Doug's Downtown Grill

Saturday. July 12, 2014

This month for Margie's Fun Wine Activity we headed over to Garden Grove  for Doug's Downtown Grill, www.dougsdowntowngrill.com, in old Historic Garden Grove. Looks like a typical local watering hole but with a very large dining area in back.

We started with a wine tasting in the bar area. Wines were from  Doug's "cellar". We started off with a Gloria Ferrer, Va de Vi,  sparkling wine. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Moscato.  Nice taste but nothing spectacular. I was unfamiliar with this wine so I looked it up on the website. They list it under their premium wines and retails for $22. I really prefer the pink label of Gloria Ferrer that you can get in some grocery stores for $16.

Next was a 2011 Davis-Bynum, River West Vineyard, Russian River, Chardonnay. No oak on the nose but a light oak taste on the palate. Aged 10 months in new French oak and 2 months in stainless. This would be good with some "fat" to cut the oak. We were served a "pita bread" pizza. Lots of toppings and very good. It also paired well with the wine.

A 2011 Davis-Bynum, Janes Vineyard, Russian River, Sonoma, Pinot Noir came our way. A good wine, again nothing outstanding but a solid wine.

Last was a 2010 Niner, Boot Jack Ranch, Paso Robles, Cabernet Sauvignon. Big disappointment. All fruit and no structure. This wine will be gone in just a few years. Drink now. I did not finish this wine.  They served a "fried eggroll" made with Chorizo and Hatch chili's. Excellent flavor but it sure clashed with the wine.

The room was a bit noisy and Doug stood at the end of the first table to tell us what wines and or food we were having. Most of the time I could not hear what he was saying. It was like the second table did not exist for him.

After the tasting a few more join us for dinner in the dining area. Ulda, a waitress we used to have at Preveza is now at Doug's Downtown Grill and was assigned to our table. It was nice to see her again. We had our choice of dishes. I took the onion soup which was very good but a bit salty. Others had the house made clam chowder and they were happy with their choice. A salad was also offered. Main courses were steak, pork chop or halibut. I opted for the macadamia nut crusted halibut. The halibut was way to thin. Would have preferred a smaller piece but thicker so I could taste the fish. As it was the crust over whelmed the fish.  Several people had the 16 oz Pork Chop. Most said theirs was on the dry side. The 12 oz Sirloin steak had mixed reviews. Dessert was a choice of house made buttermilk pie and creme brulee. The pie was excellent but the  creme brulee looked scorched.

So mixed reviews on Doug's. I would go back and try the place again, give it a second chance. But it would have to up its game for me to keep it on my list of where to go places.

An assortment of wines were brought. Several I tasted but did not get to all of them. I needed several more glasess to be able to pour the wines. It seems every time a wine was offered from the other end of the table  I had wine in my glass already. I would have liked to try the Rose and the Cortese de Gavi but it didn't work out.


2007 Loring,  Russell Family Vineyard, Paso Robles,  Pinot Noir
2011 Loring, Santa Lucia Highlands, Pinot Noir
2007 Acre, Central Coast, Merlot
2004 Cellar Magic, Vandenkamp Vineyard, Sonoma Mtn. Pinot Noir
2012 Waterbrook, Columbia Valley, Chardonnay
2007 Tolo, Paso Robles, Mouvedre
NV   Rodederer Estate, Anderson Valley,  Brut, Sparkling
2010 Evening Land, Evening Land Estate, Sta. Rita Hills, Pinot Noir
2012 Pio Cesare, Italy,  Cortese de Gavi,
2009 Windward, Paso Robles, Monopole, Pinot Noir
2013 Denner, Paso Robles, Rose
2010 Petit Guiraud, Sauterne