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| - I've been meaning to try Nora Gray for some time, as the owner/chef once worked at Joe Beef, which is basically the golden standard of Le Sud Ouest and it was featured on the latter's episode of Munchie's Chef's Night Out.
Being vegan as consistently as possible, it was important to me that they be able to cater to my dietary restrictions, so I called ahead to be sure and received a pleasant response to my query. The vibe of the small, intimate eatery was cozy and quirky in the best of ways. Front of house staff were dressed informally, which spoke to the laid-back vibe of the place. Service was attentive without being overbearing and our server gladly offered wine pairings to each course.
I had lovely grilled summer vegetables as an antipasto, which they removed the anchovy vinaigrette from at my request. It was topped off with crunchy, breakcrumbs, which were slightly salty for my taste. Opting to skip the primo, I went straight for a secondo of creamy courgette and pine nut risotto (vegan!) topped with rich, buttery wild mushroom. The second offering was delicious, perfectly balanced, and filling. For dessert, the server thoughtfully mentioned that the chocolate mousse with candied oranges and cookie-like crunchies was a vegan-friendly option. The taste of the orange was strong, but incredibly earthy and natural, while the texture of the mousse was velvety and decadent. Overall, the quality of the food was impeccable.
My only issue with my experience is that I found it to be somewhat pricey for the portion size, a problem that was consistent through each course. Dine at Nora Gray if you are able to savour and appreciate, as opposed to devour; it is food which tickles the palate and deserves to be treasured.
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