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| - We went to Garde Manger at the recommendation of a friend who is also a "foodie" and were very blown away by the experience. We sat at the bar (in the new section in the back of the restaurant), which I prefer so that we can talk to the bartenders and folks around us. What better way to get recommendations than from those in the "know?"
The menu was in French. My partner doesn't speak French, and as soon as the waiter heard me translating, he came over to explain it further. WOW. What customer service.
I started with the steak and eggs with fois gras. It was beyond scrumptious. My partner had the salad which had fresh veggies and these little fried cheese bread "croutons" that were out of this world. Only issue, the portions were huge, and I was pretty full following the apps. For mains, my partner had the lobster risotto which there were no words for how fantastic it was. Huge chunks of lobster and not as much rice as you find in most risottos (which was fantastic to us). The flavors blended and just balanced perfectly. I had fish which was cooked perfectly! All in all, a fantastic dining experience.
But the best part was the interaction with the staff. Tim and (we think) Jason were awesome! They chatted with us all night like we've known each other a million years. They gave us recommendations of other restaurants in the city, even things to do. Seriously, felt like we met new friends. Tim told us about a new restaurant from the folks behind Garde (Le Bremner), and sure enough when we went on Monday - the whole crew was there. Perfection!
Bottom line: GO! The food is fantastic. The ambiance is awesome. And the staff, oh the staff - priceless!
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