Lots of buzz in lots of places about Pax Americana, the new Montrose restaurant that boasts an original Andy Warhol in the dining room. Way cool, but there’s even more to like about this place than the décor.
The minute you walk in the door, you get the vibe—high energy! The dining room isn’t large but is sleek and sophisticated, housing banquet-style tables that invite conversation. There’s also a spacious outdoor patio that will be in high demand come spring with its big, comfy couches. Even now, the covered portion of the patio is a nice spot to dine, especially if you’re looking for a quiet meal.
The food is contemporary American, and the menu is designed around beautifully adorned small plates, most priced at under $20. We didn’t know it when we sat down, but we were about to undertake a daunting task. Who knew ordering four small plates would turn out to be a small feast!
Have your camera ready before you dive in ‘cause once you start, there may be no stopping. We started the first round with the perfectly roasted Acorn Squash, a dish that offered a combination of addictive savory and sweet flavors—one bite led to the next.
The seasonal squash, peppered with toasted pecans, was flavored with an exotic French-Indian spice called vadouvan, usually a blend of garlic, onion, shallots and spices that chefs embellish to suit their own taste. I suspect this dish also had a little cinnamon in its mix. Perhaps it was hidden in the scrumptious sauce, which the menu called a ‘chamomile-golden raisin puree.’ We cleaned the plate:
Brussels sprouts fans, you would have loved round two of this meal — the Brussels Sprouts and Radish with a rich, green garlic aioli. These two dishes alone could have been dinner, but we let our four course order stand.
Up next, a beautiful salmon filet with a perfectly crisped skin, the kind home cooks crave! Tiny turnips and a few other veggies were also in the mix on this plate, all highlighted with a sunchoke cream sauce—slightly sweet with hints of artichoke.
What came next may have been the star of the night–the Grilled Octopus with bacon-braised kale in a cauliflower-anchovy puree. Generous dollops of lemon curd dotted the plate, again playing with that combo of sweet and savory flavors:
I’m sure desserts here also shine, but after this feast we called it a night. I’ll definitely go back for more! BTW, the wine list is reasonable, and Pax Americana is known for their craft cocktails too. Reservations here are a good idea.
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