davis street tavern

Valentine’s Day 2009.  I opted for a new restaurant this year, and chose the Davis Street Tavern in Old Town Portland.  I had made reservations for 6 PM, two days prior and even had to speak with the manager to get my name on the list, but when I arrived the place was basically empty, with the single exception of two people at the bar.  Of course, we had to find the place before we could actually sit down, and even though it is on the corner, the only marking in small logos in the windows; it has no wall or street marking that I could see.

The place did fill up throughout the evening, but never once was every table full.  Because we were some of the first people to arrive, we were doted on hand and foot by the attentive staff.  They kept our table clean, our drinks filled, and timed the delivery of each course perfectly, giving us a few minutes in-between each to prepare for the next.

 The restaurant had a special menu for Valentine’s Day, and guests could opt for either three course or five course meals, and we opted for the latter.  It consisted of your choice of three appetizers, one entrée, and one dessert.  For the most part, the food was well prepared, and plated with a touch of elegance making for beautiful presentation. 

 After our order, the chef brought to our table an aperitif of sliced apple, manchego cheese, and house roasted, candied nuts; it was fabulous, blending the elements of sweet and tart very well.

The Tuna Tartini appetizer was tartar, but served in a martini glass, and was one of the best starters we had.  The tuna was very tender and chilled, it blended very well with the mild flavor of the Avocado, but the cilantro really brought the flavors together.  We also had Oysters, which though tasty (and not too briny) were very small.  The Fois Gras Torchon was highly recommended by our server, and the Fois Gras itself was quite flavorful, and much denser than I’ve had before.  However the sauce, which was a Prosecco-Date Emulsion, completely overpowered the dish; I found myself avoiding the sauce simply so that I could taste the Fois Gras. 

Both salads were excellent and uniquely prepared.  They had oversized croutons and cheese cubes, and the Caesar was served with un-chopped lettuce leaves, and left us both quite contented while waiting for our main course.

Both the Seared Sea Scallops and the Grilled New York Strip Steak were exquisitely prepared and plated, the flavor of each was complimented, not overpowered, by its’ sides. 

For dessert, a Mocha Mousse was ordered, along with the Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding.  The Mousse was delicious, thick and heavily chocolate complimented by unsweetened espresso foam.  I did find the Bread Pudding to be somewhat misleading.  Dark chocolate bread pudding makes me think of just that, but this dessert was a classic style bread pudding lightly laced with dark chocolate, but hardly enough to even notice.

In regards to drinks, they had a short but good wine list, and a handful of homemade liquor drinks.  I opted for the Vesper, which is derived from the drink that James Bond drinks in Casino Royale, given my slight obsession with movies.  It was very tasty, albeit strong, mixing vodka, gin, lemon, and bitters.  The drink was well poured, with no flavor overpowering another, and it had a nice citrus finish. 

So, overall, Davis St. Tavern knows how to make a good meal, but it is the little things where they fall short.  It is great for a night out on the town, but not for the budget: it would be tough to get a full meal, drinks, and tip for under $50.  There were both highs and lows during our night out, but there were certainly more highs, making the evening one to remember.  This place has a lot of potential, and is in a great spot sitting right in the heart of the revitalizing Old Town neighborhood.