This is a round up restaurant. I rounded up to 3 stars. Wolf in the Fog is on the main drag, which does not denote a Rupaul Impersonator show.
You come out of the cold and enter on the lower floor which has vibe of a mortuary lobby. Small bar, a few tables and somber diners dining somberly. Climb the flight of stairs and it's par-tay time. A bustle here, a hustle there. Think downtown Philly 10 minutes after the Eagles won.
The decor is early Richard Kincaid. Soft lighting casts beams of soft light through the open rustic, airy, re-purposed building with exposed high beams. (Preferable to high or exposed waiters). A large star made of surfboards dominates one wall that makes it Tofino hip. Have a Port while staring at the Star Board.
The Bar Program is ambitious. Crazed signature Cocktails, Mocktails, Drafts, Ciders, and Wines. All the signa-drinks had 2 too many ingredients so I opted for a Pineapple Express with Pineapple and Orange Juice, Espresso Bean Cardamom Syrup plus 2 fingers of Demerara Run served in a ceramic Panda as cute as Ling Ling. Made me want to curl up in a Bamboo forest.
The Cedar Cider Bramble with Apple and Blackberry fell short. The Cedar was better suited to keep the bugs off your furs than in your drink.
The Staff: Patiently professional as they scroll through the seemingly endless list of ingredients 20 times per night and 19 times at my table. Maybe they should ask politely if you can read to start with?
For $10 you get to buy the kitchen a 6-Pack and they ring a bell. All night. Which explains the kitchen stumbles. So much for the 12 steps. They've gone right the last one; acceptance.
The Food: Hmmm. Every dish was under water and gasping for breath except the dessert. So, here, you really should eat dessert first and then get the check.
The off the menu Cuppa Chowda had lots of potato chunks and then some Smoked Trout, Cod, Clams, Smoked Oysters and Bacon as an afterthought. But you walked a block in arctic cold and up the stairs so you've earned the calories. Right?
Grilled herring (imitating a Sardine) lay dead over some Cabbage, Mustard Seeds, a Hard Boiled Egg, and Dill all on a grilled Rye Toast. It was like eating Nemo, I just didn't want to. The Herring stared back at me with a fish eye whispering "shame". Take the Hannibal Lecter approach. Behead the thing and pass on that piece of tail. How bout a Sardine on Arugula with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette?
The Lamb Pancetta was masquerading as fatty bacon.This came with Cauliflower Florets, Almonds, Arugula, Sherry Brown Butter, Roasted Garlic Cloves, all on top of the salty Lamb Ham. Why not use Benton's low and slow real deal rashers and avoid the bashers like me? How bout three strips on Arugula with a Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette?
Pacific Octopus was slightly chewy. (I guess it lasts longer that way). This came with Sweet Potato, Red Onion, N'duja (invisible, although I sensed it lurking), Leche de Tigre (A Peruvian marinade for Ceviche). How bout a few knobs of N'duja on Arugula with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette?
The Albacore in Tonnato Sauce (which really does require some Veal Stock to qualify), plus Turnips, Celery, Parsley Oil, all in a pile. At the bottom of the Rugby Scrum lay three exhausted flaccid, mushy Tuna slices. How bout some top quality sushi grade Otoro on Arugula with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette?
The special Falafel ("Green Soul") on Garlic Hummus (which needed the Lemon I've recommended above and some good Olive Oil). But it did have Tzadicki, Tabouleh, (which needed Lemon) and Pickled Red Onions. The Falafel had Carrots, Potatoes, Onions, and Chickpeas said the server, but I wanted to polygraph him over the Chickpeas. Anyway it was as dry as a Moth Ball, and don't ask me how I know what a Moth Ball tastes like. Okay, maybe more like a Dust Bunny. How bout Pickled Onions on Arugula with a Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette? This dish was so boring it would make a Vegan, stay a Vegan.
The Dessert needed nothing and certainly nothing more. It really did hit the sweet spot. Carrot Cake broken up like Stormy over Donald's withdrawal. Cake pieces in a bowl with Apple Butter, Cream Cheese Ice Cream, Pineapple Ginger Toffee Sauce with White Chocolate and Pecans. Okay, they tried to mess it up but they couldn't and even with 4 too many things in it, it was good. (Hold the Arugula and the Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette).
The kitchen tends to kitchen sink everything or maybe it was the night to clean out the walk-in and feed it to the walk-ins.
The Wolf in the Fog was caught in a bog. read more