Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, desire a romantic
dinner or you’ve simply had a bad week and need some pampering,
head to South San Jose to the lovely and historic Dolce Hayes
Mansion.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, desire a romantic dinner or you’ve simply had a bad week and need some pampering, head to South San Jose to the lovely and historic Dolce Hayes Mansion. Here you can treat yourself to dinner at Orlo’s, where the food, service and ambiance come together to create a classic dining experience.
The current Hayes Mansion was built in 1905 to house Mary Hayes Chynoweth and her two sons, Everis Anson and Jay Orley. Both sons had their own, identical wings in the house, and Mary took the upstairs. One of the few common rooms was the dining room. Orlo’s is now located in that room, which accommodated the entire Hayes family.
Mary died just before the house was finished, but her sons lived – and dined – there for many years. The mansion has been restored to its former elegance and is now a hotel and conference center.
My husband and I started our evening by meeting our friend for a cocktail in the small bar, which used to be the office of Jay Orley. Small, intimate and offering a view of the expansive front lawn (where a wedding rehearsal was taking place), this is a great place to relax. From there, Orlo’s is just a short stroll down the marble hallway.
When we arrived at the dining room, we were shown immediately to our table and presented with two menus. The first was the regular dinner menu, which listed a nice variety of dishes, and the second was their “discovery menu,” a three-course price fixe dinner for $24.95.
We began the evening with a delicious appetizer, the Mango Tower ($10.95). Fresh crab, salmon, avocado and mango were layered into a tower-like mold that was beautifully presented. The appetizer was a great marriage of flavors, and divided among the three of us, it was a perfect start to our meal.
Our friend was intrigued by the discovery menu and chose to order from that, while my husband I each found our favorites on the regular menu, one of which was the Seafood and Corn Chowder ($6.95). This flavorful and creamy soup is made with top-quality ingredients.
From the three appetizer choices off the discovery menu, our friend chose the duck breast and was very pleased as well. The lean meat, served medium-rare with a drizzle of light cherry sauce, was accompanied by couscous wrapped in a shaving of fresh zucchini – interesting and delicious.
The service level at Orlo’s is impeccable, and our entrees arrived just when we were ready for them. I had my favorite, Rack of Lamb ($28.95). Served medium rare as requested, it had a lavender crust that imparted a beautiful flavor with just a hint of sweetness.
My husband, ever the beef lover, had the Filet Mignon ($29.95) topped with demi glace. A thick and tender steak, it, too, was cooked exactly to his request. Both entrees were accompanied by market-fresh vegetables.
Again, from the three entree selections off the discovery menu, our friend chose the Hangar Steak with Argentine Chimchuri Sauce. Having become more popular recently, hangar steak is tender yet quite flavorful, and the addition of the sauce was a perfect touch. All of our entrees paired well with the Fernwood Cellars Merlot that we had brought from our own cellar (Orlo’s corkage fee is $15).
After such a delightful meal, could we possibly even consider dessert? Of course. The dessert menu contained several wonderful choices, and as an added feature, a dessert wine suggestion was listed for each dessert selection. I seldom have dessert wine, but I couldn’t resist the pairing of Bonny Doon Framboise ($6.50) with my raisin- and walnut-flecked warm bread pudding ($6).
The discovery menu offered only one dessert choice: a chocolate pyramid layered with cake and chocolate crème. This didn’t appeal to our friend that night, so our waitress offered to substitute the dessert for no extra charge. Our friend chose the crème brulee (regularly $6.50), which he pronounced “one of the best I’ve ever had.” For my husband’s sweet tooth, our waitress suggested the Chocolate Delight ($7.50). This rich confection was nicely balanced by fresh, ripe berries.
The elegant and historical setting, outstanding food, and attentive and friendly service combine at Orlo’s to make this a special place to dine. Bon appetit!
Sara Leigh has lived in Morgan Hill for 26 years with her husband and two sons, who are now away at college. She loves food and wine, and keeps all the delicious calories in check by avid race-walking. Reach her at
ca*******@ho*****.com
. All reviews for The Dish are anonymous, and all reviewers’ meals are paid for by South Valley Newspapers.
