The pretty but more casual bar seating area is all that is visible from the street (a less expensive menu is offered if seated here), so we were surprised to discover the chic yet comfortable back dining room (and there’s a very fabulous side room that would make for a great celebratory dinner gathering spot with friends). Dinner guest attire ranged from completely casual with baby in tow, to dressy casual. It also was a treat to learn that Gargoyles is running their $29 prix-fixe dinner to celebrate “Restaurant Week” all summer long (choose from a few set options for each of three courses – appetizer, entrée, dessert). As it turned out, that evening we actually preferred the prix-fixe options over the regular menu, and enjoyed fantastic crab crakes and a mozzarella, arugula, and tomato salad to start, a marvelous swordfish entrée with German mashed potatoes and English peas (it’s a good thing we both ordered it), and crème brulee and blueberry tart for dessert.

We still dig burritos, but on a rare evening out and about as a twosome, it was a fun surprise to step up the food formality while not breaking the bank.