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| - I have to say, I have been itching to try Bonterra for quite some time now and when our plans fell through because of a full-holiday buyout at another spot in-town I was thrilled (and a little surprised) when my boyfriend suggested Bonterra since we had heard it was just okay.
We made last minute reservations on open table, and when we arrived, ended up being that couple that walked through the back door of the said-restaurant, which was, what I suppose used to be the front of the church. We found the host stand, and she said it would be a bit of time until we were seated. We grabbed two spots at the packed bar, and I might have let out a huge gasp at the gorgeous bottles staring back at me.
While my boyfriend was--rightfully so--disappointed in the, what 5 beer selections that they had, I was in my own little wine-playground.
We ordered some cheese/charc from their bar menu which is a little discounted menu from their full, and it was good. As our reservation time passed, I went to the host and told her we'd just stay at the bar as we were hungry and the service with Heather was good. Plus we had the whole bar to ourselves! THE BEST. So I was a little surprised when the host approached us 5 minutes after we ordered to tell us our table was ready? We still stayed.
Mussels had great flavor. I ordered the crab/shrimp appetizer and for $22 I thought it was a steal for the portion size. Between the cheese and mussels prior, I could hardly finish it. My boyfriend enjoyed his short rib.
I didn't feel the restaurant feeling overly bloated or gross, which is always a win.
So let's talk environment. My boyfriend and I aren't super stuffy people, and he felt like we were in an old-school boys club-must-wear-jacket-to-dinner place. And we kind of were. Now, I must say, I was still in my wine-o land, and I don't think I took my eyes off of what I was going to drink next so it wasn't until we were chatting about our experience, that I was like, you know, I kind of agree. There wasn't really any sort of decor, which, simplicity is fine, but some sort of match-your cuisine to your restaurant is on many levels, important.
Even though he thought it was stuffy, you better believe I'm going to ask to go back...and sit at the bar. There's still 67 odd glasses of wine that I still haven't drank.
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