Holeman & Finch

I've been to Holeman & Finch before, but only once for brunch. Dinner, especially on the day they redid the menu, is a completely different story. Add in that my favorite bartender has moved here, and I'll definitely be coming more often.

Dawn Marie recommended the pig-pik sour for my drink. It's ingredients read "bulleit bourbon / marie brizard apry / regans’ orange bitters / tamarind / lemon / smoked egg white". Hard to believe I would like a drink with bourbon in it but it was delicious. And very strong. But I still had two. :)

It's hard to resist oysters on a menu, especially when they are Blue Points, my favorite. The server claimed they are from Connecticut and it's hard for me to think which body of water they came out of if it wasn't the Sound, but then they would say they were out of NY, right? They were good though. Not the best I've ever had, but tasty. They come with homemade cocktail sauce and freshly shaved horseradish. I used a little lemon but otherwise, I didn't think it needed much more.

Still, I can't help missing the brininess of my normal kumamotos at Floataway. Perhaps I have been converted to a pacific coast oyster-lover.

I was torn between the steak tartare and the veal brains. My server recommended the steak tartare between the two. Hand-chopped white oak pastures grass-fed beef, farm egg, and creole mustard topped with shoestring potatoes. Incredibly delicious. Possibly the best tartare I've ever had and I feel like that's saying something.

The dishes at Holeman & Finch are all small plates so the tartare was a good serving, not enormous for one like when I go to Chops.

Charcuterie and cheese. Starting at the top going counter-clockwise: lamb liverwurst, lamb mortadella, housemade deli mustard, Georgia honey, Spinning Spider Stackhouse, Kenny's Farmhouse Nena Tomme, Kenny's Farmhouse Rose Light Blue, corned beef tongue.

I liked the mortadella the best of the meats. The liverwurst was wursty but kind of ... common. The beef tongue was corned beefy, sliced so thin, and smooth and luscious. The deli mustard was good with them.

I got the Spinning Spider Stackhouse because Tim the cheese man @ Star Provisions has been posting about it recently. It was goaty and smooth. The Nena Tomma was also good, and the Light Blue was surprisingly cheddar-like. It's only blue on the outside.

I was sad they were out of the lardo. Next time!

I kind of wanted something else but couldn't decide what exactly. Katy posted on my facebook at that moment about the deviled eggs so I got those for dessert. Tasty but not really my thing. I like basic deviled eggs.

All in all, a great meal. I'm very satisfied and looking forward to my next visit!