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| - If you've read my review for CURE, this one will sound quite familiar.
Made reservations for a birthday dinner 2 weeks in advance for a Sat night.
Arrived and were promptly seated at an awesome table.
Like CURE, a modern atmosphere. Despite being packed and tables fairly close together, noise level was totally fine. Didn't have to shout, didn't feel others were eavesdropping on your conversation. These 2 restaurants are essentially equal at this point with the exception of the spectacular view at Altius. That being said, I'm there to eat not look. So how about that food/drink?
Started w/ the charcuterie plate with local meats and cheeses, as well as fresh bread. The rosemary foccacia was particularly stellar. The accompanying honey/molasses butter and sun-dried tomato olive oil were perfectly complimentary.
At some point our server also brought out a gift from the chef that was a 'shooter' of some kind with onion in it. I can't remember any more detail than that - but it was good.
For entrees we went w/ Duck, Duck, Goose and a Trout special. Both were fantastic and very well presented.
Since it was a birthday dinner, we were provided a complimentary piece of vanilla bean cheesecake - unexpected and a nice touch.
So at this point you may be asking - why only 3 stars? Remember I said this place is quite similar to CURE in my opinion?
But first - there's that complimentary popcorn people talk of...at one point during the meal our server just came by and swiped it off the table. Didn't ask if we were done with it, or anything of the sort. We just kind of looked at each other as if 'did that just happen?". Now I don't eat popcorn so it wasn't necessarily an issue for me, but my date was enjoying it - until she was no longer able to! Strange.
Second - drinks. I got 2 cocktails, my date one cocktail and a glass of wine. Wine is wine. Cocktails - pretty watered down, particularly at $12/pop. Pretty much sugar. Usually 2 cocktails has me feeling pretty good - I couldn't even tell I had a drink at all here.
I would have ordered a beer, but $8 for a Great Lakes draft that's $3.50 at Giant Eagle of all places is just a little ridiculous on the mark-up. I'm sure the rent on Grandview is high, but c'mon.
Third - while the food was excellent, just as CURE, it's simply over-priced for what you get. Portion size on my dish at least, simply didn't measure up to the price tag. One app, 4 drinks, 2 entrees, 1 shared dessert, and $160 later - and I'm still hungry.
Compare that to the $95 I spent at M&P earlier in the week for a Southern Tier tasting with 5 courses and 5 beers where I left uncomfortably stuffed, and well...
Fourth - Service. Overall - very friendly and genuine. But the pacing is SLOW. I don't think it was anything on the part of our server, it seems planned that way. It was a Saturday night as well, so it was busy. Were offered more bread and accepted, but it took almost 15 minutes for it to arrive it seemed. 2 hour seatings just aren't my thing. To be fair this is just a personal preference, as some are the complete opposite and are totally content sitting there all night long.
One last thing that rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to try the duck reuben off the bar menu IN ADDITION to my Duck, Duck, Goose entree - yes I eat a lot - but was told I could not do so where I was seated. What's the difference where I am seated?! It's the same kitchen?!
One of the only times somebody has told me they DIDN'T want more of my money, and therefore more of a tip. Again, strange.
So it's hard to justify, even for special occasions. If somebody wanted to go, I wouldn't turn it down or steer them away, but I wouldn't seek it out either. Just ok.
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