Dine N' Dish Review: The Country Gentleman

Dinner at The Country Gentleman was nothing short of awesome. If you haven’t been there recently, here are a few reasons why you need to go.

This phenomenal dining experience begins from the moment you are warmly greeted by the restaurant hostess, to the moment you take your first bite of the your meal.

Adding to the personable and family feeling in the ambiance, the owners of The Country Gentleman, Steve and Shirley Simmons, personally visit each table when they are in, and greet the guests, thanking them for coming in.  Talk about a touch of good old fashioned class!

And it's always a special treat to meet the Chef of a fine establishment!  Well, we had that pleasure when Chef Renee and Sous Chef Brian came out to personally greet us. It just made our dining experience that much better!  I've got to tell ya, these folks really know how to make their guests feel right at home.

Now, let us tell you all about the amazing meals you need to try...

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

For our appetizer, we had stuffed mushrooms made with crab and shrimp and they were excellent. The ratio of shrimp and crab to mushroom was well proportioned and the flavor was definitely there. I’ve never been a huge fan of eating mushrooms, but these hit the mark. They were perfectly cooked and not only looked delicious, but tasted delicious too.

Soup & Salads

Like most restaurants, Country Gentleman offers soup and salads for their second course. However, there was nothing standard about these soups and salads.

The mixed green salad was light and delicious. The greens were very, very fresh. The vinaigrette was unique and full of flavor.

The Caesar salad was a traditional Caesar made with Romaine lettuce, aged Parmesan cheese, deliciously crunchy croutons, and a tangy, creamy dressing. This salad was an excellent example of taking a dish that’s been a classic for ages and not messing with it.

Let me tell you about the vegetable beef soup.... absolutely homemade. The broth was rich and full of flavor. There were plenty of veggies, but not too many that it took away from the broth. This soup reminded me of soup that came straight out of my mom’s kitchen.

Now onto the entrées...

We each had a separate entrée because we didn’t want to miss anything and I wanted to write about as much food as I could.

Gouda Stuffed Chicken

The Gouda Stuffed Chicken, made with stuffed pears, aged gouda, and served with a rosemary balsamic reduction was cooked perfectly. This chicken was extremely moist and flavorful. Country Gentleman did not skimp on the amount of gouda at all. There was cheese with every bite and it was nice and gooey. To top this entree off, the balsamic reduction the chicken was resting on really complimented the other flavors.

London Broil

Until now, I have never eaten London Broil. It had been marinated to perfection, cooked to a beautiful medium rare, and it was served with some of the best scalloped potatoes I’ve had in a long time (don’t tell Mom).

Prime Rib

The Prime Rib a Country Gentleman’s is cut thick and full of flavor. They do a little something different than most places in the Tri-Cities. They throw their prime rib in their smoker for a couple hours. The hickory flavor this produces is subtle and delicious.

Copper River Salmon

The Copper River salmon was by far the best salmon I’ve ever had. Ever. The salmon was so delicate and flavorful, it could stand on its own. By that, I mean it didn’t need anything else. However, Country Gentleman kicked it up a notch by serving it with a super light and fresh strawberry mango salsa. If you get the chance, and if you love salmon, you need to try this before the season ends.

Scalloped Potatoes

Country Gentleman’s Yukon Scalloped Potatoes are excellent! The potatoes are thinly sliced but weren’t mushy when served. These potatoes were creamy, delicious, and full of flavor.

Mashed Potatoes

The buttery mashed potatoes were just that... buttery and full of flavor. They were perfectly prepared with red potatoes with a little potato skin left to add flavor and texture.

Grilled Asparagus

I’m not the biggest asparagus fan. However, everything else had been delicious so far, so I figured I had nothing to lose. The asparagus did not disappoint. They were crisp and flavorful.

Crème Brûlée

For dessert, we shared the Crème Brûlée and it was excellent! The custard was excellent. But the best part of the Crème Brûlée was the caramelized sugar on top was about a quarter inch thick. It was the thickest sheet of caramelized sugar I’ve ever seen on Crème Brûlée. It was the perfect way to end an awesome meal.

In Summary...

To wrap this all up, dinner at the Country Gentleman was one of the best I’ve had in the Tri-Cities in a long time. I say this because we each had a different entrée. Each of these entrées were fantastic. It’s hard to go to a restaurant and have everyone’s meal be perfect. If you know me and my love for food, you know I don’t make that statement likely. The Country Gentleman completely surpassed any expectations I had going in and I will be a fan of this restaurant for a long time to come.

Now I can’t wait to try breakfast. :D

~Ryan