Restaurants near Saint Thomas Aquinas

We dined at Blackstones on Saturday, 2/15, to celebrate my beautiful wife’s 50th birthday, and it was nothing short of exceptional! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, setting the perfect tone for our special evening. Our party of six enjoyed an outstanding dinner, including the Surf and Turf combination – a perfectly cooked Tomahawk steak and succulent (giant) lobster – along with three incredible filet mignons that melted in my family members' mouths. The appetizers were just as impressive, with crispy fried calamari, fresh oysters, flavorful tuna tartar, shrimp cocktail, and a refreshing tomato mozzarella salad. The side dishes, wine and drinks complemented the meal beautifully, making the experience truly indulgent. Beyond the phenomenal food, what stood out the most was the impeccable service. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the evening. I’ve been to this Blackstones (and a few of their sister locations in Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich) a number of times with family, friends, and business acquaintances but usually go to this one because its location is closer to my home. Each visit has been consistently exceptional. Blackstones in Southport remains my go-to steakhouse for any special occasion, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a top-notch dining experience. We will absolutely be returning! Heartfelt thanks to the Blackstones' staff and its owner Aldo, who are always gracious and hospitable, for making my wife’s milestone birthday truly memorable!

The cheesey bread appetizer was delicious and so was the bucket of chicken for two. Plenty of tenders/nuggets and good dipping sauce. It was a bit noisy in the winter time but would be better once spring comes, the doors are open and can sit outside.

Our first visit to Tablao was a wonderful experience. The reserved table fulfilled my teservation requests: away from bar, kitchen or service station. The room is nicely arranged in rows of small tables, set apart a reasonable and comfortable distance. Our wait staff varied as the evening evilved, at one point including the owner in serving our meal. Our selections, from an extensive listing of 25-30 tapas, was served in pairs, so as not to overwhelm either our tastes nor the small square table. There were breaks, respites, as we finished the two before the next two were delivered. We had no influence about which were served or in what order. Each was interesting, tasteful, sizeable and seemingly authentic- showing care in the preparation and presentation. We added cappacino, coffee and a split dessert, the last being the low note of the entire fare- a lemon tart. We spent an enjoyable two+ hours in leisurely dining and, though not inexpensive, was worth the pricing ( tapas averaged @ $16) We will return, especially to partake of their 3-6 pm happy hour with occasional 1/2 priced bottled wines.

Great food and my server was terrific. However, we were seated at a table for two next to the stairs. I asked to move to another available table for two and was told no. I'm not sure why since I had a reservation and was there first.

We had a wonderful time tonight. The food was amazing and Jessie took great care of us!