Located in the newly renovated former Basketball Hall of Fame building, Onyx Fusion Bar and Restaurant is a feast for the senses. If its debut on the Springfield, Massachusetts, restaurant scene is any indication of things to come, Onyx is positioned to be a popular destination for visitors and residents alike.
By chance, my wife and I made last-minute reservations for Saturday night (April 12, 2008). Having arrived earlier than expected, we bypassed the valet parking, opting to take in some of the early evening air. Onyx is situated adjacent to the new Basketball Hall of Fame with plenty of parking (at least now, while the old building is still partially vacant).
We checked-in at the booth and relaxed at the bar for a while. We could tell as soon as we walked in that this venue is out of the ordinary, especially for Springfield, Massachusetts. Onyx leaves a good first impression for the 20 and 30-something crowd–it is trendy and very visual. An array of 12-15 plasma TV’s adorns the main overhead bar area, looping through a trippy (but not obnoxious) color “screen saver.” Also at the bar are two additional screens, showing sports channels. As we were to learn later, the illuminated bar is made of white Onyx (which we didn’t even know existed), and fit in well with the surroundings.
We were seated and introduced to our waiter, an older gentleman who spoke with a Dutch or German accent. I ordered the “New” New England Clam Chowder as a starter; upon delivery, we were given a basket of very fresh, very hot rolls. A warning: as the name implies, this Clam Chowder is anything but traditional but wow – was it ever a fantastic array of flavors and aroma. It had a tan-brown color, light consistency, and contained unconventional garnish (it looked a bit like seaweed). The flavor was complex–savory, salty, almost (but not quite) mushroomy. I only wish the bowl was bigger!
By the time our entrees arrived, the restaurant was really starting to ramp up. We were on the upper level looking down at the bar (people-watching is so fun), which was quickly getting full and loud. It was nice being able to enjoy the energy of the atmosphere while being removed enough to have our own personal space.
My wife ordered the Filet Mignon with Garlic Mashed Potatoes. The meat was tender, juicy, and cooked perfectly. The potatoes were flavorful but not overpowering. This was good because the emphasis was put on the beef, where it should!
I ordered the Broiled Scallops which came with a Wild Mushroom Risotto. I asked the kitchen to “go light” on the mushrooms – I normally don’t like them at all but was feeling adventurous enough to try them in this dish. I’m glad I did–not only did the chefs fulfill my request (and the server remember to check with me to see if it was ok) but I ended up really enjoying them. The scallops were big, tender, and cooked just right–not too squishy, not too rubbery. The aromatic risotto accompanied the scallops perfectly.
But what stole the show on our table were not the chubby scallops or juicy filet. In fact, it was purely on a whim that we even ordered it. Of all things, the Creamed Corn was the crown jewel. Never before had I tasted creamed corn like this and I’d even say that a trip to Onyx is not complete without an order. The corn itself was nothing particularly special – it had small kernels so it probably came from some exotic locale. But the sauce it sat in had a buttery, almost meaty flavor that I couldn’t break down any further. It just screamed “yum!” and what started as an idle offer from my wife to try some turned into a race.
Based on the food quality alone, Onyx is worthy of top billing and worth a visit by anyone interested in upscale, trendy dining in the greater Springfield region. The staff (and more importantly staff level) deserves a generous mention though. Not only did we find the staff:customer ratio to be very high, I noticed no one standing idle and everyone was very friendly and accommodating.
The prices are on-par for this type of venue. The two of us ate the above dinner with a couple beers and tip for a hair under $100.
There is no question that I would highly recommend this restaurant to my friends and family. I look forward to visiting again soon!
