It’s anniversary time! Hard to believe that 40 years ago Kevin and I had our first date. I’m not sure how time can pass so quickly. In so many ways it seems like we’re just getting started. At the same time, I hardly recall life without him. That first date was at a restaurant that no longer exists: Classic Carriage & Car Company at Heritage Landing in St. Charles, Missouri. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you even dined there with someone who turned out to be pretty special. I know I did. Seems silly to celebrate the anniversary of a first date, but I knew that night that something was about to change for both of us. The calendar date was made even more significant a year later when we got engaged. So, yes, we celebrate! I love a good excuse to eat at unique places.
Old Dutch Hotel & Tavern in Washington, Missouri was the perfect spot for our date. Street parking made for a quick walk to the front door. Once inside the three-story brick building, we could choose to grab a seat at the bar, or in our case, a table for two. We made reservations, which was a good thing since it was getting crowded on a Thursday night.
Our server was Linda, a 13-year employee who is fantastic at welcoming guests and offering just the right amount of attention. I asked her for cocktail suggestions and agreed with her choice: Big B! Big B was a beautiful shade of purple and contained vodka, pineapple juice, and blueberry syrup over ice. She told me to give it a little stir to mix the blueberry syrup that settled on the bottom. The result was a perfect sip!
The menu offered something for just about anyone. I had a hard time deciding between the Mushroom Bourbon Chicken and the German Schnitzel. After much consideration (I am terrible at deciding – too many awesome choices) I chose the chicken. What an excellent decision! It was a chargrilled chicken breast covered in melted baby Swiss cheese and mushroom-bourbon sauce sitting on top a pile of chunky mashed potatoes. It was so delicious! The chicken was moist and tender and had just the right amount of char and sauce. I loved the Old Dutch mashed potatoes, which were rustic and elegant at the same time, buttery, with texture. Dragging my fork through the sauce and potatoes made for a perfect bite. And even though there were only three asparagus spears on the plate, they were perfectly grilled, crisp, and tender.
Kevin knew what he wanted to order (because he likes to look up menus ahead of time); an uncharacteristic choice for him was the 12-ounce Bourbon-Butter Chop. Normally that’s way too big for him, but he was up for the challenge. The pork chop was dry-rubbed then chargrilled, which Old Dutch seems to do very well! It was topped with a bourbon-butter glaze, which gave it just the right amount of smokiness with a tiny bit of heat. Of course, we had to taste each other’s entrees.
The atmosphere at Old Dutch is a comforting blend of old world charm with modern touches. The bar area is separated by a partial wall with stained glass panels. An oversized chalk board details the beer and wine selections. If you wander to the back of the tavern in search of the restrooms, the signage has beautiful lettering directing you where to go. Everything was clearly labeled. Winding down the narrow staircase on a trip to the restrooms was very reminiscent of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, an interesting journey with just a touch of creepiness wondering where it will lead. (It leads to the restrooms!)
If you wish to stay at the historic hotel, there are 14 rooms in the renovated brick building. We only stayed for dinner, but will definitely consider a return trip and overnight stay. I encourage you to visit the Old Dutch Tavern & Hotel in the downtown shopping district in Washington, Missouri. Ask for Linda and tell her Laura sent you! Tell her I’m coming back to try the German Schnitzel very soon!
After dinner we enjoyed a stroll toward the riverfront and checked out a few other places to try next. Let us know where you’d like us to go. We don’t need an anniversary to try a new place and enjoy a great meal.
