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| - My friends treated me to surprise birthday dinner here the other night. The atmosphere can be described as cozy, upscale, and casual - no dress code, but you'll see some well-dressed individuals because it's Yorkville and the restaurant shares a building with the Four Seasons Residences. It's not a large space, so be sure to make a reservation in advance to avoid disappointment. To match the location, prices are rather high, so be warned. If you're mostly into the food, the restaurant can still be affordable for a special occasion if you forgo drinks with your meal. Some may feel uncomfortable in the setting or feel looked down upon based on appearance (the "can you afford this" vibe may exist) but I found my server to exhibit none of these negativities.
This location is seafood oriented, so stay away if you're not into that because there will be limited alternative options. The menu is seasonal and changes regularly, so there's potentially something new every time.
Upon arrival my server introduced herself to the table- Jessica if I recall, and offered an introduction to the menu - fully memorized, all sections covered in detail, ready to answer any questions. Often at other places you get a personalized rendition, such as your waiter's personal preferences intertwined with the description, or details only on what the server remembered. Here the menu introduction was concise yet comprehensive, and most importantly attractive. Hearing the introduction let me know what I wanted to eat and my decision-making was quickly simplified. Contrary to some other reviews, I found my server to be very attentive and accommodating, and not stuck up at all.
For starters, the table got Nodini (crunch breadstick knots with olive oil and garlic), Puntarelle (braised chicory in wine vinegar), Funghi (sautéed mushrooms), and Branzino (raw sea bass, carved tableside and served in a carpaccio-like style) to share. Interesting to watch the prep process, and your server will give some explanation after the fish has been cut up.
I ended up ordering the Bigoli pasta as my main, which featured a duck yolk pasta, duck ragu, mascarpone, and spices. The portions for all the plates come on the small side, but the pasta is quite filling and denser than what you get at other places as its handmade, so don't be fooled. They do not skimp out on the ingredients, so I feel the prices are somewhat justified. I'll be coming back with a group to try their bigger sharing items - such as their 45-day aged steak.
We tried a pear and berry tart with vanilla ice cream for dessert - the fruit pairing was unique and the overall taste of the tart was very autumn. I believe there was cardamom, but the pear and berry sweetness was the main flavour. Expect the ice cream to melt quickly as it's one neatly pressed tablespoon scoop, and really it goes alongside the tart. The dessert menu didn't surprise me much otherwise.
Overall, a great place for special occasions if you're looking for an upscale experience, impeccable service, and an interesting seafood menu executed with attention to detail and creativity. There's other items on the menu to suit other diets created with the same attention and care, so don't worry. The location is Definitely a cozy, small space - so be sure to make a reservation no matter time or day.
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