Lovely little restaurant with a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. Our server was super friendly and…read moreattentive, although the kitchen was a bit slow considering how few people were in the restaurant.
We started with the scallops and pork belly appetizer, which was excellent. The scallop had a textbook-perfect sear, and the pork belly was beautifully cooked, with the fat rendered down so well that it didn't eat fatty or greasy. The whipped feta dip was also delicious, but unfortunately, the accompanying toast was slightly overdone, giving it a bitter aftertaste. They brought us a second serving of bread, which was so much better. I kept thinking to myself that I should have said something about the first batch because it really made a world of difference.
For our entrées, the squid ink pasta was good, and the seafood tasted wonderfully fresh, although I would have preferred a brighter, fresher-tasting tomato sauce.
The pan-seared pickerel was cooked perfectly, with beautifully crispy skin. Unfortunately, the accompaniments sounded much better on paper than they tasted on the plate. There were cheddar grits, a gumbo reduction, and andouille sausage, but honestly, you could have served me cauliflower mash instead of the grits, and I probably wouldn't have known the difference. I couldn't pick up any distinct flavors from the gumbo reduction or the andouille sausage. The only thing that really stood out was the charred corn. I'm not sure whether there were too many components competing with each other or simply not enough seasoning to bring out their individual flavors, but everything seemed to get lost.
My biggest disappointment, however, was the drinks. We ordered the Fall Pear Collins and the Caesar, and while both tasted great, I expected a little more alcohol for what they were charging. I actually ended up ordering an additional shot of vodka to add to my Caesar because I could barely detect the alcohol in it, let alone feel a buzz.
Overall, it was a pretty good meal with some genuinely excellent cooking, particularly the scallops, pork belly, and perfectly seared fish. A few tweaks to the seasoning, better attention to the details, and more generously poured cocktails would have made the experience that much better. There's definitely potential here, and despite a few misses, we still enjoyed our evening.
