Argyle Steakhouse

I really liked this place.
The service is as expected, first class, friendly and accommodating.
The food came when we wanted it and how we wanted it.  Clams were great.  The ousters were super fresh and they rocked.  Paella was enough to share and full of seafood.  The steaks were amazing, cooked right and the waygu was just butter in the mouth.  The potatoes, mac & lobster were ok.  The only hiccup was the wine.  We wanted a great Malbec wine but they were out...
We ate our dessert until supper late way after anyone was gone and the shuttle back to the hotel were waiting for us.
The whole experience was memorable.

Thanks to Trish S. for a fabulously fun and delicious dinner at Argyle!!!

I started the evening at the bar with a wonderful California Lemon Drop Martini!
It was very fresh, slightly sweet with a wonderful cane sugar rim made with Hangar One Lemon Vodka and Argyle's homemade lemonade (not the typical, cheap, artificial sweet and sour mix that you find at other places!).
After laughing it up with our wonderful bartender, Susy (she survived the zombie run woot woot haha!!), Trish S., Kimquyen L., and I were escorted into the relaxing dining room.

I was expecting a stuffy room paneled with dark woods and tables topped with crisp white linens typical of most steakhouses, but I was pleasantly surprised by the casual, resort-like feel of Argyle.

Service throughout the evening was SUPERB thanks to our very knowledgeable and friendly server, Steph!  Our waters were constantly being refilled and thanks to the waitstaff for cleaning up my crumbs after every dish since I tend to make a mess!  What can I say?? I REALLY DO ENJOY EATING AND IT SHOWS!!! haha =P

The popover was interesting and reminded me of yorkshire pudding.  It came with a spread in a cute little cast iron skillet (which btw, at Argyle, they serve almost every dish in these cute Staub cast iron skillets which I loved!!!) which tasted sort of like warmed up red pepper hummus but I don't remember what it was made from.  I think I would've preferred the typical crusty bread with copious amounts of butter but this was an interesting starter!

Compliments to the chef for starting us out with a free appetizer sampler which consisted of a yummy, tangy Smoked Yellow Heirloom Tomato Soup, a refreshing Peterson Greens Salad with both red and yellow watermelon cubes, a Steak Carpaccio (which wasn't as thinly sliced as I was hoping for and not as good as the best one I've had which was at Olives in the Bellagio in Vegas) topped with a Cornmeal Fried Oyster, and the best appetizer sampler of the night which was the Kampachi 'Poisson Cru' bathed in a light coconut milk/juice topped with slivers of thai basil, mint and red peppers to give it a little kick!  We also ordered a half dozen oysters and I liked the kumamotos the best!  They were accompanied by a tangy watermelon rind garnish, a spicy tabasco infused sauce, lemon mignonette and croutons.  We also ordered the Maine Lobster and Shrimp with a yummy white corn and chorizo relish, and an interesting chorizo waffle!

Next, I had the Bone-in Rib Eye which was cooked perfectly medium rare, but was a little too stringy inside.  The green peppercorn sauce it came with was like a pepper flavored gravy.  It complemented my steak well, but could have used a bit more spice!  It was accompanied by a tangy cabbage slaw mixed with what tasted like dijon mustard, baked clove of garlic, and baked tomato.  I tried Trish's Bone Marrow crust on her bone-in rib eye and it melted in my mouth like butter!!!  I should have asked for the bone marrow crust AND the peppercorn sauce!

We chose four sides which included a slightly watery but still delicious Cream Spinach which came highly recommended by our server, a creamy Lobster Mac N Cheese made with gruyere cheese and not enough bits of tender lobster, Signature Potato Tots which were a little disappointing and basically just pieces of mashed potato deep fried, and last but not least a very fishy and wet tasting Seafood Paella.

As stuffed as we were (I had to take home more than half of my rib eye!), we couldn't end the evening without satisfying my sweet tooth!  We were eye-ing the Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee and Chocolate Whoopie Pie with Mint Chocolate Gelato, but our fabulous server convinced us that the way to go was to have the Donut Gelato (which tasted like Mocha flavored ice cream with bits of cakey donut which was just OK) and the UNBELIEVABLE Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake in a glass with layers of chocolate cake, either peanut butter or chocolate gelato I couldn't tell, thin wafers of crispity crunchity chocolate wafers all topped with a wondefully light and airy peanut butter foam and accompanied by hot fudge with nuts on the side!!!  AMAZING!  Best dessert I've had in a LONG TIME!  Great recommendation, Steph!  Thank you!!! =)  It was also very nice to have our wonderful chef stop by for a quick meet and greet during dessert time!

I had to loosen my belt since I ate so much and before getting rolled out of there, Kimquyen and I enjoyed the roomy and airy library-esque lounge area near the lobby and foyer.

Thanks again to Trish and Argyle for an evening I won't soon forget!  If you're looking for a relaxing, unpretentious, delicious fancy meal to celebrate your birthday, friendship, anniversary, etc. in a country club type of atmosphere overlooking the beautiful grounds of the Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club, then you need to pay a visit to Argyle!  I've heard good things about their brunch too and I hope I have a chance to return to try it out!  Bon apetit!

We went here for a birthday lunch after discovering The Crossings (awesome!) was AGAIN closed for a wedding.  Let me paint a picture.  We were run over by an old dude with no manners who was on a first-name basis with a server and was immediately seated.  Five minutes later a hostess sat us at a table.  Ten minutes later our waiter greeted us and took our bar order.  The menu was deeply disappointing.  One page, two thirds of it salads and eggs.  The soup of the day was cream of asparagus and it was spicy , jalapeno HOT.  Disgusting. After an hour and a half of lousy service and meh food( the sandwich was ok).  We racked up an 80$ bill for three cocktails and three soup and 1/2 sandwich meals.
Re:ambience.  For a "high end steak house" I would expect a table without wet glass stains.  I would expect ice water, clean silverware, and condiments to be provided in a timely manner.  Oh! And I would expect someone to speak to the man who came in off the course, got a beer, and stripped down to BARE FEET at the table next to us.  Shudder!  I will sooner go to Subway than there again.