Andalu 2005.08.10 -- *****

This is a late writeup so I'll keep it short so as not to leak out any glaring inconsistencies.

Six hungry mouths, Gabe, Steph, Nick, Johnny, Sinyee, me. 18 dishes, 12 dishes selected.

0. Sangria. Way awesome, one of the best in the city.

1. Lamb cigar, mint yogurt sauce. Despite expressed group popularity, I did not find it all that. A tad dry, and too thin to really support the meatiness and the spicefulness. Yes I invented that word.

2. Polenta Fries, Spicy Tomato Vinaigrette. The fries were excellent carriers for the zingy sauce.

3. Dungeness Crabcake. Likewise as 1.

4. Ahi Tacos, mango salsa. OMG if I choked to death on these fantabulous tacos I would go happily to food heaven. Next time, get a plate of these for each diner. Heck get 2.

5. Grilled Eggplant.

6. Steak tartar.

7. Something with fava beans. Forgetful.

8. Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken Breast.

9. Coca-Cola Braised Short-ribs. Sounds a tad weird, but it worked quite well. The coke coated the ribs in a beautiful black syrup with little medicinal taste despite my slight initial apprehension.

10. Crispy Duck Confit.

11. Grilled Lamb Sirloin.

12. Donut Holes with Hot Cocoa. Crowning achievement of the night, fresh fried donut holes blanketed with a snowfall of powdered sweeties, dipped in home-made hot coco so smooth and rich I had to really restrain myself from dunkin my head in. Or try to.

13. Nick's sundae. I didn't bother with that one, too busy hogging the donuts and cocoa.

Don't be mislead by the lack of superlatives and expletives here. The food was very bery excellent, helped by two smashing pitchers of sangria. Andalu was a wide, airy restaurant, hipply dressed but intimately quiet on a wednesday night, the perfect night to share a dozen little dishes with half a dozen not-so-little friends.

$193 for six, all incl.