Baker Street is Top Notch in the Fort

Obviously the photo above is NOT of Baker Street, the excellent restaurant in Fort Wayne on North Clinton, near the Northcrest shopping area. But I can't look at any more photos of snow, and it was one bitter, windy day when I went to Baker Street last week. So here's a photo of some lovely sheep and lambs in Oregon, and you can make whatever connection here you wish.

There have been several different restaurants in this location, which is in a convenient spot on the north end of town. I do believe Baker Street is the best of the businesses that have been here. Staff make a lot of effort, the service is good and servers are well trained. They like to talk about the wines, the food and how it is prepared. One feels as though he or she is valued and is given a lot of attention.

And the food is really good. In addition to the regular menu, special features change regularly or with a seasonal variety. At this time there was a tuna steak served with tempura green beans. They also had Prince Edward Island Mussels (I had forgotten and had to look it up - the island is along the Canadian Atlantic seaboard). This dish includes big dark mussels and is served with garlic toast points.

We often order the sashimi tuna from the appetizer menu. It's sesame crusted and is served medium rare, with wasabi, ginger, and a cucumber salad for $14. Although the soup specials are often really good, I tried the $6 French onion soup and found it to be too salty and heavy. Why does every chef do that? I do like the Chop Chop salad ($8); it really is chopped like crazy, and features different lettuces, tomatoes, red onions, eggs, bacon, white cheddar, and a toasted garlic crostini. This one is a meal in itself.

The simple wedge salad ($7) is a pretty chunk of crunchy iceberg and some other stuff, topped off with croutons and a buttermilk blue cheese dressing. My friends like Baker Street's Greek and spinach salads as well.

For an entree, you can't go wrong with their Asian glazed salmon for $23 - I prefer it over the blackened ahi tuna. Baker Street is known for their steaks - they have a great variety of cuts but this is a fancy place, not cheap, so be ready for most steaks to be $29 - $39. A few items go over those prices: I would like to try the lobster-crowned filet with asparagus and wild mushrooms. $44 for that might be a lot in Fort Wayne, but try eating in Chicago or New York sometime and it won't seem quite as bad. Still, I haven't splurged - maybe sometime. And yes, they do offer lamb chops.

What's fun about the Baker Street menu is its "Dress it Up" and "Dress it Down" categories. Don't want fancy? Order a Cuban sandwich on a pressed ciabatta for $12. A fork & knife Reuben with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and house-made Thousand Island dressing is $14. I liked the buffalo chicken sandwich: for $10 you get a hand-breaded breast with bacon, Swiss cheese, and buffalo sauce on a bun. It's carefully prepared and not as fatty as it sounds. The flavor is as you would expect - mouth-watering and spicy.

I haven't begun to describe the wines or other drink offerings, but there are great choices here. And desserts: I recommend the Kiss Goodnight - a chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and whipped cream. One of these days I'll have to get the Flamin Donuts: table-side flambé with rum and cognac, and mocha ice cream on the side. Baker Street is quite good. The chef and management really try hard. I may not want to stand and take a photo of the place in the blowing snow and wind, but I'll head inside any time and enjoy a cosy, elegant meal.