A cute little restaurant nestled away from the State Museum and State Capitol with plenty of food for those who like meat and seafood dishes.
I found them while walking around the neighbourhood and thought I'd make a reservation for later in the evening so I could enjoy it.
Here's what I got:
- Blackened octopus: Roasted potatoes, red peppers, caramelised onion, capers, and blackened octopus. $16.
This octopus was a tad overcooked for me but it was a hearty meal with plenty of octopus legs thrown in - three if I remember correctly.
I'd like to try this again when I'm back as it was a good balance between the vegetables and the octopus, though I'd probably ask to forego the capers as they overpowered the dish and the bites they were in.
- Deviled eggs: Three different types - pickled onion, truffle, and classic. $10.
I love a good deviled egg and when I saw that they had three different options as an appetizer, I had to get it. There was so much filling and each one was delicious. My favourite was the truffle followed by the classic and then the pickled onion. It was served on top of a bed of rocket/arugula and that was a refreshing palate cleanser of sorts between bites or even a fresh inclusion with the bites.
- Crusted goat cheese: Whipped goat cheese, asparagus spinach, truffle honey, and almonds. $13.
You can't go wrong with goat cheese, and when you fry it? Simply divine! Get this.
- Oxtail pierogies: With smoked tomato jam. $14.
I was very intrigued by this dish because my Polish family has set a certain standard for pierogies, and the oxtail option was something I wanted to try out as I've never thought to have the two combined in any way before.
The dish consists of traditional pierogies, with oxtail meat on top.
To be honest, this wasn't my thing - I'd actually want this as two separate dishes - the oxtail didn't go with the pierogies at all; it would have been better served on top of a patty dough or even a paratha/buss-up/crispy cracker instead.
Individually, the two were really good, wtih the pierogies being extremely light and fluffy inside, and just the right amount of crispy on the outside.
The oxtail was braised (I think) and falling apart, so certainly very delicious every bite I had.
- Grapefruit mocktail: Grapefruit with rosemary, agave, and seltzer. $6.
My server who was also the bartender made this and although I would have appreciated much less ice, this was really good. I'd come back for this, but ask for light ask, and enjoy it with the goat cheese and deviled eggs - worth it!
Service was fast, with food coming out as it was made - my server asked if I had a preference and I said as it was cooked, so if you want yours staggered, you can certainly ask for it.
I sat inside, but they have limited outdoor seating in the front and more in the back, with bar seating available too.
It's slightly dimly lit inside, but not so much that you're straining to see face or the food; and there was music playing, but nothing too loud where you couldn't carry a conversation if you wanted. Since it was just me, I was happy with everything.
I can't speak for ease of parking since I walked here, but I did see a dedicated parking lot for them on the same block. read more