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| - I made my reservation 2 months ago. This place only has 24 seats, only open Wednesday to Saturday and only for dinner, so count yourself lucky if you can get a seat! It also didn't help that they closed for a few weeks in March. OpenTable helped me figure out when a table might be free. Note: max party size is 4 (accordingly to their website).
The service was fantastic from the moment I walked in. The kind hostess took my coat for me and then seated me in one of the best seats in the restaurant - looking right into the kitchen! It's completely open so you can watch the magic happen.
I ordered the French 75 cocktail because it seemed appropriate. It was a perfect choice for me. They have a few other interesting options. My date highly enjoyed the Harmonica. Ici also offers an extensive wine list.
Lucky for me, a diner who likes to try everything, Ici offers most menu options in a small portion and a large portion. I had already chosen the snails and the braised beef for myself, so I was excited and on board when my date suggested we share a few dishes, to maximize variety. We added the duck confit and the fish.
In order of arrival:
-amuse-bouche: goat cheese tartlet. Perfect warm-up. Light and flaky pastry, smoothe and creamy filling. Bonus points for being adorable.
-bread basket: loved the thin crispy ones!
-duck confit: very rich, nice with the sweet figs. The toast it's served with is just okay. I'd recommend saving the bread from the basket for this.
-snails: my favourite dish of them all. Served with a delicious creamy sauce. We couldn't get enough and ended up cleaning the plate!
-fish: cooked perfectly (on the rare side - soft, tender, flaky)
-braised beef: o.m.g. I've never tasted anything so delicious. Sadly I was starting to get full by this point and could only handle a few bites. This is a must try.
-soufflé for dessert: I opted for the pralines version (also available with Grand Marnier). Double o.m.g. This was my very first soufflé and will definitely not be my last.
Everything was presented beautifully on the plates. The highly attentive and friendly staff provided new sharing plates for every dish and changed our cutlery each time. I appreciated the descriptions when each plate was introduced to the table.
The waitress told us the soufflés rarely ever fail. She estimated maybe 1 in 100 soufflés doesn't make it, and even then it's only just short of perfect - not a complete fail. Well, it seems our questions about the art and science of soufflé-making put too much pressure on the chef. And sure enough, mine didn't make it! I had to wait extra long for my dessert because it had to be re-made. I appreciated that the waitress notified us of the mishap. She promised it was well worth the wait..... and was right. Despite being fuller than full, I was able to scarf down every crumb of the warm, sweet, gooey deliciousness.
I was afraid to look when the bill came because we had each ordered a cocktail, 4 dishes (small), dessert and sparkling water for the table. This all rang in around $130, plus tip. The food ranges from $11 to $30 each, cocktails approximately $14 each. The 4 small portions for us was just right and allowed us to try a few things. I'm very happy with the choices we made, but also saw lots of other menu items pass through the kitchen that looked equally good.
Ici is my new favourite restaurant! I don't think I could come here too often, since it's hard to get a table, and it's on the pricey end by the time you add everything together. It's also a little bit rich to be eating everyday. I truly enjoyed the quality of every bite of food served, the beautiful presentation and the superb service. Little details like my water glass never being empty, the new cutlery with each dish and the recipe card that came with the bill all make for a fantastic, memorable dining experience. Merci Ici!
Fancy a challenge? Here are some hints for making a perfect soufflé:
http://www.getcracking.ca/tq-souffles.html
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