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| - Wanted to try something different from the regular mainstream restaurant chains & this place seemed to fit the bill while wandering Stephen Ave. Looks classy from the exterior and inside: still classic but not upscale formal. They had a museum-like artificial display of curing meat & cheese which I'll give props to as unique but also a touch bizarre. Fair warning, vegetarian choices are pretty darn slim here. There are 2 tiers of table seating which helps you to appreciate the scale of the room. It was really hard to appreciate the decor though because it's quite dim inside. It felt like most lighting came from the bar/kitchen area.
Service was alright, not quick, but not rushed either. Staff were nice as well. We were also regularly refilled on drinks (water & wine) without prompting...There was a half price Wednesday on wine bottles. I appreciate that the server knew what was popular on the menu. It's a smaller menu, but still a lot of options that are vastly different from the next. We considered group sharing platters, but ended up going for individual dinners: steak frites with CO2 Bernaise, ribs & korean poutine, and beef brisket. No regrets on any of those, each were plated well, serving size was decent with strong, robust & different flavours centered around enhancing the meat. Pricing felt fair & reasonable for the experience.
On a side note: the washroom is an experience of its own... You have to go down 3 flights of stairs in the opposite side of the restaurant which is decorated in bright Victorian style, then at the level of the washroom; it looks like you are walking into a subway/horror house. There's a super creepy vibe aside from the modern historical decor & modern music overhead. It's incredibly dark & black in the washroom, the bright lighting from the stalls are barely seen with the doors almost touching the ceiling & floor. The solo antique chair with spotlight on it at the entrance gives it a haunting vibe, it's funny how those details is something I'll remember more than the dining experience because it was so disturbing. Would I eat here again? Absolutely! But I would definitely avoid taking a washroom selfie!
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