VAN ALSTYNE - Recently, my wife and I decided to embark on a Saturday night foodie adventure to Van Alstyne.
Burnt by J.H. was recommended to us by a very dear friend, and we are so glad we went. It is close to home, yet it may as well have been a world away.
In downtown Van Alstyne, many of the old buildings that are still standing have been turned into shops, restaurants and little boutiques. Exposed brick walls and original hardwood floors are beautifully preserved so that the character and charm of the buildings can be enjoyed for years to come.
As soon as we walked in, we were warmly welcomed by the host who asked if we had reservations. I had remembered to make a reservation, and she immediately sat us at a very nice half-booth/half-table along the exposed brick walls.
After scanning over both the food and drink menus, we knew this was going to be a great meal.
My wife and I started with the wedge salad, always our absolute favorite. Burnt by J.H.’s wedge comes with bleu cheese, buttermilk dressing, a wedge of iceberg lettuce, cut-up grape tomatoes, candied pecans and chopped bacon.
The flavors and seasonings of the buttermilk dressing reminded me of a pungent Caesar dressing, but it was outstanding with the mix of sweetness from the pecans and the saltiness of the bacon.
The salad course hit all of the flavor senses.
For our next course, we decided to share the 16 ounce ribeye. We asked for it to be cooked right between mid-rare and medium and got it “Burnt” style, a peppery crust on the steak and served with a sauce similar to an au poivre sauce.
It came out hot, perfectly cooked and unbelievably tender. The crust on the steak had a very nice spicy and smoky flavor to it.
We also got a side of their Gouda mac & cheese to share that was out-of-this-world amazing. The richness of both the Gouda and sharp cheddar combined with the pasta cooked al dente won my award for best side dish of the year. Gouda makes everything good-a.
To cap off the meal, for dessert, my wife and I split a piece of cheesecake topped with a berry compote. Our waiter told us that all of their desserts are made by the Frosted Shoppe over in Denison.
This was really good because that cheesecake felt like it came straight out of New York City even though it’s local. It was so good that I almost ordered another piece! However, my stomach said otherwise.
Burnt by J.H. also features an outstanding drink menu with a full bar and a solid wine list if you do wish to partake in a libation with your meal.
I also cannot thank our server enough. He was very friendly and warmly engaging. He answered all of our questions and regaled us with great tidbits about the menu. You can tell the staff has been well trained in fine dining service.
Burnt by J.H. is a wonderful addition to the city of Van Alstyne and Grayson County. It truly feels like you are dining in the big city without having to go to the big city.
A special education teacher during the day, Matthew is an old soul with a zeal for life. A self-described Chili King, Matthew loves a good AM radio station, the great American songbook, and sweet iced tea. He lives in north Texas with his wife, Megan, and their beautiful Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Bella. You can follow Matthew on Facebook and Instagram as BigSumBitesandWrites.