Homemade Steak French Dip Sandwich with Mushrooms at Ashbach West Beach on Guemes Island, WA Awarded 3 of 5 DeliciScore™ (It'll Do) - 4th of July, 2017 - Thanks for the treat, Matt

Setting the Stage

It was the Fourth of July and we were home visiting my parents and family.  There was a parade and a ton of people around.  The Ashbachs recently renovated their new West Beach beach house and were christening its presence in their family.  My family has lived on West Beach for decades and the Ashbachs and their friends are a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

After the parade, I was over at their place briefly and was offered a French dip (with steak and mushrooms) from Matt.  I had just eaten a grilled hot dog with onions and a bag of chips from the park so wasn't hungry but I had to oblige, and Matt wanted feedback on his creation.

Helicopter carrying an American flag flying over the parade route.

Jessica and my mom waving to the chopper.

Ashbachs in the parade.

They threw things at me!

Here's the partially eaten French dip.  We can see delicious and chunky mushrooms (were they dry-sauteed?!!!) and I was using a coffee cup for my jus container.  You can also see I was surrounded by Coors Light cans.  

Mostly we see a mushroom and a little beef in this picture.  The beef was chewy so it kind of pulled out.  The bread got a little too soft when dipped into the jus.  The mushrooms were definitely the highlight.  And I don't recall if the bread was toasted and buttered.

Other activity (the view as I dined).

Scoring

Bread 2 of 5
Meat 4 of 5 but chewiness and that it pulled out of the sandwich gives it downgraded points
Jus 3 of 5 don't remember it being great.  lol.  Sorry, Matt!
Non-Meat Toppings 4 of 5 great mushrooms
Overall 3 of 5

Thanks, Matt and others for a tasty lunch treat.  Sorry I had already eaten and wasn't exactly in the mood.

3 of 5 DeliciScore™ (Good) Awarded to Le Grand Bistro Américain for their Prime Rib Dip Sandwich in Kirkland, WA on this 28th day of March, 2016 - Good service makes a big difference.

Yes, yes, y'all!  I started a new--and my first ever--diet two Saturdays ago.  On this diet, I had to wait eight whole days to eat carbs so I was pretty sure that this French dip would be really good or a major let-down.   

We were at Le Grand Bistro Americain, an upper-end bistro type of place at Carillon Point in South Kirkland with views out to Lake Washington.  It was Sunday brunch, I was with Jessica, and we were celebrating some friends' birthdays.  Probably 12 others joined our so we had a good time.  And I got to eat my favorite meal.  

On arrival, I asked the hostess if they had a French Dip and she said yes.  I felt fortunate.  I was fairly stoked and anticipatory while waiting to be seated, ordering, etc.  It had been eight whole days since carbs or butter.  I was going to eat that and fries.  Yum yum.  

So here's my review.  Pictures are below.  

• Garlicky taste.  The french dip had a definitive garlic taste to it and I don't necessarily mean that as a compliment, just that it was garlicky.  
• Good jus but not enough or hot enough.  The jus that they gave me was in a very small container and had a nice wine taste to it but it was neither enough nor was it hot enough.  I was pleased that the nice (but not warm enough) wine-flavored jus helped a little but again because it wasn't hot nor sufficient enough we had a problem.  
• There is a chance my lack of satisfaction was caused by the cooks trying to feed my large party at once.  Some of the lack of quality in this dip may have been caused by the size of our large party and their need to time the arrival of all things at once but I was still disappointed.  
• Give real horseradish.  The meal came with a side of "horseradish cream" which was no big whoop; I prefer the authentic horseradish.  
• Great crispy fries.  I order fries as a side and they were very good and crispy fries, strongly recommended.  
• Meat.  I was disappointed while ordering the dip that while it was prime rib, I was not able to select the rareness of it.  The meat itself did wind up being quite dry and there were no slabs of prime rib so I wasn't impressed by the meat.  
• Fair size.  The size was okay/pretty good.  
• Pretty good bread.  The bread was nice and toasted but it wasn't to die for.  
• Sandwich not to die for.  The sandwich by itself was only a 3 of 5 at best so I was disappointed there, especially for the $17 price tag.  
• There is hope.  Overall, this French dip scored a 3 of 5 overall and I would not recommend it unless the waiter could guarantee hot and ample jus.  

Summary

Bread 3 of 5
Meat 3 of 5
Jus 4 of 5 but needed to be more and hotter
Overall 3 of 5 expensive, no prime rib wellness selection, not enough or hot enough jus.  Really good fries.  Should be served with (at least an option for) *real* horseradish if they are serious about their prime rib

I went with a glass of champagne, since I could and since there was celebration going on.  It was rainy outside.

Here's the fellow showing us the specials.  Note at the bottom the French Dip for $17.00.  I went with that.

In case you really wanted to see the writing, here's a closer shot.  Note the black trumpet mushrooms that came with the Steelhead.  Next time maybe I'll get that instead.

Here's the French dip (FD), plated.  You can see the horseradish mayo.  The fries were quite delicious (excellent, I might say).  The jus was too small in volume.  The sandwich itself looked good but was served medium to medium-well, which is not really the way to glory.   There were blue-tasseled toothpicks.   

The bread was nicely toasted.  I have no idea why anyone would think that that little jus is justified.  I paid $17.  I should get more jus.  I like jus.

Enjoy

5 of 5 DeliciScore™ (From Heaven) Awarded to Sunset Alehouse for their French Dip Sandwich in Issaquah, WA on this 22nd day of January, 2012 - Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes!

Snowy night at the Sunset Alehouse in Issaquah, WA...one of the few places that was open tonight, and also a place that was recently recommended to me for their French dip.

They have TVs and it was pretty crowded in here; lots of families.

Totally random side note, but I noticed that their subtitle font is clearer and cleaner than I've ever seen; O technology how far you have come!!!

There it is, on their fresh sheet, the Jak's (they're operated by the same folks) NY Steak Sandwich.  "Lightly marinated & grilled, steak butter toasted roll, au jus.  $16.   Paired with a Russian River Damnation Golden Ale 12 oz. Btl. ~ California ~ $10."  I did both!!  Ordered it medium rare with a side salad with bleu cheese, per the usual.

There's the beer.  Really fancy if you read the bottle, HIGHLY recommended ($10 bucks for a bottle, though!?!  Holy cow!!!)

I'm no hand model, but you're supposed to pour it all careful-like, which I did.

Really nice looking and very drinkable, delicious, fine beer.  Served in a nice glass; fun to pour.

Jessica reported to me that there was a poster of 'David Lee Roth with 'assless chaps'' in the ladies room.  ...so I gave her the camera and sent her packing.  You're welcome.

The salad.  Pretty good.  Nothing too fancy but good.

The dip (Steak Sandwich) served.  Really nice looking bread, toasted.  Solid au jus, and a lot of steak in there, medium rare.  With a steak knife...  Fancy bamboo skewer type.

Yes, a LOT of meat here.  This thing is awesome!!!  And you can see how the beef juice drips into the bread but it didn't make it greasy...

The good bread and perfect medium-rare beef with STEAK BUTTER TOASTED ROLL.

The getting of the dip
This is from Jak's Steakhouse in Issaquah, the parent/sister restaurant of Sunset Alehouse, which is kitty-corner.  This dip rivals that of The Keg in the sense that it is very good and what I'd call "an easy 5" of 5 points.

Sunset has a standard roast beef French dip on their menu but I wanted to pay the extra $5 to this fancier one from Jak's, which was a special on their menu.

Served
They give you a very large, full piece of really tender, delicious steak prepared how you like it.  They served me a perfect medium-rare.

Salad
The lettuce on the salad was semi-wilted but okay/good enough.  The bleu cheese dressing was runny and bitter but the salad was okay overall.  I'll give it a four.

Eating of the dip
This thing is tangy and juicy; an easy FIVE (5) of 5!!!  The bread is lightly toasted and has a beefy taste to it ("beef butter").  The bread and meat are the same soft texture, which is really good; it just goes to show how tender their very delicious steak is!!!  The bread was basic, soft, and toasted.  You can taste the barbeque on the steak in a good way; not overpowering, just there.  There was a perfect amount of au jus provided, which was smooth, good, and sweet beefy jus.  The sandwich has a dense, rich beef flavor that was so excellent.

Overall: 
Bread 5
Meat 6
Au jus 5
Overall, I want to give this thing a six but I'll give it a 5 to keep it real.  This is a a really delicious steak sandwich; my favorite yet!!