We finally made it to Pammy’s recently, after a few previous near hits. It’s a good enough restaurant, although flawed in many ways (in my opinion), and celebrated enough to deserve a thread of its own.
My wife and I shared their soft shell crab appetizer, described on another thread, a pasta dish, a main course and dessert.
The pasta was bucatini with shrimp. The texture of the pasta was the knockout part of the dish – I’d return every day just to feel that perfectly chewy texture in my mouth. The description promised chili oil, and if there was any heat in that dish, then, by god, I’m a hot 20-something-year-old. The shrimp was oddly sweet, and served on a skewer above the dish, like an amused by-stander. Unannounced on the menu was a shower of raw kale leaves blanketing the pasta. I don’t know about you, but I prefer my kale announced. [Edited to add: the texture of the pasta component of this dish was further enlivened by crunchy little sticks of – possibly – fried bucatini.]
Our main course was a fantastic aged prime rib. It’s $58, but worth every penny of beefy greatness. [Edited to add: There was rapini scattered over the meat that to me was a distraction. If I’m going for the animal pleasure of aged beef, then I don’t want some green stuff whispering in my conscience telling me that I could be doing “better.” Plus, I’m not a fan of these vegetables if they come with tough stems attached. There was also a bowl of fingerling potatoes on the side, They’d have been a good sidekick had they been a little less al dente. ]
The dessert was an affogato where a decent vanilla ice cream surrendered to the worst espresso we’ve had in a decade.
The service was amusing, but I’ll comment on it later.