Quick hints, DO NOT BRING A LARGE GROUP HERE. Second the menu changes every month. Do check out the menu before coming. It changes drastically, so you could find yourself with liking nothing on the menu. Also perhaps you can find a pattern and determine when you are likely to get good service. This restaurant has decidedly mixed reviews. Some apparently received good service, others poor. I prefer a more consistent restaurant.
The staff is not trained to handle a crowd. The tip for a large group is 20%. I thought about that. Our lunch group easily went over $600 so the waiter received a $120 tip. But interestingly enough, when the owner defended our almost absent waiter, he told us the waiter had visited our table three times, per the staff's statement. Really, three times is sufficient for 18 people? My guess is the waiter was assigned more tables and was running to keep up. He was dashing so fast, we were speaking to his back and he did not hear us. We were given 3 tiny pieces of bread for 5 people, and it was never refilled for example. We were there 3 hours to eat a meal. Most gave up on ordering a dessert. Our attempt to speak to the owner was a waste of time, and a mood killer.
As far as the food, I believe that depends on what you order. Very unusual mixture of spices and herbs in some of the dishes. Although I can only report what other diners commented on the various menu items. I saw a ravioli dish that was swimming in a milk like sauce, that one customer said she didn't like. I saw scallops that had so many ingredients on them, I wonder that a person could even taste the scallops. This member of our group stated it was okay. This is is the menu description. "Seared Sea Scallops, roasted citrus and fennel with black garlic and micro anise. Served with an asparagus custard and tarragon chimichurri."
I ordered potato soup, which was fine, I also ordered " Roasted cauliflower, Kabocha squash, beets and turnips and toasted pumpkin seeds, served over mixed greens with a creamy caraway dressing." First the vegetables were not caramelized so they may as well have been boiled, and they were bland, Apple cider vinegar or a balsamic glaze might have served well. Caraway dressing, not sure why such a bland dressing was a good match. Very boring salad. Like last night left overs on greens.
Even the cocktail list, also available on line was overly complicated. I went to Google one drink (Pimm's cup). Per Wikipedia there are 7 or more Pimm's cup and they all have a different liquor in them. So how would one know what the drink will taste like. Feast does have a large wine list if you wish to order a bottle. Here is the link for their cocktails.
http://www.eatatfeast.com/fst-resources/2010/03/july-13-cocktails.pdf
Some tried the beet drink, but no one would order it again. I stuck to wine..
And the desert menu. I had hoped maybe to go simple and order home made ice cream. It was cantaloupe ice cream. Maybe that would be good. But ???? Here was my favorite. Bread Pudding with cave-aged Gouda and caramelized sugar. I don't know why but somehow I can't even imagine what that would taste like. Also missing the knowledge of why cave aged is important.
I love to cook and use spice and herbs liberally, I think this restaurant is billing itself as a high end restaurant but the food is more an experiment than a consistently good fare. One reviewer said it seemed like a TV program "Chopped" where they had to use mystery ingredients. I believe that is apt. But judge for yourself, here is their menu link.
http://www.eatatfeast.com/index/dining/menu/
I recommend you take a look at their menu before committing to dinner here. If the menu looks good to you, come on a date with one person, not a group. And be prepared to spend some time. Which in some occasions is rather nice.
Check out the video on the website. I found it telling that the owner talks about himself through most of it. Also check out the ambiance, not exactly an upscale dinning ambiance. Certainly not where one would have an intimate conversation as it has poor acoustics. . Better suggestions for consistently good food and service, Wildflower Cafe, Jax's Downtown kitchen, Cushing Bar and Grill, McMahon's. read more