Girasoles Restaurant

It's been a while since I've done done a restaurant review but some dining experiences are just too good NOT to post on the blog.  

Ben and I went on a double date last Saturday to a new restaurant in Watkinsville, Georgia. This restaurant came so highly recommended from some of our neighbors that I just knew it would be blog worthy before we even left the house.  (Any chef who invites you bring your own recipe so he can prepare it for you on the night when you call to make reservations, has got to be awesome.)

The restaurant is small but quaint - the decor simple.  It's the kind of place where you feel like you've entered the chefs home from the very moment you walk through the door. 

Girasoles restaurant is more than just a meal - it's an experience.  Although we were presented with menus when we were seated at our table, we were quickly informed that the menu was simply a guideline.  We were encouraged to ask for "whatever our hearts desired."  ​

We started our meal with some fresh bread and a homemade balsamic reduction sauce.  The sauce was "eat it by the spoonful" good.  

The special appetizers for the night were fried alligator and fried oysters.  We ordered the oysters for the table and everyone else ordered beer.  (I had wine and 1 oyster.)  

There were so many things on the menu that sounded good - I couldn't even begin to narrow down my choices.  I ended up asking the chef to prepare a grouper dish of his own choosing. The only parameters that I set were --- no capers, grilled fish and no cream sauce.  

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This is what Chef Jose created for me.  It was outstanding.  It doesn't really have a name because it wasn't on the menu - but trust me - it was outstanding.  

 The guys ordered "Chef Jose's special".  Once again - you're putting your dinner in the hands of this very competent chef because when you order this special - you have no idea what is going to be prepared for you.  

I could not believe the amount of food that Jose prepared for these TWO meals.  There was a salad with hot bacon dressing, crab and shrimp soup, grilled salmon in a blueberry balsamic reduction (my favorite), a yummy chicken dish, steak, grouper, two different kinds of sausage, lamb chops (not pictured), mashed potatoes, cheese grits and roasted vegetables.  Safe to say - there was PLENTY of food.  

There was nothing that I sampled that I didn't like.  I did have my favorites though.  The crab soup was Knee buckling good.  The salmon in blueberry balsamic reduction sauce was amazing and super creative.  I even ate a lot of the grits - and I don't even LIKE grits.  

Needless to say - I was STUFFED by the time this dinner was over because I think I sampled EVERYTHING.  I had zero intention of ordering dessert but when the waiter described the Chef's creme brulee as "pretty much the best thing I've ever tasted", how could we resist?  

Chef Jose did not disappoint.  He could be seen circulating the restaurant throughout the dinner service.   It's obvious that he prides himself on his special creations.  The only thing that could have made this dinner better would be a cup of decaf coffee to finish it off.  No decaf coffee offered and couldn't afford to be up all night with a  caffeine buzz.  

I'm already planning my next trip to Girasoles.  The question is, what recipe will I take with me for him to make?  

I will say that our neighbors were not wrong in giving this restaurant the highest praise.  I would definitely recommend making a trip to Girasoles in Watkinsville, Georgia if you're in the area.  You will NOT be disappointed.

Ciao!