Phil’s Tara Hideaway

To kick of Father Daughter bonding week my dad took me out to dinner at Phil’s Tara Hideaway. This restaurant has been on my list for a long time and I have always heard wonderful things about their food so I was thrilled when my dad suggested it. Phil’s Tara Hideaway is easily overlooked when you are driving down 36 towards Downtown . It is a itty bitty log cabin looking building tucked in between the trees on the side of the highway.

The Tara is a local hotspot and always busy. We went on a friday evening around 7pm and there was about an hour wait, which I had expected knowing how popular the restaurant was. We were able to order drinks from the bar and bring them to their outdoor patio area while we waited. We didn’t have to wait too long before a table was ready for us. We were brought inside and seated at a little table right next to the hostess stand. One thing I love about Phil’s Tara Hideaway is that there a lot of tables in a small space. You get to experience everything together in the room. People talk to one another from different tables, discussing their meals, catching up with old friends, even singing happy birthday along with a table on the other side of the restaurant. Everyone is so happy and friendly inside Phil’s Tara Hideaway that you just want to stay there forever.

Our server Emily was so helpful and fun. She appeared almost immediately after we were seated with a smile and a drink menu. We were still finishing our patio drinks but we ordered a bottle of wine to go along with our dinner. Dad also pushed me out of my comfort zone and ordered the Grilled Octopus as an appetizer. I love calamari but I have a rule against eating something that still resembles what it looked like when it was alive. That being said the Octopus was AMAZING! These little buggers had such a smoky grilled taste to them and when you paired them with the cucumbers that came on the plate the flavors were outstanding.
Soon after finishing our appetizers we got our meals. Dad ordered the Char Grilled Lamb Chops (double) with Garlic Confit Aioli and I ordered the Beef Tenderloin Tips Crostini with Aioli and Roasted Tomato Tapenade. They were both so beautifully plated when they were delivered to our table and they smelt just as good. Dad said that his Lamb Chops were pretty good, some portions were dry and other parts were perfect. Mine on the other hand was pure perfection on a plate.
I can’t remember the last time I had a meal so good. There was so much flavor and different textures in every bite. Each saucy sirloin tip was like butter melting in my mouth accompanied by the delicious crunch of the crostini.

After dinner we ordered their Bourbon Cake and HOLY COW was it good. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Now that I have eaten at Phil’s Tara Hideaway I’m not sure I can every eat anywhere else. Their food, service and atmosphere is hard to beat! I can’t wait to go back and try some of their other menu items that were catching my eye.