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| - We went last night for the New Year's celebration. The staff was friendly and attentive, even though the restaurant was relatively crowded. The wine list was extensive, as was their cocktail list. We had an Italian sparkling white, and a bottle of Stone Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. Both were excellent.
Rustic elegance is the best term I can think of to describe the restaurant's decor. Our waiter, Jeff, was spot on with the level of attention, giving us privacy (as much as you can have in the middle of a crowded dining room), and seeing that we were never wanting.
Now about the food. Having a priced fixed menu was a wonderful thing. The amuse bouche was delicous. I was amazed at the flavor combinations. The appetizers which followed, were equally delicious. I had the lamb "lollipops", which were seasoned and cooked to perfection, while my wife had the seared scallops, which was also prepared to perfection. And the bread was simply delicious.
The main courses were simply incredible. I had the beef, served with a wonderful potato/yam combination, all of which was heavenly. My wife again opted for the fish (I forget the name, but it was a red-meated fish, similar to tuna), and it was delicious as well. The combination of flavors in each course was superb.
I don't eat deserts for the most part, but my wife's chocolate cake was the one not-perfect portion of the meal. After the incredible flavor combinations, according to my wife the filling was very sweet, which accentuated the sweetness of the chocolate, rather than complimenting it. It was still very good, but just a bit off, according to her.
After dinner we went to the upstairs lounge to ring in the New Year. There was a live band, led by their guitar player, Nick, which was an excellent trio (guitar, bass, drums). They had a wide ranging book of songs, interspersed with some very good original music. I would have liked to have more dance music, but that's more a personal taste. The place was packed, but it was a very good time. We did not sit on the outside patio, being waaaay too cold (I came here to get away from the cold, dagnabit!), but it was a memorable evening. Will definitely go back on a non-holiday.
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