801 Franklin

An interesting question for Huntsville, from Santa Barbara, is of course What do you have for fancy restaurants? Santa Barbara playing, in this particular anthropomorphism, the (familiar) role of snobby West Coast Cousin. Try 801 Franklin, Huntsville resolutely replies. So we did.

For a birthday, as a matter of fact, on account of we are speaking about a pricey enough joint to require some sort of occasion. 801 Franklin is, overall, a very respectable and enjoyable restaurant, and the points to critique are fairly minor. The reality is that there are none too many places of a similar caliber in the area, which makes it to a certain extent difficult to criticize. Luckily, I don't know how to write a restaurant review anyway.

The menu is not uber-minimalist but neither is it full to bursting with dozens of choices alongside pictures of the food. Actually, rather than "appetizer"/"entree" or "firsts"/"seconds" their thing was "small plates"/"large plates" which was somewhat cute and remarkably useful when deciding what to order. Of course, first things first. There was an extensive martini menu, for people who love extensive martini menus; they carried Beefeater, which was enough for me. (For those simply appalled at my willingness to partake in martinis while my poor pregnant wife must suffer through sweet teas, just remember she would do the same to/for me. Besides, it was my birthday)

Ultimately I ordered a coffee rub NY strip, complete with fixin's (here's looking at you, Ruth's Chris) and received a fairly helpful wine recommendation alongside it. The service was, in general, attentive but not overbearing, and continued strong throughout the night despite the fact that we closed down the restaurant. The steak was very nice and well-cooked, although I had no taste for what made it "coffee rub" or different than any other NY strip. It came with a gravy that did not add a whole lot to the meat but did not detract from it either, which sometimes is about as much as you can say for gravy on good beef.

Now, cheese plates are something I received exposure to in France last year, and we were quite pleased to find a very respectable cheese selection. "Respectable" in this context meaning the cheeses got their own little menu, as I really have no clue what constitutes good cheese. We made our selections, however, and each one was extraordinary. I now firmly believe that every meal should include a cheese plate.

After several courses, and good cheese, there was no more room at the gastric inn, but our server insisted on desert--on the house, for aforementioned celebration--which turned out to be excellent. Just imagine cake, with various chocolates (if you like chocolate) and/or caramels (if you like caramel) and some various other awesomeness on top. I don't remember what it was called. It was good. Short-short summary: will go back, although most likely not until we stumble upon some other prerequisite occasion. And apologies Santa Barbara, but as it turns out we needn't fly out West to enjoy an excellent Fancy Dinner.