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| - Usually when you're a solo diner holding a voucher, you're treated like a three-headed leper: the host and server roll their eyes in anticipation of a puny tip, you're seated at the dishwasher, and your entree never looks quite as good as that at the neighbouring table who ordered the same thing. But Insomnia was the BEST restaurant I've ever tried on a voucher, and it's the first one where I'll be happy to return even without a voucher (gasp!).
The voucher excluded their popular brunch hours; so I reserved a table for one for early Sunday evening. I got a confirmation e-mail from an actual person, not a robot, and was greeted warmly at the door. (I saw my name handwritten in their book.) I got a nice seat inside with good lighting so that I could read comfortably.
I showed my voucher right away so that they could tell me which specials were off-limits, but lo and behold there were no restrictions! (what!?) I was able to order off the $25 3-course prix fixe menu, which had all the items I had planned to order and basically threw in the dessert for free.
My starter was the pulled pork taco: a very generous serving of chipotle pulled pork with some nice sauces and slaw and the pleasant surprise of pea shoots, which really made the dish. I inhaled it.
My main course was the chicken and waffles. This was a huge portion of chicken - 2 boneless leg/thigh quarters: crisp on the outside, and so juicy and tasty on the inside. The waffle was the single-best waffle I've ever had: not too sweet, perfectly crisp. The maple-butter soaks into both the chicken and waffle without making them soggy. There is also a nice red cabbage slaw (buttermilk-based, I think) on the side. This was the best version of the dish I've had since I visited South Carolina ages ago. Good thing I had skipped lunch earlier; otherwise I'd have needed a styrofoam clamshell.
If I had one suggestion for the food, it would be to give the diner the option to spice it up a bit. There was a hint of jalapeno somewhere in the waffle, but it wasn't enough for my asbestos tastebuds. Some chopped jalapenos on the side would elevate everything for heat seekers like me.
Dessert was a nice pink velvet cake: a strawberry-flavoured variation on the original. It was beautifully plated with fresh strawberries and cream, and the cake itself was moist and flavourful. I prefer a standard red velvet, but this was well done.
Service was quick, friendly, and efficient. I wish the server would have introduced himself by name so I could mention him here. It's the service and professionalism that will be bring me back. I appreciate that this restaurant understands what a voucher is supposed to do: draw in people that would otherwise never visit and impress them so that they'll return on their own. Most places just wind up resenting voucher-holders as margin-suckers, making you wonder why they ever issued one in the first place. Insomnia is a class act.
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