That Sundae
Sly's restaurant in Carpinteria might seem like a retro American joint from San Francisco circa 1900 with the dark wood and tiled floor to it's blue plate specials. It's really a French-American restaurant in disguise. Put into the blender an American steakhouse (Kansas City NY, Bone In), French brasserie (Onion Soup Gratinée), old-line continental restaurant (Oysters Rockerfeller) and a nice Italian joint somewhere in N.Y. (Linguini with Clams) and you have a sense of the culinary point of view.The menu reflects chef/owner James Sly's omnivorous career from a cook at a coffee shop in Fullerton, California to cooking at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco with stints at the Chez Carey (bygone classic in Orange, CA), Martha's Vineyard, Regine's disco and the Ritz in Paris for good measure.
Chef Sly has a seriously conservative point of view in his execution of those classics. Though Shalt Not Mess with the Classic could well be the mantra over the kitchen door. The true-to-form execution of the dishes redeems the "tired old favorites" as chef Sly is apt to chant. Shrimp "Scampi Style" and "Our Famous Mac and Cheese" are not ground breaking dishes from the pages of Art Culinaire magazine represent real food that people love to eat. It's a simple formula, great ingredients, seasoned and accurately prepared.
Oh yes, there are "classics" at the bar as well with the vintage cocktails from 1830-1953.
And...be sure and have the dessert "That Sundae." It is perfection in an anatomically correct sundae glass with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce whipped cream(fresh of course) and salted-caramelized pecans. It is one of those last meal dishes.
Chef Michael
Vintage Cocktails
Sly's Dinner Menu
