Thanks to a recent domain transaction, G-flex and I rolled out to Grill 23 to blow it all on an all-out, celebratory dinner. And that’s exactly what happened. Our goal was to blow up to $500 on the meal, and we nearly did. It ruled.

From the raw bar, we rocked the oysters and shrimp cocktail while he got a Tanqueray 10 martini and I had a couple of “Elite” (read: $20) martinis from the list. Then the appetizers came out, which were steak tartare and calamari, both of which are the best I’ve ever had. We were truly on pace to have an unbelievable dinner.

For the entrees, homes got the steak au poivre and I hit up the 10 oz Kobe. It’s hard to tell if my steak could’ve been any better, but I’m going to go ahead and say no. I got the truffled tater tots, which is possibly the greatest side dish ever invented. Dude studiously wolfed his down as well, and we were onto the drinks.

One of our menus said there was Laphroaig 30 on hand, but alas, the people at Grill 23 are filthy liars, and they didn’t actually have any. So G$ settled for the Laphroaig 10, while I maintained a steady path towards Johnnie Walker Blue Label. After we gulped those, we agreed that it was a meal worthy of all praise and exaltation. The service was prime, the room was swank. Grill 23 came through.