Homewood Restaurants

My daughter and I ate at the Black Bear Tavern on the west shore on Saturday night. This was the first time I had eaten there and I was pleasantly surprised. This is a low key restaurant with a completely unpretentious exterior. The interior is warm and inviting and the food is fabulous.

The decor is rustic mountain lodge-style. The dining rooms have huge wood beams, a large stone fireplace with a roaring fire, pictures of black bears on the walls, and an authentic black bear skin on the wall. Each table was set with its own unique set of dinnerware, which I thought was an incredibly homey touch.

The restaurant specializes in pastas, steaks, poultry and game. If you're so inclined you can order wild boar or buffalo.

I happened to notice in the local real estate magazine that the restaurant is on the market. It is currently owned by the chef-owner. I hope that when it is sold, the quality of food is maintained.

Favorite Dish: I ordered a delicious mushroom tartlet, which was the special appetizer of the evening, followed by a wonderful fresh "winter Waldorf salad" - fresh greens, sliced apples, dried cranberries, candied walnuts, blue cheese and raspberry vinagrette. My daughter ordered a grilled ribeye steak, which she said was very tender and juicy and cooked to perfection.

Save room for dessert - if you dare. But beware of the killer bananas foster. I ordered that, and it was delicious. It was also laced with rum and brandy. More than "laced" I think.

If you order this dessert and are the driver, be careful out in the parking lot, or you could find yourself involved in a fender bender....