"1"^^ . . . "2013-04-04T00:00:00"^^ . "0"^^ . "What a delightful experience here this evening! First of all, the welcome is warm and sincere. A good start. \n\nThe menu offers interesting choices, and pushes the envelope, but is never weird. It's quite meat-heavy, as another reviewer pointed out, but is not in the same realm as all the nose-to-tail dining so prevalent in Toronto as of late.\n\nAppetizers were delicious: the fried smelts with chips were done to perfection, as were the quail. I also enjoyed the ribs. Mains were very solid as well; the most interesting and successful of which was the scallop ceviche on one dining companion's \"four square.\" My arctic char was expertly seared, though I question the accompaniment of the onion compote (just an observation, not a criticism). I tasted my other dining companion's beef cheeks, and found them meltingly tender. A very judicious use of spicing throughout.\n\nI also give my highest compliments to the service. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, attentive but never hovering. Though the pace between courses was perhaps a bit slower than in other places, this is largely due to the fact that the food is genuinely cooked from scratch (no pre-mixed salad from a bag here or characterless steamed vegetables). I liked the wine that he recommended, a lovely Gamay from BC that complemented the slight spice in the food.\n\nCreative, delicious desserts; the panna cotta was not overly sweet and was flavoured with lime leaf (one of my favourite aromatics). \n\nI praise the attention to detail that I found everywhere. \n\nThe lone drawback was the coffee, which was bitter. But hey, we can't all be perfect! And some may find the music slightly loud (but they were playing 80s music, which I happen to love -- just my own personal taste -- so I can't complain).\n\n I'll definitely return."^^ . "5"^^ . . "2"^^ .