Rick R.
Yelp
Marjan and I visited 3 years ago, on her birthday, then a couple of weeks later on my birthday. Our first visit was special, the ambience, the service, the food, just exceptional. (Please read our review from that visit in 2022.) HOWEVER, our second visit was, how shall I describe....oh, yes...horrendous. The food was exceptional as one would expect, but we had better service at a biker bar. Excellent service is the bedrock complement to excellent cuisine expected of this level of restaurant, so a major, criminal failing this last visit. Ergo, our absence for 3 years counting.
Nonetheless, we were hosting dinner for two dear family members, and they had never visited Signature. So, with some trepidation, we reserved.
Making good use of the valet service on this frigid night, we were immediately greeted by the hostess and shown to our table....in the smaller dining area off the main room. Friends, the smaller room is, well a smaller room. The best experience for the ambience is in the main area, so, word to the wise: reserve your table for the main dining room!! Let me repeat: specifically reserve a table in the main dining area!!
But, that irritation aside, the excellence of service that we experienced during our first visit was indeed revisited. Albany our waitress promptly filled our aperitif requests, and while the mixologist prepared, another member of the staff filled our glasses with H20, and offered slices of fruit or cucumber to freshen our drink. Very nice touch! Our foursome preferred the dirty vodka martini, and should you so prefer, the beverage was spot on! Definitely recommend!
Bread service was provided with chef's butter, a pleasing whet for the appetite. But another added pleasure: the bouche amuse offered as a tantalizer by the chef. Pleasing and smoothing, and preparatory for the dishes to come.
Our table was torn over the appetizers, but we shared the risotto, and all agreed, was a winner!
Albany was exceptionally knowledgeable of the nuances of the menu items, answering our queries of preparation, sauces and sides, helping our choices for entree. But up next, sherbert as palate cleanser. Again, nice touch.
We chose four different menu items, wanting to plumb the depths of the chef's culinary talents. We enjoyed the redfish, the halibut, the tenderloin and the venison. The sauces that dressed the dishes were exceptional. The finned creatures cooked as wanted, avoiding the dread overcook. The tenderloin was asked medium, the venison medium rare: both presented to our table as desired. Tender, melt in the mouth quality. Sauces can add exceptional flavor to an entree, and friends, the chef's talents were on full display. Delicious! Marjan selected a Pelligrini pinot noir from their list (full-bodied, berry taste and hints of vanilla) and we left not a drop in the bottle after all was said and done!
So, friends, we gambled on this reservation, given the very degoutant service we experienced during our last visit. But this visit, the service from all members of the staff were as one would expect from this tier of dining experience. BUT, a word again to the wise: be certain to request table in the main dining room!! Marjan rates this restaurant 5 origami boots!! Enjoy yelpers!!