Friday - Out to dinner at Terry B's in Dexter

House salad - J
Dexter plate (house made sausages, terrines and other chef’s charcuterie selections with assorted sides and sauces) - M
Crispy calamari (calamari flash fried, roasted corn and black bean salsa, spicy remoulade) - L

Pomegranate Glazed Pheasant Breast
Black Pepper Crusted Cervena Venison Loin
Braised Colorado Lamb Shank

Tahitian banana & hot tea - J
Amaretto cheesecake & cognac -M
Chocolate gateau & B & B - L

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Tonight took my mom to Terry B's in Dexter, MI. Once again the experience was outstanding. The food was excellent, especially the appetizers - our new experiment with the fried calamari was revelatory. I truly didn't know it was possible to be impressed by calamari at this point. Our entrees were all excellent, but the sides were all slightly luke warm. This seemed completely out of character for this restaurant. We probably should have complained, but the flavors were so good, we just couldn't get up the oomph. In better news, the desserts were fabulous. I don't say this lightly. Rarely do I find a dessert I feel is "worth" the calories. I'd rather eat more of other courses. Not at Terry B's. Each of us had a fantastic creation. All in all, even with slightly tepid sides, this was a great evening. I know we'll go back. Soon.

Reaction:
J: "Dexter, MI, really?"
M: "The Dexter Plate: Food from the gods."
L: "Arguably, the best fried calamari I've ever had."

Tuesday - Out to dinner at Terry B's in Dexter

Tonight we were back at Terry B's in Dexter, MI to celebrate my parents' 27th wedding anniversary. This dining experience was almost as fantastic as our first visit. The only part of the evening that did not measure up was that our server was not nearly as proficient as the one we had on our first encounter. Tonight's server was perfectly fine, courteous, and friendly, but she did not exude the professionalism and attention to detail of our first. That said, I was still VERY impressed with this place and feel certain that it will be Michael's and my "go to" celebration venue while we live in Ann Arbor.

While I have little new to add to my first impression, I will say that I was very pleased with how they handled the celebration aspect of the meal. I had told the person who took our reservation that it was my parents' anniversary. At the beginning of our meal, the waitress announced that the chef was preparing us a complimentary appetizer platter to celebrate and both my parents' dessert plates had "Happy Anniversary" written on them in chocolate. Both of these were lovely touches (especially as the appetizer was one my father and M planned to share anyway!) and would have been plenty of acknowledgment of the event on their own. Together they made the evening feel incredibly special. That sort of policy sets a great restaurant apart from a good one.

Reaction:
J: "This is a dining experience."
M: "1) Free food is good. 2) Cinnamon gelato is better."

Saturday - Out to dinner at Terry B's in Dexter

Appetizers:
Mn: Corn Chowder with red pepper coulis
J: House salad with balsamic vinegarette
M: The Dexter Plate (a seasonal mix of terrines, charcuteries, and house made mustards)

Entrees:
Mn: Lamb porterhouse with potato stack, asparagus, roasted mushrooms and onions, with port demi glace
J: Thai style scallops with sweet soy Jasmine rice, coconut peanut sauce, pea shoot salad, and baby corn
M: Duck breast and leg with duck confit, lentil risotto, currant demi glace, and braised cabbage

Dessert:
Mn: Chocolate raspberry gateau with raspberry sauce and creme anglaise
J: Individual cheesecake with blueberry sauce, whipped cream column and blackberries
M: Aztec tart (chocolate and chili tart filling with cinnamon gelato, and chocolate/creme anglaise)

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In case you haven't noticed our family likes to eat. We love to eat. In fact, dining out is one of our favorite pleasures. We take all opportunities to celebrate by heading out to a new or beloved restaurant. Since M, T and I moved here in fall 2006, we have, sad to say, generally been disappointed in fine dining in Ann Arbor. The food can be mediocre and the prices are exorbitant (I say this having lived in both Washington, DC and Orange County, CA). It is not uncommon to find yourself in a restaurant with average entree prices in the $30s - uh oh, no, no. We have found some gems - see future posts, I'm sure - but nowhere that was extraordinary. Until last night. Terry B's in Dexter is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in. There was not one (yes, you read that correctly) food misstep, excellent service, amazing ambiance, and perfect company. Who could ask for a better dining experience? James Beard, where are you?

Prep Notes
Isn't eating out always easy?

Reaction
J: "This is our new celebration destination."
M: "The best fine dining in Michigan."
Mn: "Even an engagement at the next table couldn't upstage the food."