A Great Dining Experience
The first thing to land on the table was the wine list. I don't remember how many bottles were on it, and by no means was it a huge list, but it was impressive. Even more impressive was the staff's knowledge of the wines, particularly when it came to what wine would taste best with what entree. The wines' flavor, body, and taste was generously explained with patience and enthusiasm which put us all at such ease. This was definitely NOT a place where we felt rushed in to any decisions or to pick something in particular.
The next thing to arrive were some delicious roles, warmed to perfection. Some restaurants will deliver them cold, and even though the taste might be palatable, there's just something to be said about warm roles being put in front of you. The butter that accompanied the roles was softened, not right out of the refrigerator, which frequently results in the destruction of said roles as people attempt to apply the butter.
The menu consisted of two pages - not huge by some standards, but the dishes that were ON the menu sounded delicious and very creative. I started with the "Salad of Heirloom Tomatoes with Basil and Cabernet Sauvignon Vinaigrette" and even though it was made up almost entirely of different-colored heirloom tomatoes it was the best salad I've ever had. The dressing was BETTER than the name makes it sound. Roseanne had the "Vineyard Terrace Garden Salad – Fresh Seasonal Vegetables in Herbal Vinaigrette with Marinated Olives" and devoured it in no time.
At this point the three of us were already raving to each other about the restaurant. We found that each of us was secretly hoping that the entree wouldn't ruin the whole experience. We were extremely relieved that it only added to it.
For the main course, I decided on the "Garlic Sautéed Prawns on a bed of Creamy Polenta with Summer Vegetables" and it was superb. The shrimp was cooked to perfection, the polenta was great, and the vegetables complimented the shrimp perfectly. It was actually a pleasure to eat. Roseanne decided on the "Lobster Ravioli in Lemon Dill Sauce with Asparagus" and loved it. She generously gave me one of her ravioli and it was the best lobster ravioli I've ever had.
Adding to this dining experience was the wine, and each of us got a glass of either what was recommended or what we know to be good. In fact, once the waitress heard what salad, entree, and wine our friend was thinking about, she suggested that she tell the chef to swap out the dressing that came with his salad for another that would compliment his choice of wine.
I've only been to one or two other restaurants that have been this great. When I say "great", I mean in every measurable sense. One that deserves mention is Lucy's Table in Portland, Oregon. Another favorite of mine over the past four years or so has been Ruth's Chris Steak House. They have really great food at Ruth's Chris, but I'll tell you right here and now that even though Ruth's Chris is the most expensive place of the three, the service falls short of the other two.
With regard to the price issue, Vineyard Terrace is amazingly reasonable for the food they offer. Even if you don't augment your dining experience with wine, it's still MUCH more than worth it to make the trip. Chef Steven Thompson truly makes this experience memorable and we are so happy that we found this great place.
Vineyard Terrace
11266 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
www.vineyardterracerestaurant.com