Antique Garage

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by Jessie on November 11, 2009

Aegean Sarma

I used to be that girl who made her mother order French Onion Soup so that I could pull off the melted cheese, dangle it high up in the air, and drop it into my mouth. I love the sight, the smell, and the taste of melted cheese. Yes, even manufactured, pasteurized, heavily processed cheese. I don’t discriminate.

I walked out of Antique Garage in love with Halloumi cheese and grape leaves. Yep, that’s it above. Wrapped in those delicate leaves is a hearty slice of Halloumi cheese and tomato seasoned with fresh thyme. It’s then grilled and although the cheese doesn’t quite melt, it has this salty edge to it. They have this bread which is thick, almost like a Focaccia and it goes wonderfully with the cheese.

Rachel and I agreed that when you throw down that $30 for dinner, it’s not just about the food. It’s about the ambiance, the decor, the service, the company, the music (live in this case), and the experience. So yes, at $14, that Aegean Sarma is overpriced. Each bite is probably $1.00 if you manage to portion it out. But the decor here is lovely and I felt I was thrown into a wonderfully decorated antique garage sale. Beautiful wooden panels and bricks align the walls and the chairs are plush maroon. Faded gold frames adorn the walls and in the middle is this exquisite three tiered chandelier. It’s truly one of the most well decorated restaurants I’ve been to.

Borek crispy phillo dough stuffed with feta cheese & parsley

Neither of us were very hungry so we ended up splitting the two appetizers. The Borek came highly recommended through reviews on Yelp. I can only describe it as melted cheese in a spring roll-esque shell. Phillo dough is crispy on the outside, but airy and delicate on the inside. It’s a great dish, but once the cheese cools and hardens, there’s nothing special about the dish. When the cheese is warm and gooey, it’s a whole different story though.

Look at that couple, chilling outside with a couple of drinks like it’s still summer

We stayed for almost three hours, catching up over some drinks. The server was never pushy and came to discreetly check on us periodically. They’ve got some interesting cocktails, like a Cucumber Cosmo, and their wine list is pretty decent although they only serve a few wines by the glass. Overall, though the place isn’t too friendly on the wallet, it’s a must if you’re looking for a restaurant with great service and a unique vibe.