Annapolis is beloved thanks to West Annapolis (amongst many other wonderful aspects and businesses of the city), but now, there’s another reason to love Annapolis that contains “west.” The Loews Hotel’s kitchen and tavern entitled WEST proves that boring, bland hotel food is no more and that the service, mixed drinks, and ambiance should be downtown chic. Below, you’ll find the details on the delectable and unique food, which is only made better by the casual, hip setting.
“We make our own sodas,” our bubbly waitress with curly hair and painted fingernails tells us, “They are really delicious.” From the flavors of strawberry, melon, and cucumber, I settled on strawberry. Little did I know, the soda was virtually created at the table by the waitress. Every handmade soda is siphoned at a guest’s table, offering near scientific entertainment with the promise of a tangy, sweet soda as the product. Perhaps the old adage “dinner and a show” could be made anew: “soda and a show.” The effervescent bubbles fused beautifully with the macerated fresh strawberries and sugar. Pepsi simply won’t do anymore.
Between the three of us, we split the heirloom tomato salad, sausage pizza, and of course, desserts (yes, desserts is plural there). In a word, the heirloom tomato salad is round. It’s always been said that good things come in small packages, and this is indeed the case with the round little presents on the clean white plate. Jewels of sun-colored tomatoes sit on the plate along with chunks of watermelon, crumbles of blue cheese and tiny macadamia nuts for crunch. A mixture of fresh mint and an herb dressing rests over the top of the balled fruit and tomatoes. This is the quintessential summer salad. Farmers all around Annapolis would be proud.
The heirloom tomato salad teased our taste buds but prepared us for the cheesy, savory, meaty pizza. The sausage pizza comes with broccoli rabe, fontina cheese, sausage crumbles, and a spiced tomato sauce. If the salad is the perfect summer dish, the pizza is the perfect anytime-food. Crunchy yet melted from the cheese and warm sausage, this pizza is worth the carbs.
It only seems natural to end on a sweet note. Dessert at WEST is just like everything else–prepared on site and as cleverly crafted as it gets. Indecisiveness ruled in our favor that day since we were able to test out two marvelous desserts: a peach, caramel, and ice cream concoction and ricotta and orange zeppoles. Our sugar-crazed minds did not think of it then, but the desserts we chose served as the perfect contrast. The ricotta zeppoles, or Italian doughnuts, are warm and much like pillows of salty sweetness. The salted caramel ice cream with oatmeal crumbles, and warm peaches also hints at the balance of salty and sweet, but the layers of flavors and textures make it more substantial.
By the time lunch ended, I had downed three strawberry sodas, some salad, pizza, and too many zeppoles. Despite my resolve to not eat the rest of the day, all was well. The meal wasn’t overpriced, the waitress was kind and offered recommendations, and I could peer at the sometimes busy, sometimes peaceful view of West Street. The chairs were comfortable, the setting stylish and very cool. It was confirmed: WEST is the place to be.
If you’re looking for more information this slightly nutritious, highly delicious hip restaurant, head to http://www.annapoliswestkt.com/.
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