A friend and I chose to meet up and explore the new mall's ?fine dining?. Our first choice was booked. Straits was presented as a second. The semi-sheer curtain of orange silk and dark teak colored wood accents of the restaurant tricked me into believing that this would be a good fit. The hostess informed us that it would be 45 minutes and tethered to a 50 foot radius by our radio receivers. Despite a number of open tables, we waited the full time. We were seated at a table situated so close to the kitchen I could read the labels on the ketchup bottle dispensers. It seems that the fare at Straits would be unable to cope with a shortage of Lemon Grass and Kafir Lime Leaves; all meals require one, if not both. We ordered cocktails from a lengthy and seemingly exciting list. Upon review, the only hint of sophistication was the infused vodka selection, but sadly is destroyed when the drink arrives. I had Regina?s Martini. Straits has made a drink that tastes exactly like yellow cake mix ?and causes tooth decay. I next tried for spice with the Pepper infused Vodka Martini; I've had better ashtry. For my entree, I ordered Redang Beef. It sounded interesting: curried beef with a coconut polenta. If New England wants to know where its Yankee Roast has gone, I can answer, ?Straits in the San Francisco Shopping Center.? The crowning achievement was the Polenta. It was green, rubbery, and looked and tasted like a Cell-O sponge.\r
The service either lived on top of us, or contracted Alzheimers and forgot we existed. The music piped in was certainly danceable but inappropriate. Don?t get me wrong, I like the ?If? by Janet Jackson, but at dinner, it seems a bit too athletic. And finally, the bathrooms. It is a bad sign when you remember the communal sink, the cubbyholes posing as water closets, and paper towels strewn about as if a tornado had touched down rather than the food. Do not go to this restaurant, no matter how short the wait. You will regret it.
Pros: Nice windows and orange silk drape
Cons: Everything else.
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