The dining duo went to town… riding in a mini

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.

What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than at a restaurant named “1776” in Crystal Lake. Okay, maybe a Paul Revere and the Raiders concert would be better, but this column is suppose to be about food.

Looking around the restaurant you couldn’t help but feel like a proud American. Pictures of past Presidents and flags adorned the walls and Americana tchotchke was everywhere. There is also a mural of the Pony Express route, covering the entire back wall.

We began our gala celebration with deep fried Vidalia onion rings ($5). This turned out to be a very elaborate presentation. They were stacked in a tower with a golden beet and a flat leaf parsley flower on top, held in place by a giant toothpick stuck in a blob of mashed potatoes.

Next we were presented with a basket of hot and crispy sourdough rolls. Our salads came with a choice of several dressings, I ordered the sour cherry “bomb” vinaigrette and Jim had the spicy peanut dressing. Jim took a chance, and he won; his dressing was definitely unusual but very delicious. Mine was tasty, but it couldn’t hold a “roman candle” to Jim’s.

Nancy decided to try the Maryland Crab Cakes (3) for $20, which was blue crab cakes with a remoulade sauce. I tried it, and they were golden brown and crunchy, and the remoulade sauce added a little zing to it. They came with brown rice but Nancy opted for the mashed potatoes instead.

Jim went with the special, Sauteed Soft-Shell Crab Amandine (2) for $29, which was served with a fresh basil, Portobello mushroom-and-tomato ragout. This dish had a lot going on. He gave me a taste, and there were lots of different flavors in his entree, but somehow, they went well together.

Now for our “big finale” (ooooh, aaaaah), we went with the Key Lime Pie. This dessert’s tart flavor definitely “explodes” in your mouth.

This restaurant does have a lot of “critters” on their daily special menu such as: Colorado Bison, Texas Venison, and Montana Elk, as well as the “Local Beast of the Week!” At first, we thought this may have been whatever they ran over with their car. As it turned out, this is fresh meat from a local farm. 1776 definitely has a “flare” when it comes to presentation, you will get a “bang” out of it!

Our bill was (3) President Jackson’s, (1) Alexander Hamilton, (1) President Lincoln, and (4) President Washington’s ($79).

Jim’s take: I loved everything about the soft-shell crab dish. They were crunchy, tasty little critters that satisfied my craving. Half the fun of the Key Lime pie was watching Nancy make her “scrunchy sour face.”

Nancy’s take: Jim won tonight! If his dish didn’t have the fungi, I would have loved it. When I tasted it, it was spicy without the heat and flavorful. Yes, I do make faces when I eat authentic Key Lime pie because it’s so tart, and I’m so sweet….

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com

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