Summary: Modern french cuisine for old people.
Much potential, but not perfect.
I love that the chef prepares a daily menu based on what can be found at the market each day, including an appetizer, a fish or meat main course, and dessert. Pick 2 for 15€, or all 3 for 19.90€. They also offer several a la carte options, but it seems everybody gets the menu of the day.
The decor is modern and whimsical, I especially liked the glass floor with the beach diorama below. The one waitress working the room was attentive and eager to please, although not fluent in English. Lucky for us, our French is okay, and our menu reading skills are top notch.
Today's menu:
Amuse bouche: sliced salami, smoked salmon mouse on a thin crust, and ham and melted cheese between toasts. Not especially daring nor avant garde, but tasty enough--a good indicator of the meal to come.
Appetizer: herbed chèvre layered between apple slices and a side of arugula salad. Gorgeous presentation. The plate was drizzled with a lovely basil pesto as well as aged balsamic, and the cheese had surprising curry and cumin flavor on top. I'm not usually one to complain about too much cheese (ever) but the ratio was off on this dish, even if the goat cheese was superb, the quantity overwhelmed the apple slices.
Main course:
Wifey had the duo of fish (salmon and whitefish) in a beurre blanc sauce. The fish was cooked PERFECTLY, although a little over salted. It came with ribbons of cooked carrot and zucchini, as well as a spinach soufflé that I thought was lovely but she didn't care for.
I had the lamb stew, which I liked, but wifey found off somehow. It came with green beans that were past overlooked, and mashed potatoes that were lumpy and lukewarm, despite the hot plate. It also came with a quenelle of finely chopped mushrooms that were delicious.
Dessert: chocolate 4 ways: ice cream, macaron, flour-less cake, and mousse. The ice cream and macaron were fine, but the mousse seized up and was grainy beyond acceptable. The cake didn't taste much like chocolate, compared to everything else on the plate it was forgettable.
I'm pretty sure we were the only people there under 60, so maybe the overcooked veggies and unadventurous food is cooking to their core audience.
I was hoping for more, maybe my expectations were high after reading all the 5 star reviews. The bill for two came out to 70€ including drinks and tip. read more