Good Service, good food, Average Decor
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 6/17/06
What I liked
The service was good, attentive, well- mannered, and knowledgeable. The wine list was impressive. I chose wines by the glass as it was lunch and I wanted to match the wine with my food. The whites and the reds were well chosen; there was also a non- snob appeal factor which I liked. The food was well-priced. Friendly and available sommelier, good wait staff, attentive host.
Now my criticisms
I thought the food was delicious but the timing of the food was a little bit off. I had heard raves about the onion tart, but what came to the table was a slice of pie. I was disappointed as the crust was soggy, yet I ate it as the flavor was delicious. My main course came out and it was over cooked too.( Although again it tasted good) The cheese on top was charred. My partner's soup was good but his quail was dry and slightly overcooked. Also there was more stuffing than meat.(So you see, subtle snob factor nuances on my part.
If the kitchen could time the food coming out at just the right time and not over cooked, I would absolutely rave about this place, but after all since food is the main reason I go to a restaurant,let's face it, there are plenty of options in Vancouver.
Now the decor, and this is were the place gets its real failing marks. While the bar area and many of the finishes speak traditional classic, I was surprised that a place of this stature had a neon open sign and you can really notice during the day the fact that the place might need a freshening up of the decor.
Overall, the value of this place is good. the wine list is impressive, and it's a good romantic place for dinner or a well-valued lunch.