The "problem" with being a loyal fan of any restaurant is that each visit is laden with high expectations based on a history of good experiences. For me, such is the case with Zelko Bistro, site of many successful dinners with friends, festive feasts, and tête-à-têtes with my friend Maggie.
In the course of my dining relationship with Zelko, I've tried and enjoyed many things on the menu. My favorites include the Captin's Chicken (though I always sub in the polenta for the Yukon mash), the Boss Burger, whose warm eggy brioche bun almost eclipses the succulent beef patty it sandwiches, and the Chopped Bleu Salad, a delightfully sloppy, crunchy mixture of romaine, blue cheese, apples, pecans, red onion, and bacon.
This past weekend, however, I eschewed custom for innovation by trying two new (to me) plates at Zelko, where my friends and I found ourselves once again celebrating the birthday of one of our coterie. More specifically, I squelched my temptation to order a very rare Boss burger and then douse it in ketchup and mayonnaise in favor of trying the St. Arnold's short ribs.
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