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| - 5Church was satiating in many ways: cuisine, atmosphere, service, diversity.
The cuisine was delicious: black bean hummus, quinoa, fried beet sliders, flatbread (and those are just the appetizers, or "Snacks" as 5Church refers to these options), caramel nut pie for dessert (with a sweet potato base -- pure genius) -- was also salivating over the description of the s'mores and the double chocolate cake, so will have to go back to sample those sweet treats. Several entrees looked fantastic -- the ingredients and accompanying sides seemed perfectly chosen: wasabi crusted salmon, for example.
The atmosphere was intimate, interesting, and entertaining. The space is well laid out -- plenty of room between tables so even though it's a very open area, the time with my friend felt private and cozy. The furniture is funky and comfortable; the lighting is unique and just right -- not too bright, not too dim; even the bathroom faucets were fun. There was a positive vibe in the restaurant -- a consistent buzz of folks coming and going, pleasant conversations, lots of laughter.
The folks who work at 5Church seem to sincerely enjoy interacting with each other and with the patrons -- when servers, hosts, managers, owners, bartenders, and chefs are walking around chatting amongst the crowd, the dining experience feels more like a community party. Though it was the first time that my friend and I had visited the restaurant, we were treated like "regulars" and attended to like we were long-time pals. It's amazing the difference it makes when the people who work at a restaurant balance the need to be efficient with the ability to be fun and interesting.
The diversity in 5Church also enhanced the overall experience -- from the artwork on the walls and ceiling, to the patrons representing a mix of demographics, to the creative menu, it was an incredibly fulfilling time. I'm looking forward to brunching at 5Church on a Saturday morning, rocking out to a DJ on a Friday night, grabbing a mid-week lunch with a colleague, and taking friends there when they visit the QC.
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