Cork 'N Cleaver is consistently excellent

The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry was depicted in the Academy Award winning film, Glory. This African-American army unit led the assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina during the Civil War.

This plaster sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in Washington D.C.'s National Gallery of Art is a fitting tribute to the brave unit and its leader, Col. Robert Gould Shaw. When I think of the 54th MA, I think of excellence, tradition, and something classic. This is also the way I feel about the Cork 'N Cleaver Restaurant in Fort Wayne.

The parking lot of the Cork, as locals often call the place, is consistently full. Businessmen often meet here for lunch, and professionals network in the bar after work. They have an excellent selection of wines and many cosy small sections of seating to give it an intimate setting.

The salad bar is famous for its large selection and quality of fresh ingredients. Some salad bars have a cafeteria-like feel, but this one is a cut above. It has a rounded, organically-shaped look that is so much more attractive than nearly any I have seen.

On my most recent visit with friends for lunch, I chose the Philly steak and cheese sandwich. The Cork has excellent steaks, so this was no ordinary Philly sandwich. It was slices of one of their best cuts on a thick roll, layered with grilled onions and green peppers in the melted cheese. It came with a savory au jus for dipping. I have never eaten a better one. My companions both picked a chicken kabob lunch special. This was broiled chicken and roasted vegetables laid out of a bed of greens - it looked beautiful and was a healthy, lower calorie choice than what I had.

We didn't have appetizers, but the button cap mushrooms, stuffed with cheeses, garlic, and then baked are a well-known favorite. I also love their seared tuna wasabi. It is pressed with black and white sesame seeds, fresh garlic and ginger, and served with wasabi drizzle and kimchee cabbage. This is about as good as it gets anywhere.

For dinner, you can't go wrong with one of their outstanding steaks, or try the black and bleu salmon. The salmon is seasoned with blackened spices and topped with bleu cheese. It can be baked or charbroiled. The crab cakes are also a nice dinner choice for something different.

I ordered creme brûlée for dessert, and it came topped with whipped cream and fresh raspberries. Delicious, but my only correction would be I found the custard to be too cool underneath - I like the temperature of the crusty top and the custard to be similar, even slightly warm. Maybe this is just personal preference. Cork 'N Cleaver is classy a place to take new companions and people you'd like to impress. It's definitely up there among Fort Wayne's best.