POSTED: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 4:54 PM
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| Courtesy of Granite Hill |
Last week, we were invited to a preview of
Granite Hill,
Stephen Starrs "new" restaurant at the Art Museum. (Check out our early coverage of SRO at PMA
here and
here. All these acronyms, WTF!). Starr took on the task of transforming the museums old restaurant during its off hours, because you cant just close one of the most popular museums in the country to rework a burger. While there is still more work to do (Starrs first words upon entering Granite Hill were a note to change the lights), the flagship restaurant is morphing into a French café in Fairmount Park.
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| Courtesy of Granite Hill |
The name calls back to the history of the Art Museum, but the food will call to the present exhibitions. On our visit, we were treated to a special salad inspired by the Pistoletto exhibit running through January. Regular menu highlights include fried Blue Point oysters with madras curry remolade and petite vegetable slaw; jumbo lump crab cakes with shaved vegetable salad and Euro cocktail sauce; potato fried Schnitzel with fried egg, lemon caper, heirloom tomato and watercress; and the "Le Haute Dog," a
D'Angelo Bros. chicken, veal and pork sausage with toasted Gruyere on a brioche bun.
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| Courtesy of Granite Hill |
We predict that the Hill Burger (above) a blend of brisket and short rib, topped with melted fontina on a truffle sesame bun will become the talked-about item at Granite Hill. Alongside both the burger and the dog come twice-fried Kennebec potatoes crispy on the inside, mashed potato-esque inside.
Here, in PDF form, are the
dinner, brunch, beverage and
dessert menus.
Granite Hill is open for lunch Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To coincide with the "Art After Five" program, Friday dinner is available between 5 and 7.