a culinary tour de force
This is now our new favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. My husband and I ordered the 5 course prix fixe option, and had the most fabulous meal. He did not serve us the same items for each course, so we got to taste a broader spectrum of the menu. We both started with a fabulous chilled cucumber soup served over a scoop of frozen dill yogurt and picked beets, refreshing a just a little tart. This was followed by the apple fennel endive salad and the black caviar white anchovy cesar salad. The porkbelly appetizer with barbecue pop rocks and fruit compote had our mouths singing and popping, and the chorizo stuffed dates were also tasty. He threw in an order of the caramelized brussel sprouts with bacon jam sauce, and we both greatly enjoyed the tender roast chicken breast on a wonderfully spicy moroccan chickpea background. A deconstructed lemon cheesecake and a peanut butter torte with celery sorbet (surprisingly tasty) finished up our meal. It was just the right amount of food and we were full and satisfied, but not stuffed. The entire set of 10 dishes was creative, tantalizing and each very different from the other. If I had to choose, I would pick soup, appetizer and entree over salad or dessert (although I want to try the beet ice cream and flourless chocolate cake when it is available). They have a few nice outdoor tables and do not allow smoking indoors or out, so there is nothing to disturb from the enjoyment of the food.