Orsay. A Dining Experience.

[BridgeTroll]

Wild duck and domestic duck are almost two different creatures with regard to taste.  Wild duck contains almost no fat and needs to either have fat added (like bacon) or slow roasted or braised.

Domestic duck contains a fairly high fat content that is easily rendered out.  The skin is delicious!

[Captain Zissou]

Duck is my favorite protein, other than tuna.  Ruan Thai does a nice Crispy Duck.  I have not had it at Orsay, but I'll soon change that.  Regarding price, I got out of Orsay for $30 the other day, for just myself.  I pity the fool who pays $200 for a meal.  Unless they're buying my dinner.

Question:  Between the Brick and Orsay, whose shrimp and grits do people prefer?  The two places prepare them very differently, but I am currently leaning towards the Brick. 

[iluvolives]

I've had the shrimp and grits off Orsay's brunch menu (not sure if its different from their daily menu) and I loved it. While I love the Brick for it's out door seating and live music, I'm never overly impressed with their food.

If you like shrimp and grits there is a place called 29 South in downtown Fernandina that has AMAZING shrimp and grits.

[fieldafm]

Really?

I don't particularly like shrimp and grits at either establishment to be honest.  When I have Yankee guests in town, I always take them to Barbara Jean's for shrimp and grits.

Actually converted a Boston resident into a full fledged shrimp and grits fan now.

[blizz01]

I know that Metro Diner has recently added shrimp & grits as well. 

[cybertique]

When was the last time you and your friends said "let's have French"?.  Or duck?   Give me a break, that's a foodie thing that does not sell with the masses.  And you all know I speak the truth.   So cut the crap!

[cybertique]

Just ask John how that Chew thing is working out for him downtown.  At a $9 price point for lunch?

[Brian Siebenschuh]

Here we go again…

If you missed out on the epic thread a year or so ago on Jacksonville Confidential about Orsay and the myth of the $70 brunch, go check it out (spoiler alert â€" it’s not a myth, it’s a personal choice).

The goal at Orsay is to provide a great dining experience at any price point.  Am I thrilled if a table of two spends $200 or $300 or $400?  Well… yeah.  I work my ass off (along with Crystal, Jon, and all of our staff) to provide a good product, and it’s especially rewarding to serve guests who are, for whatever reason, choosing to really live it up on a given night.  Foie gras, lobster, filet mignon, and grand cru Burgundy are expensive, and so we relish the opportunity to share in our guests’ experience when they choose to indulge.  But, at our core, we’re a neighborhood restaurant.  So... I wasn’t an accounting major, but as a public service for those of you that may not be able to figure out how to dine at my restaurant without spending $200 on dinner (or $70 on brunch, as the case may be), I’d like to offer the following…

Recommended Orsay experiences for two, at various price points, out the door â€" 20% tip and 7% tax included.  Menu descriptions are abbreviated and informal for the purpose of this conversation, and prices have been rounded up.

Movie Night
Appetizer â€" No time for that, you’ve got a movie to get to
Entrees â€" Locally raised grass-fed beef burger, house-made brioche bun, a massive pile of the fries that everybody has talked about enough already; Spring vegetable shepherd’s pie
Dessert â€" Large box of Whoppers at the theatre (gotta love that fractionated and partially hydrogenated  palm kernel oil), OR one of our 100% hand-crafted desserts made with stuff like Valrhona chocolate, Tahitian vanilla beans, farm fresh eggs, and/or local blueberries
Drinks â€" A couple draft beers; take your pick
Tab- $51.25 with the Whoppers, $55 with an Orsay dessert

Plain Old Weeknight Dinner Out
Shared Appetizer â€" Mussels with white wine, garlic, and butter
Entrées â€" Quiche with mushrooms, spinach, and baby lettuces; Croque Madame with spiced pork shoulder, Gruyere, roasted garlic cream, and a fried egg
Shared Dessert â€" My pastry chef is the best in the city, and all the desserts are 8 bucks
Drinks â€" Bottles of house wine (white, red, or rose) are twenty bucks, and they’re all real wine.  They’re not California appellation plonk from a 1.5L or over-the-hill bottlings that have been stored in a hot warehouse for the last three years that multi-national booze distributors pawn off on uneducated buyers.  Our house wine program over-delivers.
Tab â€" 82 bucks

The Cybertique
Now we’re talking some serious dining â€" listen up and listen good, MetroJacksonville readers â€" two glasses of bubbles ON ME for anyone that comes in to Orsay and orders this menu by name â€" tell your server / bartender “We’ll have the Cybertique”.  You are obligated, however, to go to the recently named King Street District that I live a block away from and have some after dinner drinks.  Try not to get mugged or buy any crack â€" check Cybertique’s posts on that recent thread if you’re wondering what I’m talking about.  No substitutions allowed and you must order the menu by name.

Course One
Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras

Course Two
Cassoulet with duck confit  & pan roasted duck breast (you knew I was going to do that, didn’t you?)

Course Three
A couple desserts â€" house-made s’mores, banana brioche bread pudding, house-made ice creams, whatever you want

Drinks
Two complimentary glasses of house sparkling wine as an aperitif, which does throw off the extremely scientific value quotient I’m trying to calculate here, but what the hell.  Take advantage of the fact that writing diatribes like this is what I do on my “time off”.  Follow that with a bottle of Patricia Green Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and cap off the night with a shared glass of Croft 10 Year Tawny Port.

Tab $199, bill for the cab ride home since you’ve eaten yourselves into a coma and consumed 6 glasses of wine plus port is your responsibility…

In summation…  We’re a locally owned & operated restaurant that serves thousands of guests every month.  We employ a team of forty or so people who are all happy to work for us, and work extremely hard to help us produce one of the best dining experiences in north Florida.  Their day starts at 8AM and ends at 1AM.  If what we do isn’t to your liking, find something to do with your time that brings you happiness â€" slagging a successful, locally owned business that provides a service lots of other people enjoy really doesn’t do anything to improve anyone’s life, now does it?

[RockStar]

Sieb- The Cybertique!!! LMAO

You're f'n hilarious.

~j.

[BridgeTroll]

 

Awesome Brian... just effing AWESOME!

[billy]

Can someone on Death Row in Florida have food sent in from Orsay for their last meal?

[cybertique]

Wow!  Thanks Brian, you make me feel so special. And you made my day!  But I think we will continue to spend our bucks at Biscottis, Ruan and 'Town. 

[Captain Zissou]

I've not been to 'Town so I don't know if it's true, but it has gotten criticism on this site for being too pricey.  What is the difference between the two that makes you favor 'Town over Orsay, Cybertique? 

[Allan D]

cybertiques review of 'Town May 27th

Three of us went for a bite to eat. First off, they use water that is poured into clear glass bottles. No ice in our glass, and it was luke warm. I know it is a trendy thing to do, but come on, who likes to drink tepid  tap water. The prices started at 4 bucks, basically these offerings were two bites of food. By the time we left we spent over 150 bucks for 2 burgers, a tiny lobster, more like a large shrimp, which was entirely to salty, as were the burgers, a crispy duck, almost raw desert donuts and 3 glasses of wine. The wine selection is out there (where did they get this list?) and expensive for the amount you get. The bartender reminded me of the Fuel groupies who used to hang out on the sidewalk in 5 Points, very 5 years ago with the tattoos up his neck and arms...not very appetizing to look at while you are eating.  Young and loud was the crowd. A pricey place for those who want to pretend they're not in Jacksonville anymore.  As to the interior design... brick and glass just like everywhere else. 

cybertiques comments today -
Wow!  Thanks Brian, you make me feel so special. And you made my day!  But I think we will continue to spend our bucks at Biscottis, Ruan and 'Town.

- that means perplexed - right?

[Captain Zissou]

Come on Allan, you ruined my fun.  Don't you know I had that quote ready to go the second cybertique responded??  Oh well, guess I'll have to catch the old bird in a different contradiction.  Maybe cybertique will start giving Kickbacks rave reviews soon.