There have been very few places where cheese plate, salad, drinks, main course, and dessert were perfect and didn't have any excess silly ingredients that nicer places are apt to throw in there for prestige, but Sardine is one of those places. The price isn't out of this world either, and the atmosphere is posh and mature, unlike a lot of places downtown.
Try their seasonal artisan cheese plate from Fromagination and their salads with arugula--excellent on the palate!
Sardine is perfect for birthday dinners and anniversary dinners if you want a step down in price from L'Etoile. And clientele and servers are dressed nicely! Well played, Sardine, well played.