Sidewalk seating is in full effect, and Maestro’s was the place to be last Saturday night. I was so excited for our first outdoor dinner that I even selected our wine from the Maestro’s website before we left the house. I have a tendency to get lost in the pages of those leather bound books, causing a undo amount of stress and performance anxiety while I run processes of elimination through my head, ignoring my pretty wife all the while.
This one was easy though, the 2004 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains, a slightly old world Cabernet blend with great vegetal notes and a better acidity than you might expect.
Carey looking loverly in the dusky light. Maestro’s really couldn’t have a better spot along the main drag. Such a perfect night.
[Grilled lamb lollipops glazed with hoisin, with soba noodle salad and spicy peanut sauce. Out of this world.]
Entrees, and we cleaned our plates: squash ravioli with basil butter and peas, an app of liverwurst, hot mustard, grilled onion and cornichons, and steak. Dessert: lemon cheese pie and some chocolate decadence.]
Don’t forget to leave room for your welcoming plate of white bean puree and sesame toast, and your wrap-up of dark chocolate chunks that, although you pluck from a basket yourself with tongs, always end up leaving your fingers sticky and chocolatey like a gluttonous little kid. Sinful. Perfect.
This is easily our favorite place to eat in Saratoga. I think every restaurant along the Broadway strip could stand to use Maestro’s as a guideline. It’s class, delicious food, and perfect service, and it artfully makes the absolute most of our lovely little town.
But then again, every night out with Carey is perfect—it could be at a McDonald’s and we wouldn’t even notice.
[If you’re a member of OpenTable, Maestro’s is a member.]
Enjoy!
-Rob
Corks and Caftans 
Looks delicious and like y’all had a great time! Cue google search for places to dine outdoors in NOLA tonight.
Picking the wine out before you go… genius!
Speaking of choosing the wine before you go, have you found any Saratoga restaurants that offer a corkage policy?
Surprisingly, most of them do! I will get the list for you that breaks it down by yay/nay and corkage price.
Here is the master list!
Wheatfields $10
The Wine Bar $15
Dine $32
Grey Gelding $20
Lanci’s (is that still there?) $20
One Caroline $15
Mouzon House $15
Old Byan Inn $10
Bruno’s $10
Sperry’s $15
Hatties $15
Tiznow $10
Maestro’s (Best Place!) $15
Panza’s (where the hell is that?!?) $15
Mino’s Sushi House $5
I love me some Ridge! When we visited their Santa Cruz tasting room/vineyard I was impressed by the signs warning to stay out of the vineyard because of rattlesnakes. A beautiful spot nonetheless.
Maestro’s is amazing!