Alessandra C.
Yelp
Food: Starting on July 1st, guests can take advantage of their Tasting Room Date Night Experience at $75 per couple, which is basically a three-course prix fixe dinner with optional wine pairings.
- First course: the Pan Seared Scallops (2 large ones) had a perfect golden-brown crust and were paired with a watercress salad, which I love and think goes very well with buttery seafood. 5 stars.
- Second course: I was initially told that the Fish of The Day was swordfish, which I wasn't very thrilled about, but ordered anyway. I was pleasantly surprised when the waiter told me that they ran out of swordfish and asked me if I would be okay with halibut. I agreed right away since halibut is one of my favorite types of white fish. The halibut's texture was good but the fish itself could have been seasoned better, so I added salt and pepper to it, which worked. Fish was accompanied by risotto and blackeyed beans. While the risotto was creamy (though not heavy) and tasty, I would never pair fish with blackeyed beans and, indeed, was not a fan of the combination. 3 stars.
- Third course: I don't usually pick creme brulee when given different options for dessert, but the fact that this one was a Coconut Creme Brulee made me curious. And it did not disappoint: the coconut flavor made it a very unique desert indeed. Since the creme brulee on its own is quite fatty, I'm of the opinion that the generous portion of whipped cream on top could have been left out of the plate. 5 stars.
Service: our waiter was fabulous! From offering to sample red and white wine and making suggestions to describing each course on the menu in more detail, he was able to leave a lasting impression with his emotional intelligence, knowledge of the business/menu, and sense of humor. The young lady serving bread was also very friendly and made sure we had warm bread the entire night.
Ambiance: The restaurant is on the first floor of The Historic Edgewater Hotel, which, according to its website, opened in 1927 and "has undergone a historic restoration to provide guests with as much of the original 1927 ambiance as possible". Its facade hints at the elegance awaiting inside. As I stepped into this restaurant, I was immediately transported back in time to the grandeur of an earlier era. The restaurant has separate smaller rooms which makes it even more unique. We passed by the hotel's reception to access our table, which was located in a small room in the back, with only 3 tables total, and right next to the kitchen. There were no walls or doors between the room and the kitchen so I was able to see from very close all the kitchen activity. While I would usually mind seating that close to the kitchen (looking at how food is made in a restaurant would usually be a mood killer for me), I actually enjoyed watching the organized chaos this time.