With B allegedly stuck in an unfortunate meeting, it was only R&J who were adventurous enough to take on a fan recommendation dare, and headed for lunch at Duke's Chowder House at Westfield Shoppingtown Southcenter. The anticipation upon entering the mall was palpable...what lay behind those blue doors--untold culinary delights or kitchen nightmares?
R was struck by the decor, proclaiming the establishment "cute," though J, being fussy, was much harder to please. He found the atmosphere to be kitschy, but not unpleasant, and reminscent of the homes of Minnesota where he grew up, full of artfully placed fishing rods and tackle. Noticeably absent were the dead fish mounted on the wall, of which there were none at Duke's. R appreciated the plaid carpet; it made J feel like he was eating on a dog blanket.
The waitstaff there was all female: clean, professionally dressed, and blandly hot in a women's volleyball team sort of way. They were quick to grind fresh pepper on your chowder or to refill your Diet Coke.
Both diners felt they should eat some sort of chowder as a starter, Duke's being a chowder house and all. R chose a wonderful-smelling cioppino, which she prounounced delicious. J echoed these sentiments with his Pernod lobster chowder.
As an entree, R selected a mahi mahi salad, which she enjoyed despite the tuna being overcooked to the point of it resembling steak rather than fish. The salad was full of cabbage and orange slices, and a big honking piece of tuna. J had a baked halibut, stuffed with shrimp and dungeness crab. J is not a fish person, so this was a big departure from his usual diet of red meat, and while it was good, he could have done with out the beurre blanc sauce and the crab shell which nearly took out one of his teeth. He gave points for the original vegetable accompaniment (snow peas), but quickly subtracted them for the ghetto rice pilaf which tasted like it came from a box.
Both diners balked at the price--lunch for two came to $60 before the tip. R&J concluded that Duke's will be a good place in the winter when we want soup, but overall the prices would prevent them from becoming regulars.
J's Review: Duke's Chowder House
Decor: 2/5
Wait staff: 5/5
Food: 3/5
Value: 0/5
Repeatability: 3/5
Good times: 3/5
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