Solid 5 star food but drops down by a star due to the lackadaisical service our party experienced…read moreat the beginning (it did get better as the evening went on, and then veered off into the surreal when they first lost our coats and then finally found them after a lot of waffling around!).
Also it was disappointing that due to a misunderstanding on my part, we had expected to take advantage of thefork.com's 50% off deal during the Gastronomique Festival, but after being seated, were informed by our server that the discount was only applicable to the first 20 diners. So the whole dining experience wasn't off to a great start as all of us realized our planned budget for the meal was going to be drastically more than planned. And I don't mean to make this review sound like a whinge, but the loss of expectations does tarnish the experience.
We had all planned to get the 6 course tasting menu, but with the change in expectations, 3 of us decided to order a la carte, 1 diner switched to a more economical 3 course tasting menu and only 1 person in our party stayed with the original plan to get the 6 course tasting menu. I decided to get lobster with the Spanish preparation as my entree and the pigeon as my main, also with the Spanish prep. I didn't taste any of my dining companions food, so this review is strictly based on those two food items.
I loved both of my courses - the lobster was plentiful (without being overwhelming) and all the sauces complimented it superbly and I licked my plate clean. At the end of this dish, my tastebuds and tummy waited with eager anticipation for the next dish, which was the pigeon. I have never had pigeon before, and so wasn't sure what to expect taste wise. I have mixed feelings about the actual meat - it was a darker pink than chicken and more gamey and earthy than I expected. Not sure if I would get pigeon as a meat choice again, but this was a perfectly cooked breast that was placed on the plate in front of me. Again, all the accompanying items, but especially the broth were fantastic. I can rhapsodize about the depth and complexity and layers of the broth - it was beyond superlative and I borrowed a spoon to finish it off.
Oh, I must also say that the wine list put together by the restaurant is fantastic! We ordered an Australian red - the Rolf Binder Shiraz - Grenache blend from Barossa Valley, and it was awesome! But there were tons of other win choices that looked super appealing, so kudos to their sommelier.
