Driving along 30A you will find many small and wonderful places to grab a bite. ACME was on the route on afternoon and we decided to stop in for a bite.
I spent some time in Texas in the 80's. Back then an "ice house" was an older gas station that had been closed, and then converted into a bar. The overhead doors would be rolled up when the weather was good. Driving by, you could look inside and see the bar and people playing pool in a space that previously had been used for changing oil or replacing tires. A really cool reuse of a space designed for something else.
ACME doesn't fit that description. The dining room is well decorated as you might imagine for a place in this area. A bar on the east end with lots of seats for watching sports, a bank of seats along the store front connects the main dining room to the west.
We came during a slow period and were seated (along with others) along the "connecting" area. Doing this allows the limited staff during this period to only have to service this area and the bar. I have to say, the seats were very comfortable and offered a good view of the outdoor seating area as well.
We only decided to have a little to eat and a beer. Included this afternoon was a Rice Ball appetizer and we shared a small pepperoni pizza. Both items were tasty and plated in an attractive manner.
The appetizer was interesting. Appears to be rice and cheese, rolled into balls, breaded and deep fried. A nice crispy crust gives way to a creamy cheese interior. The rice was hard to find on the inside, as it was mostly cheese and seasoning. I liked it, even though the sauce it was served in was cool when it got to the table. This is a sign of the kitchen staff's tempo not really being in sync. The plating had occurred well before the rice balls had finished cooking, so the sauce got cold waiting. But you can see, it came beautifully to the table.
The pizza is the kind with a very thin crust. I was happy to see it had been prepared in their woodfired oven. The crust was really good, even though I prefer a little thicker type- but that is a personal preference, not to take away from the preparation here. You could tell the oven had been nice and hot by the golden bottom of each slice. I like the flavor of the pepperoni, It wasn't the garden variety you get at most places.
I spoke with the staff . The place hasn't been open a year and they are still adjusting, this is understandable. I am going to make a few suggestions here that will help the front of the house match the back, because there is an imbalance here. The food is pretty good, but the service is lacking a bit, even though they were very friendly.
The main dining room is a very attractive space, why not seat customers there also during the off hours? Having a view is nice, but if I had wanted to see the street I probably would have asked to be seated outside. Most customers would prefer to see the kitchen staff working, since Julia, food preparation has become a performance art. You have a stage for that here, use it. The large masonry oven and the mini cocktail bar are both attractive focal points for customers. Again, use it to your advantage. Seating customers where we sat is clearly done to make it easier on the staff. But the staff has to go back to the kitchen anyhow (in the main dining room) so does it really save time?
The pizza took so long that I suspect it was a replacement. Wood fired ovens are extremely hot and take only a few short minutes to cook a pizza like this. So either the first one burnt, or it was setting out and got cold waiting for the wait staff to deliver it. My guess in the latter.
The pizza took so long that I suspect it was a replacement. Wood fired ovens are extremely hot and take only a few short minutes to cook a pizza like this. So either the first one burnt, or it was setting out and got cold waiting for the wait staff to deliver it. My guess in the latter.
The cost is what you might expect for this area. But I have a little trouble with $7 for a draft beer. It was from Oyster City Brewing Company, which I like, but the beer is made 2 hours away. $7 is a bit much.My fault for not looking at the menu before ordering it (of course they take your drink order before they offer a menu- kind of a bait and switch) still, my bad.
For new restaurants, my rule has always been not to visit until they have been open at lest 3 months. By doing this you avoid many of the growing pains a new place experiences while they get their operations worked out. I think ACME should be past this period by now, but there are a few tweaks needed. The few issues mentioned here fall within the responsibility of the dining manager.
Overall, I would definitely go back here, hope the front house issues will be fixed. But still, $7 draft?
Food 6, Service 5.Cleanliness 6. Overall environment 7.
What are your thoughts?
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