VENUE/AMBIANCE (4 stars)
Not a lot of parking and the entrance was difficult to see clearly. We drove past it the first time around. The two story restaurant is new and modern, elegantly decorated and clean. When we arrived for our reservation, our table was still being prepared so we were seated at the bar with water while we waited. The restaurant was not very busy when we arrived on Friday night around 8:30pm, probably 4-5 tables seated. The second floor was not open.
SERVICE (4 stars)
Courteous and attentive, if a little overbearing, service. The front of house manager seated us at the bar and notified us of the wait for our table. Not long after, another waiter came by to let us know they were still clearing the table. I did appreciate the coat check service (we were given number tokens to pick up our coats after). The waiter took our orders correctly but could benefit from a little more study of menu offerings. There were some specials and upgrades we inquired about but he was unable to give us a definitive answer without checking. (i.e.Q: How much is it to upgrade to truffle frites? A: $3) He was more than happy to split the bill for our group of 11 which we were grateful for.
FOOD (3 stars)
We ordered a charcuterie board and beef tartare to start. Both items were well presented and delicious. I like that some of the ingredients were sourced locally in Ontario. For mains, I ordered the steak frites and upgraded to truffle frites. My boyfriend ordered the chicken. The steak portioning is smaller than expected and tough but cooked to the requested medium rare. Truffle frites were delicious. The chicken was cooked well but was missing a certain restaurant quality. I note that not everyone got the same amount of fries, some significantly less. My friend commented that the lamb chops were really good. I ordered their dessert to end the meal - a mixed berry pavlova - which I really enjoyed. Plating was beautiful.
QUALITY/VALUE (3)
At $28 for maybe four ounces of steak, I think Terre Rouge has priced their menu too high for the quality and quantity of food. Dessert items at $12 - $14 apiece is also higher than similar restaurants in the area. Beers come at $9-10 a pint and cocktails start at $13, which is reasonable. The bill came to $115 for two people after 18% gratuity as we were in a large group.
OVERALL
3.5 stars