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| - Every year, if I am lucky, I encounter a restaurant that offers a truly memorable experience. Europea was that restaurant for me in 2016, so much so that I intend to omit some details of our experience so that it is a surprising treat for you, as well. I will leave you with this sentiment: the meal is an enchanting performance so sit back and take joy in it.
I reserved well in advance, more than 8 weeks out, resulting in a lovely table by the window on the second floor overlooking the city street; during the summer, I would imagine that the area would come alive.
As we reviewed the menu, we enjoyed a robust and tasty beef jerky, flavored popcorn, goat cheese lollipops, and herbed straws served in olive oil. They were an unexpected and delightful way to begin a meal filled with surprises. These little treats definitely set the right mood.
In the end, we selected the 12-course tasting menu and were pleased with the decision. Note that a six-course table d'hôte and an à la carte menu are also available. Below are some of the items we enjoyed:
- Arancini created to look like a truffle
- Velvety lobster bisque with a cappuccino-like foam finish - so good I could have made a meal of it
- Smoked lentil caviar in a crispy crust (a substitute for my salmon allergy)
- Risotto with baby shrimp and beets
- Calamari tagliatelle served with a quail egg and a creamy sauce, reminiscent of a carbonara - this was my sister's favorite
- Pâté au torchon served with a tiny brioche
- A well-prepared sea bass that was cooked in sweet hay and assorted citrus aromatics - this was my favorite
- Cornish game hen cooked in breakable clay that was, unfortunately, a bit dry
- Clever taste of braised beef layered with béarnaise and potatoes
- A cheese tray that took into account our preferences, from a cellar of over 100 choices from Quebec
- A wonderful assortment of sweet treats that begged for us to take home leftovers
Throughout the 4-hour meal, the servers were energetic and playful. We thoroughly enjoyed the well-paced, thoughtfully-composed indulgences and appreciated how much the servers were very much a part of the overall experience. This meal has provided many lovely memories already so I encourage you to GO. Relish every moment of the experience.
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