Olives and Peter Geyer--Two Restaurants to Note

This weekend found me at Olives at 50 State Street in Pittsford and Peter Geyer Steakhouse at the Brookwood Inn, Bushnell's Basin.

Caroline and I had dinner at Olives on Saturday night. It's a tiny little "Greek taverna" in the lower level of a yellow house just inside the entrance to Northfield Commons and the whole "Schoen Place Experience." I've ordered takeout from there before--Greek salads and rice pudding--but had never been seated and enjoyed the ambience. It's decorated in such a way that you might feel like you have been transported to a little cafe in Santorini. This is not a "Greek diner" or family restaurant. The server answered all questions we had about the menu. Caroline ordered a small Greek salad and one of their thin-crust pizzas with artichoke hearts, peppers, garlic and Greek cheese. She raved! I ordered a special of the evening--vegetable moussaka--which came with a side salad. It was absolutely delicious. Caroline finished out the meal by eating half of the biggest baklava I have ever seen. She had to take half of that, as well as half of the pizza, home. She ate both the next day which is simply unheard of! That alone is evidence that Olives is a special place.

Sunday night, I took Joe to Peter Geyer's for his birthday dinner (finally!), and we had another wonderful meal there. I love the atmosphere--it is both "clubby" and romantic at the same time. The design is Arts & Crafts inspired--very Frank Lloyd Wright--and I love that look.

The waiter, Don, was professional, yet friendly. Joe ordered a Caesar salad which had crunchy little cheesy delicious bits on it and the rib-eye. I ordered the filet mignon. Both steaks were done exactly as we had ordered them. We had a delicious bottle of wine--a Francis Ford Coppola Claret--and a lovely apple pie with ice cream for dessert. Don was kind enough to serve it with a candle for Joe's birthday. Everything was delicious, and though Peter Geyer's is a somewhat expensive treat, it felt totally worth it.

So, two delicious dinners at two very nice restaurants two nights in a row--quite a feat, I think!

yours in music (and food),
Tracy