Highland Place "Nachos"

I'll start off by saying what was served tasted fine. The balsamic reduction was a nice touch.

However, four tortilla chips on the plate is not "nachos." At this point in the culinary universe, "nachos" means something very different than what was served. What was served was a pretentious, trying-too-hard-to-be-precious fine dining interpretation of "nachos." It was Top Chef wannabe unnecessary refinement, overly affected. The only thing worse than insincere food is mislabeled insincere food. For a place with Hirschfeld Jerry Garcia art on the walls, this kind of contrived food is disappointing.

As I recall, they are described as 'neat nachos' and so are individually made.

dave said:

As I recall, they are described as 'neat nachos' and so are individually made.


On the menu it just said, "Nachos."

Yes, and they are delicious. This isnt a big sloppy plate of chips and cheap meat and greasy cheese heaped together. These are chicken breasts, avocado and a few other things I can't recall, and four is pretty filling for an appetizer.

ktc said:

dave said:

As I recall, they are described as 'neat nachos' and so are individually made.


On the menu it just said, "Nachos."


No, it says "neat nachos"

boomie said:

ktc said:

dave said:

As I recall, they are described as 'neat nachos' and so are individually made.


On the menu it just said, "Nachos."


No, it says "neat nachos"


It didn't.



boomie said:

Yes, and they are delicious. This isnt a big sloppy plate of chips and cheap meat and greasy cheese heaped together.


It doesn't have to be one or the other.


I disagree. Those nachos are awesome. Best thing on the HP menu, IMHO.

Your results may vary

They are more like four chipotle grilled chicken sandwiches with avocado and awesomeness on large nachos.

Sounds good to me. So you use a fork and knife. I hate picking up nachos with my hands.

The nacho chip they served was regular size.

I guess I just don't get the culinary POV of the menu aside from "pretentious."

Here's a PDF of the menu. Not only does it say "neat nachos," but there's a full description of what they are:
http://www.highlandplacesteak.com/menu112911.pdf

what does having Hirshfeld Jerry Garcia prints hanging on the walls have to do with anything? By the way, in his concert rider, Jerry required bottles of the most expensive Bordeaux wines, and Bobby was a big fan of his high performance BMWs.

ml1 said:

Here's a PDF of the menu. Not only does it say "neat nachos," but there's a full description of what they are:
http://www.highlandplacesteak.com/menu112911.pdf


It only said "Nachos" on the printed menu in the restaurant.

I absolutely adorrrre those things, but I would love if the order came with a few more, too.

hankzona said:

what does having Hirshfeld Jerry Garcia prints hanging on the walls have to do with anything?


Presents an impression of being down-to-earth. The food was anything but, imo.

ktc said:

hankzona said:

what does having Hirshfeld Jerry Garcia prints hanging on the walls have to do with anything?


Presents an impression of being down-to-earth. The food was anything but, imo.


I think an old tattered Steal Your Face is down to earth...a Hirshfeld print? Im not so sure. And just because its the Dead? Please. Assumptions such as that are pretentious.

This is not to say pretentious food can't also be great. My meal at 11 Madison Park last week, for example, was certainly not unpretentious, but there was a definite point of view. Pretentiousness for its own sake is the worst kind of culinary experience, imo.

ktc said:

My meal at 11 Madison Park last week, for example, was certainly not unpretentious
Were any of your famous European friends present?

of course theses things are subjective.

but you are the first person I've heard pan that particular dish. everyone I know likes it. a lot. to the extent that I thought this thread was going to be a rave that I would get to add my "ditto" to.

Jerry Garcia may connote "down to earth," however Al Hirschfeld pieces -- IMHO -- connote sophistication, regardless of the subject. Again, just my opinion.

Having said that, I do respect ktc's opinion in as much as I've actually never tried the neat nachos specifically b/c the description always had me envisioning something other than what I generally consider to be "nachos." I stick to the jerk wings and the "tortilla" tapas.

Train_of_Thought said:

Jerry Garcia may connote "down to earth," however Al Hirschfeld pieces -- IMHO -- connote sophistication, regardless of the subject. Again, just my opinion.


I see that point. Still, the food and its presentation was incongruous to that. Sophisticated food is great. Pretentious food is not.

ktc said:

ml1 said:

Here's a PDF of the menu. Not only does it say "neat nachos," but there's a full description of what they are:
http://www.highlandplacesteak.com/menu112911.pdf


It only said "Nachos" on the printed menu in the restaurant.


Really? That appears to be the same, exact menu used in the restaurant...


That was my first visit to HP, and I certainly would've laughed at "Neat" Nachos had it said that.

ktc: Maybe you just missed it saying neat.

maybe you should do what reviewers do. before you pan something in print, visit twice.

SO_Refugee said:

ktc said:

ml1 said:

Here's a PDF of the menu. Not only does it say "neat nachos," but there's a full description of what they are:
http://www.highlandplacesteak.com/menu112911.pdf


It only said "Nachos" on the printed menu in the restaurant.


Really? That appears to be the same, exact menu used in the restaurant...



Hmmm....I was there last night and the menu said "neat nachos." I remember specifically because I thought about ordering them, since I didn't really want a big pile of traditional nachos.

I ended up getting the special smoked tomato soup and the chicken paillard, both of which were excellent. HP has definitely earned a spot in the restaurant rotation.


I try to judge a restaurant on the entres.

grilled_weber said:

ktc: Maybe you just missed it saying neat.


Definitely not. Was there with some industry people and that would've jumped out.

Even still, while the food had some fine flavors, it was trying too hard. I'm not attempting to pan HP. My main point is that in this world there is an expectation that comes from "Nachos" and the dish did not deliver. It was fussy and contrived, and I really dislike that kind of cuisine.

Maybe I got an old version of the menu?

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