I hate it when restaurants are hyped up, so I'm reluctant to set expectations high, but this meal was the best I've had in a long time.
We head here for date night. I am exhausted and cranky due to the new challenges of parenthood. I try to convince my husband to cancel. Nope! Off we went.
We arrive at the tiny restaurant and are told our reserved table was still occupied ("you're supposed to HOLD the reservation! Anyone can just take reservations!" -- Seinfeld reference off the top of my head. Probably not verbatim. Sorry, fellow fans). They ask if we would mind waiting at the bar.. Uh oh.. I look at The Husband. He's not happy. We're horribly picky people with obnoxious personalities who get annoyed easily (uhh see my other reviews). Bad start.
Ohhhhh wait! What's this? Complimentary champers at the bar (or maybe prosecco or a sparkling wine. whatever! Free!). After a short wait we are seated at our table.
Surprise! The Husband wants to order the longer tasting menu. I reluctantly agree. I order a delicious bourbon sour and the meal gets started. Plate after beautiful plate arrives.
A few plates in we look at each other in confusion. The plates do not match the menu. The server let's us know that these are surprise plates and the tasting menu hasn't even begun.
I'm not going to describe the meal because the menu changes often... Besides, I won't be able to do it justice. I'll just say that the smells and tastes evoke memories from my childhood around Ontario. I loved it. I'm pretty sure I could taste the province in every plate. I'm sure I sound a little nutty but that's the best I can describe it.
The icing on the cake was the chef, Justin Cournoyer, coming out with every plate. He also checked in after we were done. I asked him the story behind the name and it turns out it's the small town where he grew up. As someone who also grew up in a small town this tugged at my heart strings. What a lovely place.