Enjoyed dinner at 9 Elm in Danvers with a couple of friends last night. First off, very cute place! 2 rooms and a small bar, very comfortable seating. They were busy when we got there, so we had to wait a bit beyond our reservation time. No biggie.
We started with drinks and apps: one got a Grey Goose Vodka & Soda and a Caesar Salad which was very good…the dressing was a bit tangy, which I liked with my small taste. With my other friend, I shared a lobster ravioli with a corn velouté sauce which was oh-so silky smooth and SO good! She got an Orange Cosmo (vodka, orange liqueur and cranberry), and I had a very nice Balletto Vineyards Russian River Valley chardonnay.
Their two mains were a Pan-Roasted Salmon with a plain Risotto, and a Lemon-Dijon Beurre Blanc. (I had a small taste, and it was excellent), and Pan-Roasted Duck with a Bacon & Butternut Squash Risotto with an Orange Soy Reduction. So good!
Their two choices were definitely better than mine…I went with the Rigatoni Bolognese, made with lamb, veal, pork, San Marzano tomatoes, and cream. This bowl was insanely huge! The sauce was just a bit too thin/saucy for a bolognese, IMO (the one time I made a bolognese, it seemed “thicker” then theirs) but it was still good, with a slight hint of a bit of heat…but maybe that was the freshly cracked black pepper I asked for on top. There was enough to me to come home with a takey-outie container that will be a lunch.
We shared a Vanilla Crème Brûlée (no pic) which was insanely good!
A wonderful relaxing night.
