Gird Your Loins: Sa Za's Outstanding

Justin Gaines

Something is amiss with Urban Spoon-Montgomery.  Mimerton, home from Ole Miss, wanted to try Sa-Za's for dinner Saturday night. Being an avid Urban Spooner, I checked it out and saw three "awful"/"terrible"/"disgusting" reviews of Sa-Zas posted this month (March 2010) and tried to talk her out of going there.  Thankfully, she was determined so, along with Toadpot and Tayteese, we made reservations, girded our loins and proceeded down to Gumptown and Sa-Za's Serious Italian Food. We were, simply said, blown away and now skeptical about the motives behind the recent terrible reivews. [I note that Araess--a very finicky eater--had given the place a good review not long ago].

Fortunately, many in the Gump ignored the negativity and joined the crowd at Sa-Za's for dinner Saturday night. The place was buzzing with energy.  The "alley" bar was open and high-tops outside and under the awning on the Commerce Street sidewalk were full of patrons eating and drinking in apparent satisfaction.

Our table, thanks to "Zeke", was waiting for us at 8:15 p.m. and we were seated and immediately greeted by Jennifer who was perky, cute and attentive.  There was no sign of poor service or a poor attitude by anyone I observed working the room.  There behind the "chef's table" was Justin Gaines fresh from winning the Choppped chef competition on the Food Network. Maybe he was not there when the Urban Spoon reviewers were eating, but he was there tonight and everything--I mean everything--was outstanding. 

I started us out with the peppers appetizer. Plenty for four and very tasty.  A bottle of the house pinot noir chased it as the girls discussed the men they saw at the bar who had dumped their friends. Women in the Gump protect their own.

I then ordered the pork loin covered in a white wine butter sauce with thin-sliced potatoes and peppers. I wanted to lick the plate. If I had not been seen by my probation officer, I would have.

Toadpot ordered the raviioli.  She allowed me to try one.  It was light and delicious.  She raved about it. I understand why.

Mimerton ordered some flattened chicken with pesto sauce and she loved it. She could not eat it all and, contrary to her usual position on "go-boxes", was not ashamed to take home lunch for Sunday.

Tayteese ordered something off the menu that came in a large bowl. It was a heavier pasta dish but extremely good.  Ditto for her on the "doggie box" no doggie would ever see.

The girls twisted my arm and forced me to order the cheescake and termasu (sp?) for desert.  Both were lighter than expected and devoured quickly.

I was happy to pay the $120 tab for four and left with the thanks of the group for a wonderful meal in a cool place where--when I could tear myself away from the remarks about men dating younger women--the NCAA tourney was on the flatscreen over the bar. (Did some nobody really beat Obama's pick to win it all: Kansas?)

The whole experience was so much better than average that I have to again mention that you cannot always believe the reviews you see on the Spoon.  Perhaps some have ulterior motives.  I, for one, can recommend Sa-Za's performance on this night without hesitation. This place deserves higher than a 69% approval rating (as of tonight).

Lagniappe at Lunde's

Fat Clemenza walked me down to Lunde's today so we could console ourselves with some comfort food. The Gang had favorably rated Lunde's previously (see Oct. 11, 2009 and Sept. 10, 2009 reviews) so we found the little place on the first floor corner of the Historic Bell Building and went in around noon. (The place is open 11a-2p for lunch) There were not many there when we arrived but business picked up as we lunched in this quaint place with a lot of homey touches from the Big Easy.

Since the place has been so well reviewed, I will not repeat what has been stated. However, I just have to let everyone know about the "Blackened Pork Loin" available on the Meat and Three Menu. (Here is where Carpasaurus i.e. "The Cornbread Carp" may become interested). When the meat and three arrived I was surprised to see that there was a  square of fluffy, cakey, twinkie-like tasty CORNBREAD the size of a Buick next to the porkus loinus! See below:

Photo by Darla, special to LITG, used with permission. Not actual size.

One funny event: Fat Clemenza asked if one of the vegetable choices--macaroni and cheese--was 'home made.' The smart ass in me would have normally quipped: "Mac and Cheese is about as man-made as a 'vegetable' can ever get." I held my tounge and the waitress politely responded that the M & C was homemade. This caused me to wonder: Are any vegetgables really "home made?" Cake can be "home" made, pie can be "home" made but vegetables?  My green beans and corn were certainly good but I wouldn't think they were "home made." Doesn't the Big Guy Upstairs get some of the credit for "making" them?  Nevertheless, the main point here is that the veggies were tasty and fresh, but the surprise cornbread square was lagniappe! The "other white meat" loin was just perfectly prepared and a generous portion. (Did they know we were professional restaurant reviewers?) Best of all, the price ($7.50 with tea) allowed me to pick up the tab for Fat-C and tip generously all for a "Jackson." Now that's value in the Gump. So try Lunde's, it's now officially Shadow Pup tested, Shadow Pup approved.