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| - Staying at the Encore and wanting to eat "in house" I spent some time looking over the reviews of my different options. Jardin, overall, had good reviews, though there seemed to be a common thread of inattentive and slow service by wait staff. I would be dining alone and had nothing else to do, so if dinner took too long, it wasn't going to effect me negatively.
I was greeted at the entrance by two smiling, pleasant hostesses and could be seated immediately: on the patio or inside. After inquiring about the temperature out on the patio, and being assured it was comfortable and there were heat lamps, I chose to sit there. It was breezy, and cool and I didn't feel much heat from the nearest heat lamp; glad I was wearing a long-sleeved blouse!
(The occasional waft of cigarette smoke from another patron or two seated on the patio was unpleasant, but not overwhelming. The tables ARE close together and since I was dining alone, I could, without straining, overhear the conversations at the tables to my left and right--but had I been engaged in a conversation at my own table, those conversations probably wouldn't have even registered with me. And being off-season, there wasn't any noise from the adjacent pool.)
As I was seated, the hostess gave me a drink menu which contained a respectable number of offerings. (One of the couples eventually seated next to me weren't given a wine menu, the hostesses had evidently not retrieved them from the wait staff; their waiter brought them one upon request.) After asking a couple of questions of the waiter (he was knowledgeable of the cocktails) and asking for his recommendation, I settled for a spritzer (absolutely delicious) and some water (no ice, please).
I also ordered a bowl of chicken noodle soup, the kale salad, and a side of the Brussels sprouts. Within minutes of placing my order, my soup was delivered (hot, not scalding, so it could be enjoyed right away; hearty; tender cubes of chicken with a heaping serving of noodles). While enjoying the soup (and consequently being warmed from the inside out), the "bread basket" arrived: warm, soft, chewy, pretzel sticks with a side of horseradish whipped butter (or was it aioli)--I am NO FAN of horseradish, but this was outstanding. There was a bit of time before my salad and Brussels sprouts were delivered, so I requested some hot water with a side of lemon; promptly delivered. The kale salad was good, though maybe a few more croutons than I would have liked, but balanced flavors and very filling. The Brussels sprouts were superb and served hot in a miniature cast iron skillet.
With the little room I had remaining in my stomach, I chose to have dessert: layered cheesecake with dark chocolate cake. This was the most disappointing item I put in my mouth all evening...but it was still good. The cheesecake was creamy and delicious, but parts of the cake layer were too gummy/springy for my liking. By now I was full to nearly bursting and left half of it on my plate.
As I was leaving the restaurant I stopped to use the restroom: small (2 stalls and only 1 sink), but very clean.
Both my waiter, Dan, and "busboy", Cris, were attentive, courteous, kind, helpful, prompt. Their service of my table and the tables next to me was excellent and helped turn what could have been a lonely dinner into a lovely dinner!
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