Laura O.
Yelp
I've been wanting to check out Banc for a while and finally had a chance to on a recent Friday. It was unseasonably warm, and I was delighted to be able to immediately snag a table outdoors. There is a lot of outdoor seating (they're on a street corner) and the setup is fairly nice, so this can be a go-to spot if you're primarily concerned with dining or drinking al fresco.
I wasn't expecting the food or drinks to be off the charts, but I was surprised by how uneven everything was.
We did a starter sampler, which comprises smaller portions of four starters of your choice, along with a full order of the burrata. The burrata, served with arugula and tomato slices, was quite good. Although it wasn't the creamiest or most flavorful burrata, it was fresh, and the toppings of pesto and balsamic made for a complex, all-around enjoyable dish. The accompanying little toasts were great.
Our sampler platter was a little more mixed. The presentation of the plate itself was nice.
-Chicken taco - served in a soft shell with pico de gallo and a fresh slice of avocado, these were good. Served with a flavorful salsa that added some zest.
-The goat cheese croquettes, coconut shrimp, and tuna and avocado tartare all sounded great, but they were kind of meh. The shrimp were tough and didn't taste like much, and I didn't notice any coconut. The tartare was also bland and would've benefited from some sesame oil.
The drinks were like night and day. My first, the Gin Blossom, was gorgeous to look at and pretty tasty. The notes of honey, lemon, and pomegranate were pretty mild, and the drink overall tasted (and looked) a bit like a subdued Aviation. I think it would've benefited from a touch more sweetness to bring out the other flavors, but overall I enjoyed it.
My second drink, The Natural (vodka, lime, basil, agave, club soda) seemed like it would be difficult to screw up, but it was bad. I couldn't taste any club soda, basil, or agave, so it ended up just tasting like a vodka with a splash of lime. The basil was literally a handful of basil plunked into the drink; it turned into a gloopy mess that only served to block my straw. Not at all worth the $15.
Our server was really friendly, which I always appreciate.
I would probably only come back if I really wanted an outdoor spot and having trouble finding anywhere else.