Winding Your Way

We went down to Baker Street in Fort Wayne for supper last night. It was a date night for Debbie and me before we get busy this spring. It was just splendid, but of course, when you’re out with your beloved it’s hard not to have a splendid time.

We had checked out their menu on-line before we went and thought it looked like an Eddie Merlot’s kind of place; elegant atmosphere, emphasis on steaks. We were right.

I had blackened scallops and a new york strip au poivre. Debbie had oysters on the half shell ^[1] and filet mignon topped with bleu cheese. Like Eddie Merlot’s, Baker Street serves large side dishes to share and we shared a potatoes gruyere au gratin. For dessert we split a creme brulee.

The food was all, well, perfect. Everything was cooked and seasoned as it should be. It all came out and was served when it should have been, and there wasn’t a hiccup in the service, even though we had a trainee server being shadowed by an experienced server.

Comparing it to Eddie’s the setting was more intimate. Eddie’s is maybe more impressive, but it’s one big noisy room. Baker Street had their space divided up to make it quieter and more private.

Also comparing wine lists to Eddie’s, Baker Street’s list was much less extensive, and much less expensive. Baker Street was running about 1.5 times retail for wine, on the other hand Eddie’s runs about 2 to 3 times retail. I’ve always thought Eddie Merlot’s was gouging on their wine prices, and I was pleased to see an upscale restaurant in Fort Wayne bucking that trend.

We had the Franciscan Magnificat which was indeed magnificent and very reasonably priced at just under 70 dollars.

The only thing about Baker Street I didn’t like was the formulaic friendly servers. It wasn’t just our trainee being awkward, every server in the tables around us was following the same formula. I really don’t want my server asking me for my name on my first visit. It’s overly forward for a first date, you know? Maybe once I’m a regular customer it would be appropriate, but on a first visit, we’re not on a first name basis ^[2].

Overly familiar service aside, I would wholeheartedly recommend Baker Street anytime you’re looking for a special dinner.

[1]I can only say they looked good. Debbie didn’t offer to share, so they must’ve been good too.

[2]I’m not all stuffy and formal and grinchy, really. I’m about as down to earth and egalitarian as they come. So I’m deeply conflicted at myself for being so picky about this.