Let’s start off by getting right to the point. Chef Scott James, quite possibly, is the best chef at the best restaurant in all of Raleigh. Yes, it was just that good. I’ll understand if you stop reading now, as long as you are on your way to the Midtown Grille. Without question, if there is a special occasion or even an elaborate date, then this is the place to go. Our waiter, Chad, was incredibly informed. He had previously sampled all of the dishes, could explain any ingredient, and could offer an honest opinion on the dishes. He made our dining experience very pleasurable and was one of the most helpful waiters that I have ever seen. The regionally seasonal menu that they have left us with many fresh and creative options to choose from. In fact, we had much difficulty deciding what to choose given all of the appealing options.
With a plethora of specials to choose from (three appetizers and three entrées), our ears perked up when Chad mentioned the Chef’s Macaroni & Cheese. While it technically was an entrée, he told us that people have ordered it as a shared appetizer. Megan and I could not resist it. It arrived in a large, oval casserole dish. The Vermont Cabot Sharp Cheddar melted through the elbow macaroni. The cheese sauce was very thick and stuck to the noodles perfectly. The dish was topped with finely crumbled Ritz crackers and then lightly browned. It was amazing. Megan typically compares Macaroni & Cheese to her Grandmother’s, which is great. Chef James made the first Macaroni and Cheese that is as good as, if not better, than Gran’s. That is saying something. 
Megan ordered the Swordfish as her entrée. The grilled swordfish was served over a lemon and wilted arugula risotto with a red pepper piquillo butter plated at the bottom. Roasted red peppers and arugula then topped the beautifully cooked swordfish. Three jumbo NC white shrimp that were a slightly sweet accompaniment to the dish, then adorned the tower of food. Not only was the meal visually stimulating, but the taste was fantastic. Megan describes it as being perfect, just perfect. In fact, I was consistently trying to steal bites of her dinner whenever she looked away. 
I ordered what Chad said was one of the Chef’s signature dishes, the Seared Diver Scallops. The scallops were seared golden brown on all 360 degrees, almost appearing as if they were fried, but the inside was fresh, lightly opaque, and deliciously sweet. The four huge scallops were stacked upon a lattice of asparagus, intricately laid out as if the chef was playfully building a log cabin out the vegetable. Surrounding the scallops was a cauliflower veloute combined with capers, golden raisins, and pancetta. This dish was very good. The scallops were bronzed perfectly, but as with most scallop dishes, the four scallops on the dish made me wish for more, despite their impressive size. The saltiness of the capers and the sweetness of the raisins were a nice addition to the veloute. While I thought it could use a little more salt to balance the normally bland flavor of cauliflower, the sauce was unexpected and a perfect accompaniment and balance to the sweet scallops. I would recommend this dish, but I almost wish I tried the Chef’s other specialty, the Ancho chili and espresso rubbed NY Strip as it looked amazing when our neighboring table ordered it.
For dessert, we ordered the Vanilla Mascarpone Cheesecake. Wow! The cheesecake was super creamy and had a thick graham cracker crust. (We thought the graham cracker crust tasted like it was infused with a ginger snap taste, but our waiter told us we were mistaken.) The cheesecake had a layer of vanilla-infused mascarpone on top that was delightful. The triangular plate was drizzled with strawberry and raspberry sauces with the cheesecake placed on top. Two raspberries adorned the top of the cake. It was seriously wonderful and a fabulous way to finish our meal. 
Our evening at The Midtown Grille was wonderful. In fact, my biggest and only complaint is that their website isn't updated with their summer dinner menu. We would gladly recommend this restaurant to everyone. In fact, for any birthday, holiday, or special occasion, this is the restaurant at the top of our list. Chef Scott James is an artist who has placed the Midtown Grille at the top of Raleigh’s restaurant world. While it was an expensive evening, this is the place to go for a world-class meal. Category | Scale 1-5 stars |
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