I hope you kept them - that $52 credit towards your meal is totally legit.
As I sit here struggling to balance pursuing my dreams while still paying my mortgage, I have a hard time grasping how a company like Seasons 52 can make an offer like this - sending out God knows how many of these coupons - and not go immediately bankrupt.
Sous Chef and I walked into the restaurant the other night and right away we were impressed with the decor and the vibe. One minute, you're walking outside next to - let's face it - a mall. Suburban malls aren't exactly known for being trendy or fancy. But upon entering Seasons 52, you get just that - an atrium that is highlighted by a zen-inducing wall feature, complete with candles and a waterfall. Friendly staff - at least four different people greeted us with smiles and a "Welcome". A main dining area with greenery and actual trees, which helps soften and ground what would otherwise be a traditional dining area.
I read online about the piano bar at Seasons 52, and I'm a sucker for a meal with a side of acoustic accompaniment, so we decided to sit there. The borders of the bar are lined with cushioned booths. Wine glasses hang all around the horseshoe-shaped bar area, acting as a sort of functional chandelier. It's pretty classy.
We decided that instead of ordering entrees, we'd get several appetizers to share - there were just too many things that looked good, and we wanted to get a real "taste" for the menu, so to speak. Our waiter recommended we try one of the flatbreads, so we opted for the Trio of Roasted Mushrooms flatbread.
When our waiter delivered it to us, I was struck by how - well - flat it was. Very thin bread, plenty of toppings. And lots of caramelized cheese on the edges - isn't that the best way to eat cheese? The pizza consisted of mushrooms, garlic confit, spinach, and truffle oil. It was quite tasty, and could have easily sufficed as a meal (as most "appetizers" could these days).
For our main course, we ordered four (four!) other dishes. The cider-glazed chicken skewers were cleverly plated - an apple ring served as the apex for a chicken skewer "tepee". The chicken was nice and tender and the apple slaw was refreshing and tangy.
The caramelized Brussels sprouts were tasty, though a bit dry and underseasoned; I think the chef was counting on the bacon crumbles to provide enough salt, but it didn't quite come together as I would have liked. Of course, I've been spoiled rotten by the Brussels sprouts at The Wine Market in Federal Hill, so I don't know if anyone else's B.S. (see the double entendre there?) could live up to theirs.
We opted for the small plate version of the caramelized grilled sea scallops - with all of the other food we were eating, we were willing to forego the butternut squash risotto and broccolini that came with the entree version. The scallops were nicely plated on an open shell, with black and white sea salt sprinkled on the plate which did double duty as a garnish and to keep the shell from slipping around the plate. The scallops were buttery and cooked perfectly, and paired well with a little sprinkle of the sea salt.
Finally, we had the lump crab, roasted shrimp and spinach stuffed mushrooms. These were also yummy, though after all of the other food we had already eaten, they were too rich. I am sure that if we hadn't already consumed four days' worth of calories, we would have enjoyed them more. For an appetizer, we were pleased with the copious amount of both shrimp and crab within each mushroom.
After that, we went home and died.
Just kidding! We were really stuffed, though. The problem with needing to spend a minimum of $52 between two people who don't want to order entrees is that you have to order lots of appetizers.
The menu stresses the restaurant's focus on seasonality - "Week of: 9/2/14" was stamped on our menus. That made me realize two things: #1. The restaurant must go through a lot of paper printing out menus every week - not so environmentally conscious! and #2. This menu was a couple of weeks old. Hmm.
We'll definitely return to Seasons 52. As a matter of fact, HoCoBlogs' next party will be at Seasons 52 on October 1. Make sure you register and come check it out!
When our waiter delivered it to us, I was struck by how - well - flat it was. Very thin bread, plenty of toppings. And lots of caramelized cheese on the edges - isn't that the best way to eat cheese? The pizza consisted of mushrooms, garlic confit, spinach, and truffle oil. It was quite tasty, and could have easily sufficed as a meal (as most "appetizers" could these days).
For our main course, we ordered four (four!) other dishes. The cider-glazed chicken skewers were cleverly plated - an apple ring served as the apex for a chicken skewer "tepee". The chicken was nice and tender and the apple slaw was refreshing and tangy.
The caramelized Brussels sprouts were tasty, though a bit dry and underseasoned; I think the chef was counting on the bacon crumbles to provide enough salt, but it didn't quite come together as I would have liked. Of course, I've been spoiled rotten by the Brussels sprouts at The Wine Market in Federal Hill, so I don't know if anyone else's B.S. (see the double entendre there?) could live up to theirs.
We opted for the small plate version of the caramelized grilled sea scallops - with all of the other food we were eating, we were willing to forego the butternut squash risotto and broccolini that came with the entree version. The scallops were nicely plated on an open shell, with black and white sea salt sprinkled on the plate which did double duty as a garnish and to keep the shell from slipping around the plate. The scallops were buttery and cooked perfectly, and paired well with a little sprinkle of the sea salt.
Finally, we had the lump crab, roasted shrimp and spinach stuffed mushrooms. These were also yummy, though after all of the other food we had already eaten, they were too rich. I am sure that if we hadn't already consumed four days' worth of calories, we would have enjoyed them more. For an appetizer, we were pleased with the copious amount of both shrimp and crab within each mushroom.
After that, we went home and died.
Just kidding! We were really stuffed, though. The problem with needing to spend a minimum of $52 between two people who don't want to order entrees is that you have to order lots of appetizers.
The menu stresses the restaurant's focus on seasonality - "Week of: 9/2/14" was stamped on our menus. That made me realize two things: #1. The restaurant must go through a lot of paper printing out menus every week - not so environmentally conscious! and #2. This menu was a couple of weeks old. Hmm.
We'll definitely return to Seasons 52. As a matter of fact, HoCoBlogs' next party will be at Seasons 52 on October 1. Make sure you register and come check it out!
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