| rev:text
| - Nice service, underwhelming food.
I booked a table for six at six on a Saturday (easy, friendly service there). It was quiet when I arrived. The main dining room is not large, so I'd recommend reservations even if you're only two, if you're set on trying this place. I could see one or two groups suddenly filling the room. The atmosphere itself is clean and bright, next to the street.
I don't think there was a Foursquare feature that day, which was a little disappointing. Maybe I just missed it being offered, so that might be my fault.
A couple of us got the housemade sodas, and one was a fantastic ginger flavour.
For an appetizer, we split the meats and cheeses sharing plate. Although the large portion was marked for two to four people, it was fine among six. Our server thoughtfully split the portions between two boards so we didn't have to reach, and she brought us a fresh basket of crostini without being asked (she was great).
The sharing plate had smoked duck, sausage, sliced beef, figs, three Quebec cheeses, gelatin, grainy mustard, and other items. It was a nice assortment, and we had a good time mixing them in different combinations. Even though there were more of us than the portions were intended for, I think each of us got to try everything.
For mains, it turned out each pair of us had the same dish -- steak frites, Peking duck pho (me), and the special of the day, which was perch with spelt risotto.
The steak frites looked delicious. The 8 oz. steak came pre-sliced, which I have mixed feelings about ... but it was done the way asked, and the fries were praised all around the table. It came with a spoonful of homemade (?) ketchup. They gave my friend salsa verde when she asked for some hot sauce (kind of a fiend for spice).
The Peking duck pho, on the other hand, was kind of terrible. Maybe we just didn't get it, but neither of us liked the broth at all. It was strangely dark, and a little oily by the end. It smelled good, but tasted bland, with a vaguely bitter taste in the middle. The pickled pumpkin was interesting and provided a nice tart and sweet flavour contrast to the fatty duck.
I didn't get to taste the perch, but the risotto was not very good. It seemed undercooked for risotto, even if it was just risotto-style.
The portions here meant you could easily leave room for dessert if you so wished. They have a small menu of desserts. I was up for trying the Elvis, but when my friend found out that they had run out of the Earl Grey creme brulee, we decided to settle the bill and move on with the evening.
Our server was very sweet. She was quiet under the medium-loudish music, so if you were sitting at the end of the table, you really had to lean in to hear her. Otherwise, she was polite, attentive, and helpful. When we asked at the beginning of the meal, she had no problem splitting our checks, which is always super appreciated. She brought us a little palate cleanser with our bills.
Maybe I had higher expectations because of the 4-5 star reviews here, but I wouldn't come back.
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