I visited Larkin’s in its new location in Camperdown square. This is a vibrant, upscale restaurant serving steaks and fresh seafood. There is some outdoor patio seating in both the front and back, along with a large bar area upon entering, which was packed on this particular evening. I didn’t visit the original restaurant on the river, but I can say the new location has some tight spaces for seating and for the servers to move around. A few times, I noticed servers at tables needing to step aside to allow others, whether patrons or co-workers, to pass through.
Sangria
I started off with their Sangria, which is one of their specialty cocktails. It was delightful! Made with red wine, brandy, brown sugar, pineapple, orange and lime, it wasn’t too sweet and I could definitely get notes of orange and citrus mixed throughout.
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake was my choice for appetizer. Two crab cakes topped with Old Bay seasoned popcorn and scallions. The crab cakes were delicious! There was a little crunch on the outside, but the inside was visibly full of fresh tasting crab. Not a lot of filler for sure, which makes an impeccable crab cake. The one thing I didn’t quite get was the popcorn adorned atop the crab cakes. To me, popcorn doesn’t belong anywhere on the menu in an upscale restaurant. Maybe, possibly… at the bar …? But not even certain about that. It didn’t provide anything extra to the already delicious crab cake. It was actually very odd to me, very salty, and I picked it off and frankly feel like it needs to be left off the crab cakes period. It took away from the crab cakes, as it wasn’t aesthetically pleasing and added nothing to the palate.
Peach Burrata Salad with side of Truffle Fries
I am always interested in different items, so I decided to try the Peach Burrata Salad. It was a bed of arugula topped with fresh local sliced peaches, almond granola, sprinkled with harissa spice and peach-turmeric vinaigrette with the burrata in the center. I was a little hesitant about the harissa and turmeric with peaches, but it worked, and it worked well. There was a little bit of heat every now and then combined with the sweetness of peach and the creamy softness of the burrata, plus the crunch from the granola. I would definitely order this again and it would be a great lunch as it was fresh and tasty.
Demkota Elite Filet Mignon
I was torn between the Sea Bass and the Filet, but I chose the 7 oz Demkota Elite Filet Mignon prepared medium-well. Oh! My! Goodness! … this was hands down the best steak I think I have ever put in my mouth. The Demkota Elite is a lean and tender cut with the lowest amount of marbling. As tender as it was, I think I probably could have cut it with my fork. The flavor of this steak was just something you have to try for yourself. It had a good sear on the outside, but was juicy and served with herb-seasoned butter that was melting overtop. You could taste the quality in this cut of meat. The entrées are served a’ la carte here, so I decided to try the truffle fries. They were good, served with an aioli for dipping, seasoned with grated parmesan, parsley and truffle mist. They were very tasty and seasoned well without the aioli.
Peach and Berry Cobbler
I looked over the dessert menu and although my server recommended the Apple Caramel Cake, I chose the seasonal Peach and Berry Cobbler. This thing was amazing! Because it is made fresh, it did take a little while to get it once I ordered. But it came out piping-hot and was packed full of fresh peaches, blackberries, and blueberries encrusted with a cobbler crust and a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream. This thing isn’t on the permanent menu, but if you ever get the option to try it, do it!!
My one disappointment here was the music. I don’t believe I have ever been to an upscale restaurant and listened to 50’s music. It made me feel like I should have been in a diner instead of a white tablecloth steakhouse. That didn’t set the mood for a romantic evening or date night. The other thing I will say about Larkin’s is to be prepared to drop some $$$$. It is a little pricey, but YOLO – right?
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-Tennessee Taster
