Do you know how I can tell La Grande Boucherie is fantastic? The bread. There is no shortage of places that, despite a potentially fantastic meal otherwise, offer a loaf which has a robust crust and an underdone interior that can be shaped like play-dough. The sliced baguette I received with my French Onion Soup was, without exaggerating, the best bread I've received in a restaurant on this continent. The crust was thin and bestowed its gentle crispness before bowing to the gods within. Within the crust lay a savory, light, airy, and most important thoroughly cooked dough, that bounced back after a little pressure, rather than devolving into a children's toy.
Before we get to the food, let me touch on the drink. They run happy hour daily, 2-7p, even on weekends! From that menu, I ordered a Cherrywood Maple, a drink with Rye, Cassis, lemon/lime, and maple. I loved how this cocktail was truly unique, and unlike anything I've had before. High level, it was right in the goldilocks zone between refreshing and boozy. The interplay of whiskey, citrus, and maple+blackcurrant led to something with a little sweet, a little tart, and a lot savory. My only note is that I would have personally liked the maple to be a little more prominent, but this is entirely personal preference, and not a critique of the drink.
So... about the soup: The French Onion Soup (excuse me, "Soupe à l'Oignon") was a simple yet fantastic traditional dish. Up top we find a cheese-lover's-dream amount of torched gruyere with a sprinkle of herbs for posterity. Underneath the blanket was a broth with rich, dark flavors, and maybe a whisper of red wine used in cooking (though, I could be way off). I also appreciate that it wasn't oversalted, and was heavier on savory notes than sweetness.
Then, the main event, the Eggplant Gâteau. I was initially skeptical, but not feeling beef, chicken, or shellfish that night, and hearing this was the chef's mother's recipe, it was decided then and there. Some friends are always telling me to get outside my comfort zone... this is as far as I go. This dish blew me away... far far away! To start, the ingredients were of unbelievable quality! The tomatoes taste like tomatoes instead of tomato shaped, gas-ripened rubber balls masquerading as Solanum lycopersicum. The other veggies have similar notes, though the tomato was most prominent. As for the eggplant, I could have sworn I was eating a healthier lasagna! It was layered with care and perfection, and with how it was prepared there seemed to be a slightly doughy nature to the layers. Shoutout for the cheese toppings, because you really can't go wrong.
When we arrive at dessert, I ordered the Basque Cheesecake. This was unlike most cheesecakes I'd had before. It was crustless (by design), and the cake part wasn't extremely dense and sweet, instead being velvety. The torched exterior did make itself known, introducing some complexity and Maillard-iness to the flavor. While just a little more contrast would have been welcome, research indicates it is a smaller portion due to being from the Restaurant Week menu, as opposed to their main menu.
When it comes to service, it was excellent! The service staff, from the waiter, Dimitriy to the manager, Matt, all worked extremely well as a team. Everyone on staff (incl the host, by the way), was extremely professional, welcoming, and personable. This was especially on display when I bought shots for, and joined a newly engaged couple! All food items came out fast, and mains weren't prepared until the appetizer was finished (plus, they asked if they could start preparing it). Even how the place settings were taken care of showed the level of care that goes into creating a great experience for patrons.
Finally, we have the vibe: It is as elevated and high-end as the rest of the experience. Gentle lighting, light and dark earthy tones, beautiful design in the stone, and no obnoxious blue LEDs or blaring TVs to go against an otherwise fantastic vibe.
Final Verdict: The only notes/critiques I was able to levy are entirely related to personal preferences. La Grande Boucherie delivers absolute excellence across the board. Rich, flavorful, velvety, savory, and quality everything Though I ate during restaurant week, looking at their menu their prices seem reasonable. read more