Restaurant reservations are easy to snag on Super Bowl Sunday

Restaurant reservations are easy to snag on Super Bowl Sunday, provided the restaurant doesn't have a big screen TV visible from the dining room.  We wanted an early reservation after a matinee show.  We chose Boka Restaurant Group's GT Fish and Oyster http://gtoyster.com/.

We sat in front of large windows which I think must open on the sidewalk in better weather.  We got our own show that way.  Four girls from some college pushed a large rolling laundry basket into Binny's and eventually came out with it full of ice.  We watched as many 20 somethings struggled to get their beer and food out of taxis and into the nearby apartment building for Super Bowl parties.  And a homeless man stole the valet's energy drink outside while the valet waited inside to stay warm.  The street scene would be even more interesting in the summer.  The dining room itself is very dark and sleek.  The bar area is brighter and has long, high tables for groups who want to come and share the food.  There is lots of on street, pay at the box parking and also a valet.

As for the food, it was wonderful.  It is served tapas style.  However this is not the place to take a date that eats light.  I am pretty sure there wasn't a green salad on the menu that night and the vegetable dish we had was coated in chick pea flour.  It is a very fish, meat and carb centric menu.  You can definitely come in under the Bib Gourmand $40 maximum by choosing wisely but we went way over in order to try more things.  My husband had oysters which were half price that night (I don't eat them) which was a treat for him.  Other dishes included bigoli (pasta) with clams, scallops with green tea soba noodles and a miso broth, cauliflower with chick pea and yogurt coating, duck confit with chickpea harissa stew and BBQ eel with wasabi, potato and octopus salad.  It all went well with the delightful California Albarino we ordered.  We probably ordered one dish too many and didn't have room for desserts that are reportedly great.  As you can see from the descriptions the flavors cross many cuisines (Japanese, Italian, Moroccan, French) and all are executed well.

My only gripe is that they don't provide serving utensils with the dishes.  If your main concept is plates to share, then you need to provide serving utensils.  Even the scallops dish with the wonderful broth didn't come with a spoon and spoons aren't a part of the table silverware.  However, needing to ask for more silverware is a small annoyance when the food is this good.