| rev:text
| - Sorry, this place doesn't live up to the hype. Yes, the rustic, unpretentious ambiance is very inviting, everything from the split-level configuration to the ever-lingering scent of wood burning, to the cosy and warm lighting, and the bustling energy -- all of which i really appreciate. but the food? hit and miss. same with the service.
I ate there for the second time a few weeks ago and found the quality had gone down and prices had gone up, since my initial visit end of January.
The original claims of incredible value heralded by foodists when it first opened (i.e. great dishes, and with all entrees under $20, and huge portions, etc) is no longer the case (although huge portions i can always do without).
And while the server I had on my first visit was friendly, attentive and extra-accomodating (pre-splitting the various sides and two entrees my DC and I'd ordered), the server on the second visit, not so much. She disappeared frequently and, due to poor listening skills, brought a wrong entree, but didn't feel the need to apologize (she seemed generally distracted - to put it politely - despite the section being half-empty for the first while). Whatever, everyone has a bad night, but her attitude (bordering on eye-rolling) was not endearing, especially when none of us expressed impatience or were demanding in any way.
I'm a salt fiend, but generally-speaking, even I found the salt quantity over the top in pretty much every item ordered. And i wasn't the only one with this opnion: thanks to the ridiculously-close-placed tables (ya, i know...profit margin...gotta ram'em in....blah blah blah, but 6" between tables?!), i couldn't help hearing the neighbouring couple's detailed estimation re: sodium counts for each of their items.
THE GOOD:
- bread basket: one of the best in the city, perfect texture and very flavourful
- whole wheat pappardelle pasta w/ lamb ($19? $20?): exceptional
- whole wheat pappardelle pasta w/ mushrooms (veggie version): also very good
- grilled haddock w/ a white sauce served over couscous ($24) - cooked perfectly and was tasty, but not special
- lemon-blueberry tart topped w/ roasted marshmallow meringue ($8 or $9 - the only dessert i've tried there): i'm a lemon tart connoisseur, and am always surprised how few restaurants (even the best ones, and bakeries, for that matter) get it right. the lemon filling is either too tart, too sweet and/or the crust is disproportionately thick and/or bland and/or cardboard-like in texture. woodlot's, however, is supreme in all aspects. the crust's thickness (flavourful in its chewy-yet-almost-cookie-like texture) was relative to the layers of lemon and wild blueberry, with the lemon filling possessing a perfect sweet-to-tart flavour ratio. the thoughtful top layer of roasted marshmallow meringue perfectly complimented the lemon and blueberry beneath -- incredible!
THE MEDIOCRE:
- baked buffalo mozzarella ziti: pasta. cheese. fresh-tasting red sauce. the end.
- roasted pork on the bone w/ stewed apples: a tad dry, with the classic (read: boring) apple accompaniment
- side of bone marrow mashed potatoes: sure it was tasty - when you add gobs of butter, cream and salt, tasty is what you get. i detected no hint of any bone marrow flavour, so...nothing novel or special about it.
THE BAD:
- side of gnocchi in brown butter and sage: about 8 tiny...kibbles appeared on the plate, dried out (under the heat lamp too long?) and bland, w/ nary a hint of sage anywhere
- french onion soup: on my first visit i found their version to be among the best i'd ever had, but this time it was almost inedible. the broth was so strongly acidic, as if they'd over free-poured the red wine, without the necessary reduction. not sure how they could've let this batch out of the kitchen.
- side of baked radish w/ ? (sorry, can't remember other main ingredient, maybe... apple?): this was an epic fail, mushy texture and no discernible flavour - again, not sure how this made it out of the kitchen.
Were I rating it based only on the food, it'd give it 2 - maybe 2.5 stars. but the atmosphere (and my companions!) compel me to give it a 3.
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