start, which contained four very aromatic jumbo shrimp with a peppered cream sauce spilling out of an artfully tied corn husk.

I had the 16 spice duck breast, which had a really nice kick.  It’s rare that a restaurant that appeals to such a wide audience would be so bold with their seasoning, and it is appreciated.

Ritsy had a perfectly cooked tuna steak, which was presented on top of an interesting mango pine nut couscous.  She loved it.

Upside down pineapple cake with caramel rum sauce…. awesome.  The warm buttery cake definitely had a rich, grilled, burnt sugar taste that was perfect for a cold night.  The small scoop of creamy ice cream melting on top was sexy.

The server was attentive, paying a lot of attention to exactly how my guest and I would like our drinks and food prepared.

The sommelier here kicked ass.  He had an amazing attitude, and clearly loved his job… (so rare these days).  He spent time talking to every table, he was very generous with his background, information about wines and answers about the restaurant.  It is staff like this that elevates a dinner to a “dining experience”.