Hearsay on the Strand

Galveston Restaurant Week is in full swing. We started it off with a date night dinner at Hearsay on the Strand because their GRW menu sounded amazing and we were attending a play nearby. They are located in the Fadden Building, constructed in 1898. It is absolutely gorgeous with two story dining/bar area and huge chandeliers. I would hate to be the person who has to dust all those glass and crystal light fixtures!  
We were very quickly seated, although right in front where the floor to ceiling iron doors were propped open even though it was a bit chilly outside and smoke from the next door bar drifted in. We had reservations and the Hostess congratulated us on our anniversary, as I had stated it was our anniversary in the reservation. Our waiter, Danny who lives in Galveston and sounds like he was raised in New Jersey arrived timely at our table and took drink orders. It was a Sunday evening and the restaurant seemed busier than a usual Sunday in the off-season. Danny brought our teas and took our food order shortly thereafter. 
I started with the crab and corn chowder. The silky soup and sweet corn created an addictive flavor, and the soup warmed me up on this blustery evening. The chowder did have about a teaspoon of crabmeat on top, but I only found one lump crab piece in the entire cup. Jeff opted for the seared pork belly with cherry jalapeno bbq and it was delightful! The crispy pork belly melted in your mouth and that bbq sauce left you wanting more. 
Next up was Surf and Turf and Scallops St. Jacques. Cognac and mushroom cream sauce atop four gigantic perfectly cooked scallops and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. The dish was absolutely to die for! The 6oz filet was seared to perfection at medium rare and the cut was tender and juicy. The two grilled shrimp on top were waaaaaaay overcooked, although seasoned nicely. I will say, too, that the Surf and Turf was second choice to Smoked Veal Osso Bucco which the waiter explained would be another 30 minute wait. 
When it came time for dessert, Jeff and I both had our eyes on the Chocolate Bomb which they describe as brownie, berries & rocky road ice cream. Awesome, right? Well, they evidently ran out of this dessert. I mean, how long does it take to bake up a batch of brownies? Anyway, we both chose the Bourbon Glazed Bread Pudding which we enjoyed very much with our coffee. By this time, they had closed the long windows in front and the restaurant was cozy and lively. 
We love Hearsay's menu options. Most of their food is cooked well and sauces are fantastic! I wish I could say this was the first time we had experienced unavailable menu choices, but it was not. Their service is about par for Galveston, lacking a sense of urgency with extremely open and friendly waitstaff. The ambience at Hearsay is great!

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