H&L with friends

Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. - stellar as always. it wasn't just me who keeps saying this - one of our friends and dining companions stole my words by commenting that the food just had this great mix of flavors. it was her first time at H&L like others we brought with us that night, and everyone seemed pretty impressed, regardless of the variety of what was ordered --from cocktails, to apps, to pizzas, to meat and fish. the only thing we couldn't quite reach was dessert

basically items that appear very simple, clear-cut, and clean (as i think they should), have so much more going on in terms of taste --to the point where it is sometimes hard to even have the vocabulary for some of the flavors (at least for me) 

I absolutely love innovation - so i always pressure (nag?) everyone to try H&L's hummus offering.  sometimes it's carrot, or avocado, but usually-as with last night - it was beet.  and forget the pressuring, i just made sure to get an order for the table.

wasn't even exactly as i remembered it, but it was really fantastic --and i was sooo pleased even those at the table who are very leery of beets (multiple people in this category of course) were pretty impressed, if i may report back what they said at the time 

the other offering of theirs that is consistently great and not a common one around town is the fritto misto, so again, i cut to the chase and got it for the table 

after that, i personally had the tuna special - the tuna was great. it was tuna; that's a chef's to mess up, right?  but the _presentation_ and the dressing of ingredients surrounding it took it to a whole different place! this smear of beets (again? yes.) and these little grape-like things (i really should have taken a pic of the specials menu - i was just too hungry and excited to dive in) and especially the quartered almonds - - added so much flavor and texture. it was just great. 

the only pic i can add is of the scene at the end ...food devoured from plates and a series of empty glasses.