Since this thread is about exceptional idine restaurants and I agree that 55 Degrees is a very good restaurant, here is the story:

I was in Sacramento during their 'restaurant week' when participating restaurants offered a fixed price $30.00 menu at dinner. When I arrived at the restaurant I found that 55 Degrees was offering a wine pairing with each of the three courses for an additional $20.00. Well, who could refuse that!

I started with saffron mussel soup, moved to their steak frites (which I've had a half dozen times before @ $23.50) and finished with very nice chocolate marquis. The wine pairings were champagne, cabernet and an orange muscat---all very nicely chosen.

Everything was wonderful except for the steak. It had a thread of grissel running thru it that, try as I might, made it impossible to cut. I fought with it for awhile and, finally, gave up. I was eating at the bar and the bartender came over and asked about my problem. I explained and he immediately took the dish directly to the chef (I had a sightline to the kitchen and I could see what was happening). He immediately returned and offered to cook me a new entree. I declined simply because I had worked through about half the steak before I gave up and the food was very generous and filling. I left it at that and moved on to dessert and being a very happily sated customer.

When I asked for the check I found that they had comped the wine flights! Very nice! I hadn't asked but it was definately appreciated.

When I paid the check I noticed that the bartender spoke to the chef (Luc) who then moved into the dining area and spoke to a few of the customers. As I gathered my things to leave I did notice that Luc was standing by the door but I never guessed that he was waiting for me! He had come out of the kitchen to personally appologize for the poor cut of meat and to ask me to consider returning---he said I wouldn't be disappointed. I believe that his concern was genuine and I was very impressed with the way the restaurant handled the situation.

When I did the idine review I used their comments box to make that specific point with them. First of all, I love their food. But, with that attitude, they've got a customer for as long as I travel to Sacramento, idine or not.