SKY, Norwood

The hubs totally surprised me when he suggested going to Sky (http://www.sky-restaurant.com/) for our early Valentine's dinner date.  Surprised because I am usually the primary party planner.  And early because we always try to avoid going out on the actual day of the Valentine.  Because that's just crazy.  And he was working on the 14th so it was also virtually impossible.

When we arrived around 5:30 because I was starving and in general, I like to beat the rush,  the joint was EMPTY.  We were greeted and seated right away.  Even asked if our accommodations were adequate.   Our server, Matthew was super friendly, informative, and just totally on point.  He brought our water and fresh bread with whipped butter and some tasty olive oil to dip.  The glass of Coppola "Vatre Sante" 2010 that I quickly ordered was superb.  My recent fave is Pinot Noir and if you're looking for smooth and delish, give the Coppola a chance.  YUMMY!

The ambiance is high end-ish with a steak house kinda feel.  The restaurant itself is cool and pretty large with a good sized foyer where you can check in and hang your coat.  A huge bar area is immediately to the left with a sizable dining room behind the bar.  There's a beautiful, soothing waterfall at the end of the dining room with several tables and booths throughout the room.  And bonus, we were delighted to bump into buddies of ours who were also enjoying an early V-day outing.

Matthew was quick to let us know that all the appetizers were half price since we were there so dang early.  Score.  We put our order in for the crispy steak and cheese wontons with blue cheese aioli and caramelized onion puree and fried calamari with cherry peppers aioli, pecorino romano, marinara.  I didn't love the wontons but the hubs dogged them hard.  They were crispy but the meat lacked seasoning and I hardly tasted any cheese.  The calamari on the other hand was crispy, light, and crunchy, accompanied by the tangy dipping sauce.  Yum.

While finishing up our starters, the wedge salad was delivered and already divided for two.  Nice.  The Great Hill blue cheese dressing was drizzled over fresh iceberg lettuce, diced cucumbers and tomatoes, and sprinkled with bits of bacon .  MMM.  It was lovely.

I decided to take a bit of a break and leave room for my main dish and soon after our entrees arrived.  The Miso Saki Glazed Salmon was how should I say?  Gonzo.  Quickly.  The hubs practically licked his plate clean enjoying every last bite of Sesame Scallion Rice Cake with Stir-fry Asian Veggies.  The small bit I sampled was savory.  My Prime New York Sirloin dinner served with creamy mashed potatoes, sauteed Brussels sprouts and carrots was phenom.  My carne was juicy and perfectly cooked-medium, just how I likey, now.  And the spuds were creamy yet lumpy and awesome.  By that point, I was pretty full and was only able to finish about half of my hearty portion.  The hubs inhaled a healthy sliver of my meat, too.

Of course and you don't even have to ask.  We ordered a decadent treat.  I can't locate the copy of the dessert menu on their website at this moment but I am pretty sure what we ordered was called the the Grown-up S'mores.  And you know some coffee with Frangelico and Bailey's to wet the whistle.  Fantastic combo.  The graham cracker topped with a scrumptious but not so warm flourless chocolate cake with a roasted marshmallow melted on top.  Yup.

The menu isn't the biggest but hosts soups, salads, pasta, chicken, pizza, gluten-free, beef, pork, lamb, a small raw bar, and seafood for manageable prices for the service and atmosphere.  It's a special occasion kind of place to go.  The restaurant hosts functions, does corporate catering, serves dinner every evening and what appears to be a fantastic brunch on Sundays.  I will say that our evening at Sky was a night to remember and the best date the hubs and I have shared in a long time.  :)