The lunch special for $20.13 cannot be beat. It is ridiculous that they can offer this deal for almost nothing. This deal draws in a crowd. With all the convention people swarming in, it is still easy to walk in and get a table.
My group of four came in around noon and got sat quickly. We stuck to the special and a few of us got the supplementary upgrades. The food was stellar.
Course 1:
Scallop skewers are cooked to perfection.
Tomato salad was refreshing and light.
The grilled octopus was the best. It was tender and seasoned to perfection. ($10)
Didn't try the lox and bagel. My friend finished it, so it could not have been bad.
Course 2:
Shrimp skewers were cooked well, but lacked seasoning. The technique was definitely there.
Lobster pasta was plagued by the same issues. It was almost like they were going for a fra diavolo and decided to scale back.
Lamb chops were not gamey and even those of us who was afraid of this protein loved it. ($15+)
Seabass is what they are known for. The simple prep allows the guest to experience the depth of this dish.
Course 3:
The walnut cake highlighted the spice more than the nut. It was okay, but on the dry side.
Yogurt with fruit puree mimicked a fruit and cheese pairing. Very unique.
Seasonal fruit plate kept it simple and classy. The blood orange came as a surprise for some reason. It is rare to see a place actually serve fruit that is truly in season.
The only down side was the splitting of the check. Even though nobody likes doing it, you never let your guest see your displeasure.