| rev:text
| - Review #1 of Yelp's 30 Day Challenge 2012.
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Overall experience: 4/5
(1- Terrible; 3- decent; 5- Fantastic)
I was a little hesitant to try Home Tasting Room after seeing mediocre ratings from when it first opened, but after 20 minutes of walking in the cold, my friend and I settled here since neither of us have been to Home Tasting Room.
And boy, did I not regret my decision! The highlight of our "linner" was meeting executive chef Xavier Lacaze who competed on Top Chef Canada S02! He has been working at Home Tasting Room for about 3 months now. To some people, this means nothing, but as a foodie I was ecstatic and a little starstruck. Super nice guy =D
That aside, Home Tasting Room knocked out some stellar food! Their menu concept is "shared plates" which is ideal for those who want to try a little bit of everything. We arrived at around 3PM and ordered from their dinner menu. Their menu consisted of simple, fresh, ingredients prepared in a careful manner. There were a few starters (soup and salads), a list of shared plates (~$15-$23), and entrees (~$26-$30).
We ordered their:
- Charcuterie Tasting with Local Artisan & House Made Meats which included salami, smoked bison which was my favourite, cured sausage, and slices of meat terrine. There was a delicious yellow (maybe peach or mango) fruit compote, homemade mustard, and pickled onions, egg, and carrots ($23). If you like charcuterie boards, I suggest sharing this dish among 2-3 people. The meats weren't overly salty and there was enough variety to keep the juices flowing.
- Pacific Scallops with Brown Butter & Winter Squash Puree, Pine Nuts, Turkish Olive oil ($17). The dish came with 3 large scallops and a parital one that were seasoned well and perfectly cooked; not rubbery at all. The winter squash puree looked like baby food and had an odd lumpy texture, but it tasted rich from the brown butter which is always a plus. Another dish that I recommend if you like scallops.
- I ordered myself two East Coast oysters ($3.50/ea) that came with a House Mignonette. The oysters were clean tasting and the mignoette was delicious; it wasn't overly vinegary-tasting and had a nice light hint of vanilla.
As the restaurant's name suggests, the ambiance was very warm, inviting, and "homey". They have an open kitchen concept where guests can sit up front and watch their food being prepared. It's partial stone walls makes the restaurant very beautiful in a rustic kind of way.
Our food came out all at once and in a very reasonable amount of time; then again we were the only people dining at the time and we avoided the lunch/dinner rush. Our server was friendly, but when asked about the drinks and to explain what was on our charcuterie board, he wasn't very knowledgeable which was disappointing. His shift must have ended in the middle of our meal because we got a new waiter who was more enthusiastic and engaging with us.
Overall, I highly recommend a visit to Home Tasting Room for a "shared" type of meal and for deliciously prepared wholesome food. I found the prices to be reasonable for quality ingredients and expert preparation. I was definitely full from and satisfied with my meal.
I will definitely come back to try the rest of their menu!
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