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Take a pinch of Rustic, add a dash of American, toss
a smidgen of Strip Mall and we found ourselves at Roux, nestled in
Slingerlands’s Vista Technology Park. Self-described as Rustic American
Cuisine, Roux provided a pleasant surprise, or maybe not a surprise,
especially after the Teators had “scouted” during a lunch ride a
couple months ago. And a Greenville connection is satisfying also.
The menu lists
about 20 small plates, appetizers, soups, or salads; about five burgers;
and finishes with about ten entrées—not a big menu but it covers a wide
range.
After two white-linened wire bowls of large-slice
homemade bread arrived, accompanied by ramekins of oil and of olive
tapenade, we settled into the salad/appetizer/small plate selections:
==> House Salad: mixed greens with roasted apple and
candied pine nuts (Ken: a good salad)
==> Caesar Salad: romaine greens, white anchovies, Gouda
cheese and chili croutons (Chay: another good Caesar)
==> Yellow Beet Salad: pumpkin vinaigrette, goat cheese,
crisped sage, candied walnuts (Deb T: excellent)
==> Beef Won Ton special, on greens: (Don: a savory
crispiness; Deb K: very good, would have enjoyed one more)
==> Homemade Macaroni & Cheese, with Parmesan crust (Kriss:
could have made a compact meal, very good, shared with several
==> Beef & Vegetable Soup (Kerry: very good &
hearty, lots of carrots and potatoes, good meat)
The entrée list also included chicken, fish &
chips, Bolognese, pork loin, lamb shank, and the pan roast winter
vegetables (Chay’s second choice, perhaps), but we chose among the rest:
==> Pan Seared Salmon: Wild Rice Pilaf, Caramelized
Fennel and Grilled Orange with Red Pepper Coulis (Kerry: excellent, subbed
mashed potatoes for the rice)
==> Jambalaya: Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Bell Peppers
and Onions Over Rice (Don: good, a bit milder and whiter than expected,
with a hint of heat; Deb K: very good, expected another type)
==> Braised Beef Short Rib: Roasted Garlic Mashed
Potatoes, Beef Gravy and Glazed Carrots (Chay: very good; Kriss
(excellent, meat fell apart)
==> NY Strip: Mashed potatoes, quick braised Swiss chard,
demi glaze (Ken: subbed out the mashed sweet potatoes; good steak)
==> Scallops special (Deb T: excellent)
The table wavered about dessert but caved when Don
ordered.
==> double layer chocolate cake, dip of ice cream (Don
& Deb shared: a moist, semi-dense, melt-in-mouth cake, with fudge-like
icing, one of the best chocolate desserts in a couple years)
==> blueberry bread pudding (Chay and Deb share): very
good
==> chocolate peanut butter mousse, with whipped cream (Kriss:
very good, more than she should have ordered, Don’s taste was very good;
Kerry: excellent)
The drinks order included two diet sodas, a water,
and a bottle each of 10 Span 2012 Pinot Noir and Jekel 2012 Pinot Noir,
both reasonable food matches and an interesting side-by-side comparison.
Service by Cassie was excellent. She fielded all our
questions, and Ken’s (!), with aplomb and a smile. Delivery was smooth,
water glasses were filled regularly, she learned Ken’s need for black
coffee well, and was within sight when we needed something. Our early
question about switching entrée accompaniments was answered
professionally and with good customer service. A good representation for
Roux. Thanks, Cassie.
Ambiance: Roux advertises itself as Rustic American,
a phrase that the Times-Union reviewer mused about in quite a favorable
review a couple months back.
The entry way leads directly to the greeter’s dais and, after a
check of reservations, we sauntered to our table of eight.
The restaurant is divided visually in half not only by a modern-esque
lattice of wine rack cubes but also by two different decorating schemes.
The right side sported a traditional dining area with two rows of five or
six four-person dark wood tables, beige walls decorated with wood and
metal work, a dark brown ceiling, and the oxymoronic tasteful yet
effective recessed lighting.
The left side is anchored by a slightly sinuous bar, lined with a
dozen sturdy stools, with an overhang that waves the same pattern as the
bar, with a half-dozen 1970s-era-but-now-modern suspended lights. Ringing
the bar area are a dozen two- or four-person high-tables with sporty high
stools, all of them with a view of the mostly-glass east wall that invites
looking skyward. (Later, we
found the outside grill on a patio that will beckon many for the next
several months.)
Our table lay ten feet beyond the right hand side, in a set-aside
area. The kitchen door set almost out of sight on Kerry’s end—not
obtrusive, but close enough to hear an accident or two. We were fortunate
for our placement because the noise level of the dining room certainly
ebbed in our space. So, most of the time, the far ends of the table could
hear each other.
The faux dark-brown wood tables were set with a maroon linened
service of a quality knife and two forks, and centered with a votive
candle and current-style salt and pepper shakers.
Water glasses arrived minutes after we sat, with the bread baskets
perhaps within the ten minute mark. The menu is a simple one sheet. The
wine list presented one of our first chances to see a price list of a
three ounce glass, the full glass, and the bottle price—something we did
not take advantage of but the Teators had previously on their scouting
trip.
And just beyond us was an almost ensconced room that could hold
twenty, perhaps for meetings, but for more seating this evening. And the
new modern bathrooms lay just across from this room.
Roux exemplifies a fusion of styles that was comfortable and
entertaining.
Pacing was comfortable, running about two hours, with no big holes
(perhaps, a couple long minutes waiting for dessert), and no feeling of
being rushed.
The bill, including tax, tip, drinks, came to $120 per couple.
The Teators hosted the pre-session, the first Teator-turn
since June of last year. Awaiting the guests were ramekins of broccoli,
cauliflower, carrot and celery, accompanied by dip; a cheese platter and a
hummus bowl, paired with pita chips and crackers; warm pizza squares; and
a small plate of meatball halves in a marinara sauce. A bottle of a
Cabernet Sauvignon, a bottle of a white Priorat, Kriss’s private white
zin collection, a Trader Joe Belgian beer for Chay, and water kept the
thirsts slaked.
The big topic was the return of the Monteverds and everything
Florida: their winter stay, who came to visit, looking at another place,
connections with the Karneses’ trip, catching up with Northeast
snowbirds, trips, and having too much to do. We would not listen to their
suggestions they had cool days. Welcome back, Ken and Kriss; it was a joy
to have you back.
Other topics included: Kerry’s welcome presence; Julie’s
absence (making for a dinner party of seven); the upcoming Teator trip
with the Adamses to Italy for almost four weeks, health issues of people
we know, relationships, CD school stuff, Julie’s schedule, work in
Catskill, possible summer plans, a very cool few days – just in time for
the Monteverdean return, the meaning of Roux, the Moms’ health, our
children’s whereabouts, a wedding and wondering, Ken’s instigation of
risqué comments, Chay’s whereabouts, and more.
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