hyperception and I had an early dinner (4:00 seating) at
Vellos Backstreet Grill for our 24th anniversary celebration. They had sent me a $10 coupon for our anniversary, and while we figured it would barely make a dent in the expense, decided to go there anyway.
When we arrived, there was a sign out front that said on Monday and Tuesdays diners would receive a free bottle of wine when two signature entrees were purchased. Nice! Except hyperception was actually back in town from visiting his dad this week because he had work to do with a tutoring student tonight, and felt he shouldn't indulge. A wise choice on his part, I felt.
Besides, it turned out the coupon was not valid with any other specials, such as the wine, so we would have had to choose one or the other.
However, it was also happy hour, and their $8.00 "diamond margaritas" were offered for $4.50, so I went ahead and had one. After all, I wasn't driving and had no where special to be afterwards...
We started with baked baby brie with fig reduction served with everything wasa wafers. Since we both wanted the "Backstreet" salad, we decided to order one full size one and split it, instead of the smaller ones you could order with a meal for $2.99 each. We then both had cups of the soup of the day: smoked chipotle rubbed rib soup, topped with a swirl of creme fraiche. Very nice indeed.
It was a good thing we decided not to go with the wine special, as neither of us wound up ordering a "signature entree." Instead, hyperception ordered the roasted vegetable calzone with home made aioli and home made kettle chips. It was very nicely done.
I had the mahi tacos, which came with salsa fresca and guacamole. Not very large, but the perfect amount with everything else.
We finished up with two desserts: what they called "zingas," I believe, and a hazelnut-nutella torte.
hyperception had unsweet tea with lime, and after my margarita, I stuck with water with lime.
Total bill after coupon and with tip on the original amount before coupon came to $70. We were quite pleased.