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| - My Dad and I decided to try Talavera after they extended their Restaurant Week deal through the end of the year. We arrived for a late dinner and were received by the hostess, who was thoroughly un-friendly, especially by Four Seasons standards. Then it took over 5 minutes for our server to come over and tell us she'd be back soon to take our order. We were a little worried that the service would be totally abysmal, but we ended up with a different server after that, but she was terrific. We ordered the 3-course meal for $39 per person, and she nicely agreed to substitute the chocolate dessert, as chocolate keeps me up late at night. Our first course was a salmon pastrami, and I think we were both curious to see what that meant, but it was just like it sounds - smoked salmon, peppered around the edges, and they curled it, stood it up, filled it with fresh crab meat, and drizzled citrus vinaigrette on the plate, with a side of haricots vert. The main course was a lamb chop, with a side of a grain similar to cous-cous, although they called it something else. The lamb was juicy and the sauce complemented it very well. Finally, for dessert, we had the creme brulee with fresh berries and the apple pie. Both were delicious, but my only complaint would be that the creme brulee was a little too sweet, and the dough on the pie a little too salty. All-in-all, it was a very nice meal, in a beautiful setting. The dining room is elegant, with a Southwestern flair, a long outdoor fire, and views overlooking the mountains and the whole city below. It might not be one of the most progressive or acclaimed culinary destinations in the Valley, but this special pricing is a good deal for what you get, and the food is great.
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