Williams was accompanied by A-1.
Shrimp cocktails contained four firm shrimp accompanied by a snappy dipping sauce.
The red-hued, crisp-skinned whole snapper was pretty as a picture and accompanied by a citrus-dipping sauce with hints of garlic, ginger and more.
Our whale cutlet came layered inside with processed cheese, for extra gooey goodness, accompanied by a savory dipping sauce and hot mustard.
The best appetizers featured vegetables: a tasty seaweed salad, hot and salty edamame accompanied by a spicy mayo dipping sauce, and an iceberg lettuce salad topped by a whole sliced avocado, along with ginger or sesame dressing on the side.
Cornmeal-crusted calamari was accompanied by a bland tomato dipping sauce; and the pulled pork was overly smoked and a bit bitter, though the corn bread that came with it was warm and toasty.
Favorite openers included crisply fried oysters served on a fresh corn salsa and accompanied by a green rémoulade dipping sauce; those little Sicilian meatballs in their sweet-sour tomato sauce; a spicy Thai hot and sour shrimp soup; a special of large diver scallops atop a corn chowder sauce; and a classic Caesar salad that puts the usual version to shame.
The five pieces of poultry are encased in a crisp, herb-infused breading, without a trace of grease, that seals the meat's juices and the large fillet of fresh farm-raised fish sports the same batter and is accompanied by a tangy barbecued dipping sauce.
I was fascinated by this San Francisco restaurant's porcini donuts -- savory fried dough rolled in porcini mushroom dust, and accompanied by a raclette cheese dipping sauce.
The first, four square fried rice cakes, with the look and texture of Rice Krispies, accompanied by a scallion- flecked dip of shrimp and minced chicken, generate little heat, but the rich dip offers a pleasing contrast in taste and texture, when spread on the crisp, fried, bland chips or cakes.
