It seems that some restaurants are changing the flavor of tradition these days, taking the old and boring and turning into modern and trendy.   I do like it – trendy is almost always delicious. 

The transition seemed gradual – probably purposefully done, so as not to alarm the less savvy diners.   Restaurants are doing away with the obtrusive menus and replace them with smaller, easier to navigate ones.  Fresh and fun dishes are now the theme, rather than the I’ve-had-this-same-thing-over-and-over-for-my-entire-life menu items.

I went to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar the other day and discovered they have a new Bar La Carte menu – seriously, the name itself just makes me want to try it.   It’s casual enough and certainly affordable enough to visit Fleming’s bar twice a week. (But wait, considering their other happy hour menu at the bar, young professionals and friends can make that three times a week!  Next time, I’m going to do a girls’ night with their 99 calorie cocktails.) On a side note, while I was there, I discovered they make they own Burrata cheese.  For those of you who don’t know – burrata is an Italian cheese with mozzarella and cream.  They had me at “homemade cheese.”  How localvore of them.

Another place I have come to love is City Fish.  I foolishly thought “just another lame seafood place that I’ll desperately search for chicken on the menu” when I first heard about them.  But, to my surprise the experience was amazing.  Menu variety, awesome sushi and a hip, fresh atmosphere - I loved it. 

Flatbreads have also been intriguing me lately – these trendy new menu items can be delicious, and I am still in my search for the perfect one.  Stone Chase Brick Oven Bar & Grill has some great options.  The Greek (basically I’ll eat anything if you put sun-dried tomatoes on it), White and Buffalo Chicken flatbreads are the ones next on my list to try. 

Any new and delicious things to try?  Let me know!