SILICON VALLEY STEAK MASTERS

3rd Quarter 2016 - Dinner at Forbes Mill Steakhouse, Los Gatos

September 21, 2016  |  George Reilly "Jorge"

 

 

OVERALL GROUP SCORE: 4/5

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Bill Baron "The Chairman"

 

Overall Experience:  3/5

• I can’t say that I was thrilled, nor can I say I was thoroughly disappointed—I guess my overall impression was that of “unmemorable” for a variety of reasons.  For starters, a lack of early attention at the bar upon my arrival despite few at the bar or in the restaurant was a disappointment.  My steak—the highlight of any Steak Masters evening—was seemingly overcooked and as a result, a bit dry, and it lacked a certain flavor.  Lastly, the ambiance of the restaurant was lacking—it doesn’t shout out a steeped sense of anything memorable unfortunately.  On the positive, the wait staff was good and professional, though it has become standard for our group’s plates to be served virtually all at one time, and this service was a bit more “staged”, likely due to lack of floor support.  Appreciated the robust wine list as well as the owner and chef sharing a bit about the menu and for being so kind and welcoming.

 

Food:  3/5

• Several appetizers were served to the table—an assortment of very tasty items including ravioli, scallops on forbidden rice (delicious), sirloin tips, calamari, crab cakes, and a couple of others.  I tried most of them and they were very nice—though the crab cake seemed a bit more filler than lump crab—otherwise all good.  I had ordered the heirloom tomato with mozzarella and basil salad.  The tomatoes were bland and basil underwhelming.  I’ve recently enjoyed very good tomatoes from a local farmer’s market and this one was nowhere close in flavor or texture. Then on to the main course—my selection was a dry-aged New York, ordered medium.  This temperature typically delivers the meat quite pink inside, juicy and flavorful.  Unfortunately, this particular piece was a bit overcooked to a more medium well and lacked both flavor and juiciness compared to what I have experienced in the past. Perhaps a medium rare order would have been better.  I also think that, say compared to SW in Las Vegas or even The Grille in San Jose, the beef itself seemed a bit inferior.  Several sides were served to the table including mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, steamed spinach—all of which were good.  Desserts were also ordered and served to which I really didn’t participate in.    

 

Bar/Wine List:  4/5 

• Though I didn’t feel the small bar team was necessarily attentive initially, they came around which was good.  The size of martini glasses is a bit shy of what they are at The Grille or certainly at some great Chicago-based steak houses, but that’s okay.  I did appreciate the broad and more robust wine list and particularly appreciated seeing Mt. Brave on it, to which we enjoyed several bottles amongst the group.

 

Service:  4/5

• From the owner’s engagement to that of chef’s, as well as our sommelier and small table wait team, they all did a very nice job in making us feel welcome and the service was, overall, good.  I would have appreciated a bit more of it at peak times such as when the main dinners were being served—as the plate delivery was a bit staged vs. all being set down at one time.  On occasion, we had empty wine glasses as well, for not too long, but long enough for us to wonder if someone was around to fill the glass.  It got done in reasoned time, but a tad sharper would have been good.  Regardless, a solid team that I appreciated.

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• So, Forbes Mill is a continental restaurant with a full menu of many items. It’s nice and clean inside—including the bathroom, but nothing to write home about in terms of decor or ambiance.  There is no “wow look at that” nor does anything necessarily catch your eye, perhaps like might at the Village Pub in Woodside.  While a lack of pop or steeped old-world steak house charm is OK, it doesn’t make it a necessarily memorable experience.  I struggled with a two star vote here, but think it deserves three for an average sense.    

 

 

Mike Johnson "MJ"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• My review kind of surprises me a bit as my initial feelings after the dinner weren’t in the 4 range, probably closer to the 3 range but with the exception of the steak not hitting the mark for me the overall experience was pretty darn good. Forbes Mill is located in downtown Los Gatos and is in a stand-alone building with adequate parking. The Wingman and I were the first there and were greeted by two smiling and friendly hostesses. As we were first to arrive we were able to enjoy a bit of time at the bar while waiting for the rest of the Steakmaster’s to arrive. After we all assembled and had drink at the bar, we were seated at a round table in the middle of the dining room. The restaurant was only about half full. 

 

Food:  4/5

• We started with various appetizers and I tried the Day Boat Scallops, Jumbo Prawns and the Calamari. All were good and tasted very fresh but the Scallops were served on a “Forbidden Rice’ that was off the charts. I ordered the Wedge, “chopped and tossed”. It arrived as ordered, with all ingredients tossed together. It may sound like a simple request but you’d be amazed how many times not everything is tossed together. At the recommendation of a fellow Steakmaster, I’d ordered the rib eye, cooked medium rare. The steak arrived and was adequate but wasn’t overly impressive. I really think an excellent steak should be a 1 ½-2” thick and this seemed a bit thin. It was close to being the right temperature but was slightly over cooked. Good flavor and both creamed and regular horseradish complimented the steak.

 

Bar/Wine List:  4/5

• The bartenders were very friendly and were quick with the service. The bar is about the perfect size for this steakhouse, not too big or small. You could stop for a quick drink in a quiet setting, hang out comfortably waiting for a table or perhaps a casual dinner at the bar. The drinks were free pour and tasty! Good service and drinks from the bar all night. I did look over the wine list and found many familiar high end wines as well as some mid-priced quality bottles as well. 

 

Service:  4/5

• We were greeted with warm and friendly smiles. We set up camp at the bar and were immediate greeted by the bartender. Our server at the table was very attentive while not being a nuisance.  The restaurant might have had a edge as it wasn’t full but they certainly weren’t running a reduced staff.

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• The restaurant is well lighted, it’s hard to judge the acoustics as the restaurant was only about half full but the Forbes Mill has a very relaxing feel.    

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Gary Christensen "Wingman"

 

Overall Experience:  3/5

• Forbes Mill in Los Gatos is a very nice venue with an initial feel of an upscale steakhouse. For me the restaurant just slightly misses the mark on several levels. While the decor is pleasant you just can’t help but feel like you are in a converted office space. Tables are scattered in a large square room with high ceilings with little separation from the other guests. The bar is front and center directly behind the hostess as soon as you enter the building and is very small. It’s great for popping in to get a drink but felt crowded with just two couples seated and never really felt like you got out of the entrance to the restaurant. There is a very small private dining room available but again it is located very close to the entrance of the restaurant and just lacks character of its own.

 

Food:  3/5

• The selection and variety of steaks was impressive at first glance and I struggled with a decision. Important to note that most cuts available on the menu were expensive and raised my expectation of what was to come.  I landed on the dry aged New York after the chef was gracious enough to visit our table and elaborate on the different cuts of meat they had available. As usual we ordered a variety of side dishes, salads and appetizers to compliment the meal. Everything was good but few things were great. With a seafood allergy I am unable to speak for some of the dishes that others seemed to really enjoy. Our meals arrived hot and simultaneously. Presentation was simple with just the meat you ordered and a garnish leaving plenty of room on your plate for separate side dishes. The medium rare dry aged New York I ordered was seasoned well but unfortunately arrived medium well. The flavor was there but the meat was definitely overcooked.

 

Bar/Wine List:  3/5

• It’s hard to knock a bar. The cocktails and bartenders were great. I did not order the wine but it was decent and went well with our meal.  The bar gets a marginal rating for its location within the restaurant and size. It just doesn’t have the appeal or character of some of the other steakhouses we have visited. In my opinion the bar at any reputable steakhouse needs to leave a lasting impression and be able to support a large crowd comfortably with some degree of individuality and separation from the main entrance.

 

Service:  4/5

• Our server was attentive and professional. Food and drinks were delivered promptly. The addition of an informative visit from the chef and a sit down visit from the Owner was nice and added a personal touch to our meal. The owner is clearly involved and in touch with his business and made us all feel welcome in his establishment. Servers always make a meal more enjoyable and add to the experience. The Steak Master group can be an intimidating group to serve but Forbes Mill had no problem accommodating us.

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• This restaurant is nice. It just doesn’t feel like a classic steakhouse.  Everything is clean, people are friendly and the service is decent. The food is good but obviously didn’t make a lasting impression on this particular evening. For one of the more expensive venues we have visited the experience just didn’t live up to my expectations.  We dined in the middle of the week when crowds are light and the kitchen is presumably less busy. The restaurant was not crowded. It’s fair to say that the lack of a bustling crowd may have affected my experience and contributed to the overall ambiance of the facility.

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Mike Preston "Ditch Digger"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• Once again a great choice of steak restaurants.  Everything was good. The atmosphere comfortable, the hostess greeting prompt and friendly, the bar very accessible in the front of the restaurant with a friendly and service oriented bartender, and the dining table ready at the appointed time. The owner Dean joining us for a bit at the dinner table was a treat and helpful with selecting from our meal choices. Of course the food, wine and comradery were all good making this another special Steakmaster dinner.    

 

Food:  4/5

• The meal started with cocktails and wine of course, a Steakmaster standard.  I am not sure who chose the wine but the selection was excellent and came from a very large and complete wine list.  And then came the bread.  I find myself trying very hard to resist eating too much bread before the meal but that is an exercise I have not mastered.  The bread was very good and as I have said before on these posts, the bread is a strong indicator of the meal to follow. From there our host Jorge ordered a couple of appetizers. My favorite was the Day Boat Sea Scallop.  Black forbidden rice topped with a juicy scallop, Thai curry, and and a ginger chutney. Delicious and seemed somewhat healthy for a restaurant appetizer. In fact the table ordered a couple more as this appetizer was surely a fan favorite.  For the main course I ordered the Grass Fed Filet as recommended by the owner. Delicious. Cooked exactly how I like my steak, medium. Served with some fried wedge potatoes and a small spinach salad garnishment. Very nice visual, better than nice taste.  The meal was enhanced with a broad assortment of side dishes.  More than I had stomach room to enjoy.  From mashed potatoes, to sautéed spinach, mac and cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and fresh asparagus.  There were so many I may have missed one or two but I surely enjoyed the mushrooms and the asparagus more than I should have.  Everything was so good I could easily have continued indulging except I would have had to loosen some belt notches.

 

Bar/Wine List:  3/5

• Some of the Steakmasters may have arrived early and studied the bar conditions more than I did.  For me the visit was short but I enjoyed the time and the service there. The bar is nice and is convenient.  The entire restaurant is visible from one end of the bar which makes for kind of fun people watching. However I don’t think the bar is a place I would come to visit independent of dining at Forbes.  It seems to me a very nice bar to enjoy a drink while waiting for a table.

 

Service:  4/5

• Service was very good.  The wait staff was all over us asking to fill needs. Waters never went empty, dishes never sat, unused napkins always folded.  We were spoiled too, the chef came to us and shared his thoughts on best menu items and how the kitchen prepares the perfect steak. Everything ordered was prompt and served hot.

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• The ambiance is nice.  I would not say that the facility has any real uniqueness. There are no flowing fountains or mountain views or floor elevation changes or spectacular ceilings. This is one nice big room, and not too big, with tables spread throughout, white table clothes, and a comfortable social atmosphere. Very enjoyable. Very clean and neat. Very efficient.  However, the building is entered from the downtown main street of Los Gatos which has an abundance of character and is always a pleasure to walk and shop and wine taste. So overall, I would recommend Forbes Mill Steakhouse as must do with an exciting date or a business group. You won’t be disappointed.

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Ron Zraick "RonZ"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• As usual, and because of the great company and good food, the overall experience was great.  It’s always a treat to get together with the Steak Masters, and the week of September 19th was twice as good as most Steak masters weeks:  Wednesday night dinner at Forbes Mill and Saturday at the Dictator’s 20th Annual Yadda Golf Tournament. Back to Forbes Mill…a very nice steakhouse well located in downtown Los Gatos with a full bar, great selection of steaks, a robust wine list and an attentive owner.  Great selection Jorge!

 

Food:  4/5

• Forbes mill has an outstanding steakhouse menu, with traditional steakhouse appetizers such as Oysters Rockefeller, fried calamari, crab cakes and jumbo prawns, along with some very unique items including Portobello mushroom ravioli, prime steak tips, and day boat sea scallops. Owner Dean Devincenzi greeted us at our table and arranged for an extensive Forbes Mill appetizer selection.  The day boat sea scallops with black forbidden rice were sweet and succulent, and the nutty flavor and dark color were a delightful contrast to the scallops.  One of the best Steak Masters appetizers ever. The wedge salad was crisp and cool and the pungent blue cheese was a marvelous compliment to the red wine (more on that later) that we ordered.  One of the steaks that Mr. Devincenzi suggested was the Painted Hills Grass Fed Filet Mignon.  And outstanding choice! This tender cut steak melted in my mouth yet had a robust, earthy, meaty flavor.  Although accompanied by a cabernet demi glaze, the cut was rich and complex enough that it really didn’t need it.  Simple, but tasty, potato wedges and sautéed spinach came with the filet.  Unfortunately, I had to leave before dessert was served, but the apps and steak were top notch.  

 

Bar/Wine List:  4/5 (Bar), 5/5 (Wine List)

• After the hostess stand, the next thing one encounters when entering the restaurant is the bar.  A well-stocked, “oval” with an interesting soffit effect at the ceiling creating a nice separation from the main dining room.  A generous pour of Jack Daniels on the rocks woke up the taste buds and took the edge off of the day. The wine list is extensive!  We chose a Chardonnay to start and a cabernet blend to enjoy with the entrées.  Both selections were really nice.  I was especially surprised at how much I enjoyed the 2014 Kosta Browne outstanding “One Sixteen” Russian River Chardonnay.  It was balanced and, unlike too many California Chardonnays, the oak did not overpower the wine’s minerality.  The Chardonnay paired very well with the day boat sea scallop appetizer.  When it came time to order the red wine, we decided that when you find something you like, stick with it.  So we chose a 2011 Mt Brave Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend consisting of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.  The Mt. Brave vineyard is located in the Mount Veeder AVA in the Napa Valley located about 1,500 feet above the Napa Valley.  The Mt. Brave was an excellent complement to Filet and the blue cheese in the wedge salad.

 

Service:  4/5

• Service was very good for most of the meal.  Both the owner Mr. Devincenzi and the Executive Chef Brian Weselby visited our table.  Mr. Devincenzi got us off to a great star, taking time to explain the menu and making sure that the delicious appetizers were served immediately. The pacing of the courses was good; we never felt rushed or had to wait an uncomfortable and all of our selections were served at the same time.  There was a little “gap” between when we were served our entrees and when the service team came back to check and during that “gap” we needed another bottle of the red wine, but that was remedied.  Overall, very good service and a nice personal touch from the owner.

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• The ambiance in Forbes Mill is a little of a mixed bag.  The bar area is well located in the front of the restaurant and is positioned so that it has a comfortable separation from the restaurant.  The colors in the dining room are pleasing, but our table in the middle of the dining room had a bit of an open “banquet room” feel to it.  This might have been mitigated if we were a smaller party seated at one of the side tables.

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