Starker's Restaurant

Where do you go for that consistently great... great space, great service, great food... dining experience? For Susan and I, that perfect every time place is Starker's Restaurant. Very early on in our forays into finer dining as a couple we "discovered" Starker's. Susan, being of a more knowledgeable social class than I, was aware of the place, had heard nothing but high praise and knew it to be an establishment that we would appreciate and enjoy. So for a birthday treat (for which of us I don't remember) we went... and fell head over heels for the joint.

For me, this was honestly my first truly luxuriant, "grown-up", dining experience. Don't get me wrong, I'd been to nice restaurants as a child and in my teens, but this was another level, and with much more appreciative taste buds. Dining like this is old hat for Susan, but again as a child and teen. There's nothing like a little age and experience to make the palate fonder.

I'm not going to get into specific meals with this post because the Starker's menu changes seasonally with a short list of mainstays. This can be problematic for those out there that crave or fall in love with a specific dish (think lobster gnocchi or lobster ravioli, fois gras with a summer berry reduction or cider gastrique, pork with seasonal vegetable variations). That dish will most likely not be on the menu the next time you go (unless you go a lot), but it will be back in some form on future menus. There's nothing like an extra pleasant surprise on a special night when you show up and the lusted after item makes an appearance on the menu. This is another place to enjoy a few cocktails before, with and after dinner. Think variations on bourbon. They also have an extensive and comprehensive wine list. Usually several different rieslings for Susan to select from.

One of the loveliest aspects of Starker's is their service. It is impeccable. You will be seated and served with professionalism dedicated to making your dining experience truly memorable. I honestly cannot give higher praise in this area.

Remember that question I asked in the first sentence... where do you go for that perfect place, on that special night, where two people or a family can experience that special bond over a shared, beautiful meal? Go to Starker's.