Vesta Dipping Grill

The same dilemma comes up every year: where to take your mom for Mothers Day. I’m not big on the stale brunch scene; I can down a mimosa and cook a $20 omelet at home thank you very much. And my mom deserves more than a salad with grilled chicken and sesame vinaigrette, after all she has put up with my shenanigans for twenty plus years.

I really wanted to wow her, so this year I took her to Vesta Dipping Grill, on 18th and Blake Street. With twelve entrée selections and 35 pairing sauces (you can choose three), the menu at Vesta certainly is impressive. No plain Jane steak and potatoes here; selections include madras grilled venison, coconut masala tofu steak, and Moroccan spice grilled salmon. All come with their own complementary side dishes and sauce suggestions from the chef. The concept would make any jaded diner as giddy as a kid in a candy store, as the possibilities are endless.

Our experienced and bubbly server offered us sauce suggestions, wine pairings, and fresh bread with a whole head of roasted garlic. She didn’t even write down our order, but memorized our entrée and sauce selections by heart.

My mother decided upon the smoked and grilled duck breast ($23.00). Having been a grill cook, I know how difficult it can be to get the thick layer of fat to melt away into crisp skin while maintaining a medium rare breast. Vesta almost accomplished this task, as there was still a substantial fat cap on the succulent meat. The sliced duck was fanned out across truffled yellow beans and topped with an interesting pea shoot–plum salad. Her sauce choices were the sweet chili ginger, cilantro pesto, and dried berry chutney.

I ordered the garlic grilled scallops ($26.00). The price was justified as soon as the dish arrived: six large scallops were skewered onto bamboo and cooked perfectly. The outside of the scallops were decorated with dark grill marks and a crusty exterior while the interior remained buttery and soft. Served with cherry tomato–fennel salad, fingerling potatoes, and bacon aioli, the dish was reminiscent of a good BLT sandwich.

My sauces were superfluous, as the scallops and its accouterments were perfect on their own. They included the pineapple Pedy marmalade, tamarind chipotle, and Steuben’s chimichurri.

The appeal of Vesta Dipping Grill is getting to choose the sauces to match your entrée. The problem was there is so much going on in my mouth and on my plate; it took away from the dining experience. Neither one of our entrees needed an extra sauce, let alone three.

There are certain situations where an interactive dining experience is much appreciated, like a first date. Vesta also has a warm atmosphere and low key vibe that is very comforting. On the other hand, if you are looking to focus on your dining partner and conversation rather than your meal, skip Vesta. Eat dinner at place where the chef has done all the thinking for you.

Vesta Dipping Grill
World Grill Cuisine│1822 Blake St., 303-296-1970│$16.00-$36.00│Opens 5 p.m. every day, kitchen closes 10 p.m., 11 p.m. Fri-Sat. All major credit cards accepted.

Front Burner: Thousands of possible meat, vegetarian and sauce pairings are possible in this warm and friendly spot.
Back Burner: Sauces can distract from the meal and overwhelm the palate.