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| - Pickled grapes? Wow!
I stopped in here with my cousin during my recent visit to the Desert Botanical Garden featuring Chihuly. We wanted to grab a quick drink while waiting for the sun to set for the day. I was surprised when we checked with the hostess that they were booked full for the next 1.5 hours! Note to self and everyone else: make a reservation for evening seating.
Diners can choose indoor or outdoor seating, and the outdoor patio is heated in the cooler months. It has a classy ambiance, and the outdoor patio gives you the garden feel.
We chatted with the bartender for a while. Her cocktail knowledge shown through as we improvised a non-alcoholic drink into an alcoholic drink as well. The drinks (a spiced rum type mojito and cactus something or other tasted refreshing and light.
Service at the bar was prompt and attentive. Both food and beverages worked well together and took minimal amounts of time to receive.
We also ordered the artisan cheese plate. I liked that it came with flat, grainy chips so as to not be too filling (compared to thick bread). The three cheeses represented a good mix (soft cow cheese with ash rind, goat's cheese, and I'm at a loss on the third but it was my cousin's favorite.We did ask the bartender to re-explain which was which twice already. They did, of course, but cheerily and very willingly.
To create and change the tastes, they offered a strawberry spread (not a huge fan of strawberries, but it was still tasty) and in-house pickled grapes. Wow, those grapes were something because they also picked up hints of herbs, likely fresh from the gardens as well.
Both the bartenders and servers at Gertrude's have a flair for showing their knowledge and I appreciate when the staff can speak intelligently of the food.
The food at other tables looked divine. Portions looked great and all the diners were happy and chatting away.
I highly recommend making a reservation for a visit to Gertrude's while at the botanical gardens. I look forward to coming back in spring and sampling additional cocktails and dishes. Also,before walking over, stop in the washroom if you've already walked around because I was a little dusty from the trails and the washrooms are across from the gift store and not inside the restaurant.
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