we heard so much buzz around sarasota about euphemia haye restaurant that we had to try it! the cynic in me thought that the buzz, as is so often the case, may just be a product of mere hype. boy, was i wrong!
parking was easy as euphemia haye has a parking lot behind it. we entered by walking up a walkway lined with perfectly manicured flowering bushes and other shrubbery with delicately and meticulously strung lights. it felt like walking through a magical secret garden.
we entered and were promptly welcomed by david who allowed us to pick our table. we picked amongst tables with a single long-stemmed red rose in a beautiful glass vase on each one, a classy look for each table and the rooms overall. we chose to sit next to a window facing a beautiful garden in a room that felt like a charming northern home inside, as you can see in the photo collage, although the photos don’t do it justice.
david was attentive, accommodating, knowledgeable, and provided such excellent service that we felt like vips during our first visit to euphemia haye.
in addition to the special service, the food was outstanding!
the zucchini fettuccini consisted of fresh strips of zucchini quickly sauteed in roasted garlic olive oil and topped with homemade tomato sauce and sartori parmesan shavings. it was so delightful! i was amazed that it was so much like pasta, but without the heavy feeling... bonus!
the sweet n’ spicy shrimps consists of jumbo gulf shrimp, seasoned with cajun dust, char-grilled, and served with a honey mustard sauce. we told david earlier in the evening that we don’t always like spicy food, so he offered to leave the cajun dust off of the shrimp without us even asking him to, which was so kind of him and we greatly appreciated that he listened and was thoughtful enough to offer that option. the shrimp themselves and the flavoring on them were all delicious!
i was not sure which salad to get, so david recommended the classic caesar salad with fresh romaine lettuce in a creamy lemon and anchovy dressing with garlic, parmesan, and croutons. great recommendation! the caesar was lovely - a proper caesar salad, but not overpowering in the anchovy flavor.
the filet mignon fritzie consisted of an 8-ounce center cut tenderloin of beef steak, expertly seasoned and grilled to the guest’s liking, which is medium with a warm pink center in my case. the filet was served on a wisconsin potato pancake with caramelized shallots, and a bourbon demi-glace. this entree was magnificent. the filet was tender and the potato pancake was delicious! the only constructive criticism i would add is that the potato pancake was so good that i would ask for it to be served on its own, not under the filet, so it retains more of its crispness. the chef was very accommodating with special requests, which was so appreciated, so i think he would do that for me. it also impressed me that i took half of the dish home and it even warmed up really well the next day!
we added the sicilian brussels sprouts, which are split and pan-blackened in olive oil and garlic. brussels sprouts seem to be trendy at fine dining restaurants lately, so i’ve had them at many places and euphemia haye’s were definitely the best i’ve had! perfect mix of seasoning and perfectly cooked, as in a bit overcooked to give it a perfect texture without being burned.
as far as dessert, i long for the days when chocolate mousse was easier to find when dining out. in recent years, it feels like chocolate mousse cake and other chocolate mousse creations are easy to find, but a good chocolate mousse on its own is harder to get, but euphemia haye serves chocolate mousse with fresh whipped cream and it did not disappoint! it was what i would consider a traditional and decadent chocolate mousse, unendingly rich, as chocolate mousse should be. it was beautifully and intelligently served with vertical layers (yes, vertical layers) of mousse and whipped cream, which gave it supreme balance.
after dinner, we were curious about the haye loft, which is a lounge and dessert bar upstairs. david was kind enough to walk us up the really cool wine cork lined staircase to the haye loft and introduce us to gabby who told us about the haye loft and answered our questions. she was incredibly helpful and welcoming! the haye loft has a really hip vibe almost like an incredibly upscale cafe. a musician named amandah was playing live music and she was really talented! the cakes and pies were out and looked decadent! gabby was kind enough to explain each one to us and it was hard not to buy and try them all!
thank you for a special evening in your garden-facing dining room! it was so lovely! we’ll be back!