MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER (August 12, 2005)

By Stacey Little

FOOD: My disappointment at seeing Crepes Egg Cetera leave Montgomery was quickly erased by my experience with Red Star Tavern, which now occupies the same location in the Shoppes at EastChase. My dining companion and I started our dinner with the Onion Stack from their appetizer menu. It arrived stacked high with delicious crunchy onion rings with ranch and spicy mayo dipping sauces. For my entrée I opted for the New York Strip with Grilled Asparagus and Parmesan Au Gratins. The steak was incredible, cooked to perfection. As the name suggests, the Parmesan Au Gratins were thin slices of potato au gratin style with lots of parmesan cheese. My dining companion chose the Prime Rib French Dip, which was outstanding. For dessert we went with our server's recommendation and tried the Carrot Cake. What arrived was the biggest piece of cake I have ever seen served in any restaurant. It was great. The cream cheese frosting was delectable. It was plenty to share and still take half home.

SERVICE: Though our server seemed a little inexperienced, another friendly server named Aileen was incredible! She was eager to pick up where our regular server left off.

ATMOSPHERE: Red Star Tavern offers three separate dining areas to suit any mood. There's an outdoor patio with a bar, a large indoor cocktail area, and a dining room.

VALUE: I have no problem paying a little more for good food and even though the bill between us totaled nearly $70 with a tip, it was well worth it.

OTHER THOUGHTS: One of my favorite things about this new dining spot is their iced tea. It's not just Lipton or Red Diamond, but Tazo Black Tea. It seems like such a little change but makes a huge difference.

By Paige Brennan

FOOD: As I walked into the slightly funky, hip restaurant, I thought if the food wasn't good, I would at least enjoy the atmosphere. And after the appetizer, I thought that would be the case. The crab cakes were completely average; though it was an interesting twist to serve them with not only remoulade, but crispy onions and cole slaw. However, I then proceeded to the pot roast (recommended by my sister). The beef was tender with marvelous pearl onions and a delicious gravy. Hidden under yet another side of crispy onions were tasty mashed potatoes. My date enjoyed a large bowl of jambalaya. For dessert we split a massive slab of key lime pie. My recently developed strep throat tells me this might not have been such a good idea for my poor date. Strep throat aside, however, the dessert was slightly tart with just the right amount of whipped cream topping it. The lime zest, though, had not softened and this caused small hard pieces to compete with the softness of the dessert.

SERVICE: Our server, Caroline, did an excellent job. She was polite, outgoing, and never forgot a request. Really, she's the kind of unobtrusive server you wish to find at more restaurants.

ATMOSPHERE: You have three choices of seating areas: cocktail bar, dining area, or outdoors. There are bars both inside and out and the menu offers a tempting selection of martinis. The pictures on the wall, the low lighting, and the quiet atmosphere lend a romantic touch to this stylish restaurant.

VALUE: Red Star is definitely more of an upscale tavern. Prices are a bit higher than most, but the food is plentiful and plated beautifully.

OTHER THOUGHTS: The crowd, for the most part, appears to be professionals in their 20s and 30s. Whenever I have passed by, there always seems to be a group of people hanging around having fun.

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