Before we dive into this review, let’s be upfront. My expectations for certain dishes, especially wings and dips, are high, as I’m always on the hunt for value and quality. Tonight’s visit to The Icehouse offered a mix of solid efforts and fundamental disappointments. Here is what was on my personal menu:
- Appetizer: Jumbo Wings
- Appetizer: Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Main: Shrimp Po’ Boy
- Dessert: Beignets
- Dessert: Chocolate Brownie With Peanut Butter Semifreddo
Service Observations
Service was great. The place was packed and the people who were waiting outside were forced in due to the weather. The rain got the better of all the guests outside; whether they were having drinks while they waited or decided to dine out on the patio. I was immediately asked if I wanted a drink while I waited. Once I got my table, the bartender tabbed me out and brought my check and was immediately greeted by my server. The server was very good. She knew her menu, she knew how to check up on guests and she followed through and wasn’t afraid to say when she didn’t know something like when asked about sauces or if things were homemade. Great service!
Appetizers: A Tale of Two Dips
Jumbo Wings: Let’s start with the wings. The wings themselves were decent, but calling them “jumbo” is a stretch. At $20 for 10 wings, the value isn’t there when the size is just standard. They were split between BBQ and Thai chili sauce. The Thai chili sauce was bottled, but I must admit I thought it was homemade, because it was surprisingly delicious. I specifically asked the server to ask the kitchen what brand the sauce was and they gave it to me. Adding that to my kitchen cabinet pantry! Anyway, the wings themselves were solid, but nothing special enough to justify the price.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip: You ever notice that when you order spinach and artichoke dip, you really only ever expect to taste spinach and garlic? The artichoke is usually just…there, but you can’t really tell unless you see it? Not here. This dip was a banger. It was absolutely delicious, with both the spinach and artichoke flavors coming through beautifully. There was no pool of grease, the cheese was good, and the melt was perfect. I chose the homemade chips to go with the dip since the pita was out of a bag. Chips were flavorful, seasoned and crisp, beautiful appetizer overall.
Main Course: A Solid Po’ Boy
Shrimp Po’ Boy: This was a very solid entry. I added bacon to my sandwich, which is the only way to order a shrimp Po’ Boy, if you have never done it…you’re welcome. The remoulade sauce was good, the shrimp had a nice crisp to it and were sizable, bacon was crisp and the bread was great. It was a perfectly executed po’ boy, nothing more, nothing less.
Desserts: The Unexpected Conclusion
Chocolate Brownie with Peanut Butter Semifreddo: This was an unexpected disappointment. The brownie was clearly microwaved, and the peanut butter semifreddo was rock hard. It was just not good. I am well aware the semifreddo is supposed to be frozen, but the problem is the timing of the temperatures. When you microwave a brownie (just like bread), the clock starts ticking until it becomes inedible. While the moisture dries up, the starches harden; all of which is doubled while there is something frozen on top hyper cooling it. This is a desert you would find in a dive bar when you order burgers and beers.
Beignets: These were good, but there was something fundamentally wrong with the dough. My first thought was that they were microwaved like the brownie, a theory supported by how the texture changed. The longer they sat, the chewier they became, just like the brownie. I asked multiple staff members, who all assured me they were not microwaved, and I believe them. There is something in the dough recipe that is very off, leaving the dough chewy and unpleasant over time. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but when you can cut something with a fork one minute and then two minutes later have a tough time breaking through with your teeth, something funky is going on.
Overall Review And Conclusion
Score: My Experience: 7.5/10 | Value Is Standard With A Hint Of High Pricing
The Icehouse has some real hits, specifically the spinach and artichoke dip and the shrimp po’ boy. Unfortunately they are let down by things like the overpriced “jumbo” wings and the microwaved desserts.
The prices were decent outside of the wings which were a rip off. Artichoke dip was $12, the Po’ Boy was $15 and the desserts were $10 a pop. Not bad considering how busy it was. The service was great, I don’t have a single complaint about it.
It’s a place with high potential, they just need someone with desert knowledge to get a solid foundation down and to double check their value on appetizers. If they implement that, then the sky is the limit. Overall, I give it a solid 7.5/10.