In a city filled with amazing restaurants it can be hard to stand out. But after dining at Better Half just one time I am certain it is one of the greats. The food, ambiance and staff were all stellar. So if you haven’t yet eaten at Better Half, I suggest you clear your calendars ASAP and make some room for this incredible Westside restaurant.
When I arrived the hostess seated me at the bar. At first I was a little thrown off as I admittedly prefer eating at a table, but after a few minutes at the bar I understood that these were the best seats in the house. So definitely ask for a bar seat if you can! I ordered the five course tasting menu, which I 100% recommend. It is five tastings (so much smaller than what you’d get if you ordered the full appetizer or entrée) of menu items- chef’s choice! And it was so amazing being able to watch the chef cook each dish and then explain it to me, which wouldn’t have happened if I had been at a table. I also ordered the wine pairing: five wines to go with each of my tastings.
The meal started with freshly made cornbread. I wanted to start slow since I had five dishes coming my way, but it was too good to resist!
Next were the fried brussel sprouts with ham hock marmalade, candied pecans and green peppercorn ranch. I am a huge brussel sprouts fan so I was in heaven. But even my boyfriend who normally runs the other way when they appear on the table licked his plate clean.
Cheese really might be one of my favorite food groups. So when an aged manchego with pickled apple, pink peppercorn honey and a johnny cake was brought to my spot at the bar I was in heaven.
Now it was time for the entrees. This next dish was my personal favorite: roasted flounder, shrimp & grits, spicy chayote salad with an old bay mayonnaise. The fish was cooked perfectly and each element on the plate complemented each other perfectly.
After the flounder was the pork loin and sausage with horseradish cream, grilled fennel and watercress pudding. This one was my boyfriend’s favorite. And I have to agree it was pretty killer. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a better piece of sausage in my entire life!
Last but certainly not least was dessert! So I may have lied when I said the flounder was my favorite, because dessert might have taken the cake! The meal ended with a brown butter cake topped with dark chocolate sorbet and a toasted marshmallow. I will have dreams about this dessert.
Needless to say, Better Half exceeded all expectations. And the only thing I regret is that it had taken me so long to visit!
Now I do have a potentially bad piece of news: the menu changes weekly. So don’t expect to see these dishes on the menu when you check out Better Half for yourselves. But that just shows you the kind of innovation you will find at Better Half. They have not repeated a menu item in the three years they have been open. Everything is always changing and improving!
Have you dined at Better Half? Has this inspired you to check it out? Let me know in the comments!