DINING OUT: White Horse Ltd., Rock Hill

This column offers a sampling of dining experiences in the area. It is not intended as a review of the restaurant other than to provide the reader with one diner's experience. It also appears in The Herald's Friday entertainment section, "Ticket."

I've heard the name White Horse Restaurant mentioned many times. On a recent Saturday evening, I decided to find out what all the fuss is about.

Sitting on the corner of Camden Avenue and Cherry Road is a unique house surrounded by a curving wrap-around porch/patio. Walking in is a front foyer and small, bustling bar (currently allowing smoking). We were quickly greeted by a hostess. The party of 13 who came in at the same time would have about a 20 minute wait, while our party of two was seated right away at one of the high-back pew booths on the outer walls. Look up and there's illuminated stained-glass. Very pretty, just like the rest of the room with blue walls, draped fabric on the high ceiling and warmth of hardwood floors and candlelight.

It's not a huge room, but rather quite intimate. Plus, the high-back booth keeps you in your own world. Even though it was getting crowded and loud, we could talk quietly. It'd be a great place for a date, yet it's also family friendly as we smiled at a child seated in a booster seat down the aisle from us.

The walls are covered in black-and-white photos of many famous people like Marilyn Monroe and Robert E. Lee. But we couldn't have been seated with anyone better -- my favorites, The Rat Pack, and one of the coolest photos of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. I've seen. Already this place was winning my favor in ambiance.

We perused the menu of more than 20 appetizers ($2.22 to $8.99). Unable to decide, we did decide on the Combination Basket, "Everything we can find to go into it." Out came this huge basket of fried heaven -- cauliflower, mushrooms, onion rings, moist chicken tenders, cheese, sticks and apple sticks that taste "like vacation," as my friend described them, and oh, excellent Buffalo wings, plus three dipping sauces.

The rest of the menu, which offers a huge selection, looks just as appealing. There's soups and salads, potpourri platters like "our specialty" of breast of turkey salad marinated in a special seasoning for $7.99.

Then there's the stuffed potatoes ($3.99 to $7.50), Sassy Sandwiches ($6.99-$8.99) including "The Great White Horse's Claim to Fame" Nitty Gritty Grinder, an Italian loaf stuffed with roast beef, assorted goodies, mayo and cheese with hot au jus. There's also shrimp, broccoli, and spinach and mushroom quiche ($7.50) as well as casseroles ($8.99 to $12.50). The latter, even now, makes my mouth water and stomach growl.

Specialty dinners ($12.99 to $13.99) are the pasta and rice entrees with grilled chicken, yellow fin tuna and more. There's even pizzas, gourmet burgers and a children's menu (all items $3.99).

But I'm not going to kid you. The 8-ounce filet wrapped in bacon for $18.99 won me over, and my friend, a ribeye man, was delighted with the 10 ounces for $14.99. Both came with a salad and steak fries or baked potato and garlic bread. I substituted French onion soup for the potatoes.

The menu asks to "please allow 15 minutes cooking time." It was all perfect timing from our appetizer to salad to meal. My medium rare filet was cooked perfect and melted in my mouth. I was surprised just how large my cut was. After eating so much else, there was no way I could take more than a couple of bites. But I wanted to with the crunch outside and soft tender juicy inside. It'd be disappointing to put steak sauce on this, and same for the ribeye. My soup was yummy, steak fries thick and great, and bread tasty.

Although my friend begged "please, no dessert," I had to order something to split. How often do you see chocolate éclair offered? It was a wonderful pastry puff. As we cut bites out with our spoons, I began to understand why my mother always wanted cream puffs for her birthday. It's fabulous. In fact, everything was fabulous -- the service, the tastes, the atmosphere, the price.

So, I'm going to admit it now. I've been on a low-carb, low-sugar diet for about two months. When I saw the menu, I knew I was doomed. But believe you and me, if you're going to indulge, this is the place to do it. I'm smitten by the White Horse, and ready to take my next ride.

This story was originally published January 27, 2009 at 11:16 AM with the headline "DINING OUT: White Horse Ltd., Rock Hill."