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- Jul 22, 2006
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This was our first visit since the conversion from Bistro de Paris, where we had eaten once before for a F&W special event. We arrived for our 7:15 reservation, and only had to wait a few minutes before being shown upstairs to our table. We were a party of two, and were seated one table away from a window. Our table was a little close to the couple next to us, but all worked out as we had a lovely conversation with them at one point in the evening. (She heard me mention the Tables in Wonderland card to the waiter, and wanted to know what it was.)
I have to admit that I would not have realized the room had been re-decorated from our last visit if I hadn't read it online. Very classy and tasteful, yet nothing distinctive. I notice in several reviews people discuss paper placemats. Linen tablecloths were in use, last night.
An amuse bouche was presented, with the chef's compliments, while we were reviewing the menu. It was a small cheese puff. The flavor of the cheese was nice, without being overpowering.
I knew we wanted a bottle of wine with dinner, but have to admit to being very intimidated by the wine list. (One mis-step and I'd be out a mortgage payment.) The waiter asked us about our preferences, and suggested a bottle of G. Blanchet Pouilly Fume 2010, a Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc in the $50 range. While neither of us fancy ourselves to know anything about wine, we both enjoyed this one.
From the bread bowl, we chose a bacon and mushroom roll and a dried tomato and pesto bread. The tomato and pesto bread certainly lived up to its name, with very bold flavors of each of these ingredients. Its green color and whimsical design also added to the experience. The mushroom and bacon roll, while quite tasty, had a very subtle flavor. I'm not sure I could have discerned the ingredients had I not had them described to me. My Americanized palette found the unsalted butter served with these breads to be too bland. A little crunchy sea salt on top would have made a world of difference for me.
Both of us chose the prix fixe menu without hesitation.
The appetizer, a lightly-cooked piece of salmon, let us know that we were in for a real treat with this meal. I'm usually not a big fan of salmon, but this dish was simply delicious. The salmon wasn't fishy in the slightest. It flaked apart, and had the slightest crunch from the sear that gave it the perfect texture. We weren't able to identify the herb, but a small serving of a pesto-like condiment accompanied the salmon, and really enhanced the flavor. We both enjoyed the crisp cucumber salad, which had a slight hint of dill, and was served inside a little edible cup, which I believe was a hollowed-out roasted potato. This was covered with a blini.
For the next course, I ordered the Maine lobster with sauteed mushrooms, mollet quail egg, and creamy black truffle bouillon. The flavor profile of this dish was exquisite! The lobster (several large pieces that included an entire claw) was sweet and perfectly cooked. The mushrooms and broth screamed with flavor. It was all I could do not to ask for more bread to get every last drop. (Not to worry, I didnt lose my couth until later in the meal.) My friend ordered the Soupe aux truffes V.G.E., a beef broth with oxtail, vegetables, black winter truffle and covered with a puff pastry. The pastry was huge and absolutely beautiful. It was a shame to have to punch it in with a spoon to get to the soup. This dish, too, had a wonderful flavor. We had a spirited and good-natured argument that the other had ordered the wrong item from the menu. Discrete spoons across the table proved that both were superb.
We both decided on the lamb. While this worked out well for us because it was what we each wanted, I can see that it might be disappointing for other couples that the rib-eye portion is for two. This forces you both to have the same protein for this third course.
I cant think of descriptive word that would do justice to how wonderful the lamb was. Ive never had it cooked so perfectly, or with such flavor. There wasnt even a hint of gaminess. The dish was served as individual ribs which had, of course, been frenched. Each plate had a generous portion size, with four ribs each, and a wonderful little potato and onion dish. The herb crust on the ribs was predominantly mint leaves, and was heavenly with the lamb. (Ill never go back to mint jelly again when I cook lamb at home.) On the side was a small bowl of beans (fava, perhaps) with ham. This had a hearty flavor from the tomato-based sauce, and a nice crunch of slightly au dente beans. I mentioned earlier that Id lost my couth at one point during this meal. As much as I was trying to mind my manners in such an upscale restaurant, I couldnt stop myself from picking up each rib and giving the bone a little gnaw. It was just that good!
Then came dessert. Oh my goodness, how does one decide when there are so many wonderful choices? I finally picked the Le Mille-feuille, a puff pastry filled with pastry cream and topped with a light lemon cream. It was served with fresh berries and strawberry sorbet. When I read the term pastry cream, I was expecting something along the lines of an éclair filling. This had a much different texture and taste. There was nothing about this plate that wasnt suited for a sugar addict, and the plate that was later picked up was quite cleaned. My friend opted for Le Moelleux. This was a warm chocolate and almond cake with a hazelnut crust. When he cut into it with his fork, a wonderful raspberry coulis ran out from the center to cover the plate. It was accompanied by a quenelle of hazelnut ice cream. His plate was cleaned too, and there were smiles all around.
We left well contented, and were just in time to view Wishes -- the perfect way to end such a lovely evening. Our food was indescribably wonderful, the service was spot-on, and although the check is the highest we've seen during the entire vacation (even with the $49 Tables in Wonderland discount), we felt we got a wonderful value for what we spent.
I have to admit that I would not have realized the room had been re-decorated from our last visit if I hadn't read it online. Very classy and tasteful, yet nothing distinctive. I notice in several reviews people discuss paper placemats. Linen tablecloths were in use, last night.
An amuse bouche was presented, with the chef's compliments, while we were reviewing the menu. It was a small cheese puff. The flavor of the cheese was nice, without being overpowering.
I knew we wanted a bottle of wine with dinner, but have to admit to being very intimidated by the wine list. (One mis-step and I'd be out a mortgage payment.) The waiter asked us about our preferences, and suggested a bottle of G. Blanchet Pouilly Fume 2010, a Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc in the $50 range. While neither of us fancy ourselves to know anything about wine, we both enjoyed this one.
From the bread bowl, we chose a bacon and mushroom roll and a dried tomato and pesto bread. The tomato and pesto bread certainly lived up to its name, with very bold flavors of each of these ingredients. Its green color and whimsical design also added to the experience. The mushroom and bacon roll, while quite tasty, had a very subtle flavor. I'm not sure I could have discerned the ingredients had I not had them described to me. My Americanized palette found the unsalted butter served with these breads to be too bland. A little crunchy sea salt on top would have made a world of difference for me.
Both of us chose the prix fixe menu without hesitation.
The appetizer, a lightly-cooked piece of salmon, let us know that we were in for a real treat with this meal. I'm usually not a big fan of salmon, but this dish was simply delicious. The salmon wasn't fishy in the slightest. It flaked apart, and had the slightest crunch from the sear that gave it the perfect texture. We weren't able to identify the herb, but a small serving of a pesto-like condiment accompanied the salmon, and really enhanced the flavor. We both enjoyed the crisp cucumber salad, which had a slight hint of dill, and was served inside a little edible cup, which I believe was a hollowed-out roasted potato. This was covered with a blini.
For the next course, I ordered the Maine lobster with sauteed mushrooms, mollet quail egg, and creamy black truffle bouillon. The flavor profile of this dish was exquisite! The lobster (several large pieces that included an entire claw) was sweet and perfectly cooked. The mushrooms and broth screamed with flavor. It was all I could do not to ask for more bread to get every last drop. (Not to worry, I didnt lose my couth until later in the meal.) My friend ordered the Soupe aux truffes V.G.E., a beef broth with oxtail, vegetables, black winter truffle and covered with a puff pastry. The pastry was huge and absolutely beautiful. It was a shame to have to punch it in with a spoon to get to the soup. This dish, too, had a wonderful flavor. We had a spirited and good-natured argument that the other had ordered the wrong item from the menu. Discrete spoons across the table proved that both were superb.
We both decided on the lamb. While this worked out well for us because it was what we each wanted, I can see that it might be disappointing for other couples that the rib-eye portion is for two. This forces you both to have the same protein for this third course.
I cant think of descriptive word that would do justice to how wonderful the lamb was. Ive never had it cooked so perfectly, or with such flavor. There wasnt even a hint of gaminess. The dish was served as individual ribs which had, of course, been frenched. Each plate had a generous portion size, with four ribs each, and a wonderful little potato and onion dish. The herb crust on the ribs was predominantly mint leaves, and was heavenly with the lamb. (Ill never go back to mint jelly again when I cook lamb at home.) On the side was a small bowl of beans (fava, perhaps) with ham. This had a hearty flavor from the tomato-based sauce, and a nice crunch of slightly au dente beans. I mentioned earlier that Id lost my couth at one point during this meal. As much as I was trying to mind my manners in such an upscale restaurant, I couldnt stop myself from picking up each rib and giving the bone a little gnaw. It was just that good!
Then came dessert. Oh my goodness, how does one decide when there are so many wonderful choices? I finally picked the Le Mille-feuille, a puff pastry filled with pastry cream and topped with a light lemon cream. It was served with fresh berries and strawberry sorbet. When I read the term pastry cream, I was expecting something along the lines of an éclair filling. This had a much different texture and taste. There was nothing about this plate that wasnt suited for a sugar addict, and the plate that was later picked up was quite cleaned. My friend opted for Le Moelleux. This was a warm chocolate and almond cake with a hazelnut crust. When he cut into it with his fork, a wonderful raspberry coulis ran out from the center to cover the plate. It was accompanied by a quenelle of hazelnut ice cream. His plate was cleaned too, and there were smiles all around.
We left well contented, and were just in time to view Wishes -- the perfect way to end such a lovely evening. Our food was indescribably wonderful, the service was spot-on, and although the check is the highest we've seen during the entire vacation (even with the $49 Tables in Wonderland discount), we felt we got a wonderful value for what we spent.
