2 /5 Wendy Broughton: The fluffy pillows tasted like a mistake - so much salt the inside of my mouth it felt puckered as though Id taken a bite out of a lemon.
Out of brussel sprouts so I couldnt get the interesting looking warm salad I wanted and spinach instead of brussel sprouts I agreed to have with the scallops, (no other choice) which for $38 I expected to be more than a count of 4.
But I couldnt eat more than 2 anyway because there was so much garlic and salt and balsamic... couldnt taste the scallops much.
Was a little surprised that when we said we just wanted water that the waiter didnt open the bottle that had been on the table when we sat down and pour it for us. We poured it ourself and it wasnt very cold, no ice in our cups, and we emptied the bottle pouring it for ourselves by the end.
(No ice? Correct. No.)
Soup of the day was tomato bisque, my daughter ordered it and waiter came back saying they were out. He was very apologetic and asked if there was anything else shed like and she said okay mashed potatoes.
So instead of salad or soup we had a side of mashed potatoes. Okay, they were pretty good,
Then - more as they were the same mashed potatoes my scallops were placed in. The spinach on top - it was fine but just way too much going on on my plate, and texture was nonexistent. Brussel sprouts would have probably worked better for texture. Couldnt really taste the scallop as the overpowering garlic, salt, balsamic reduction, blinded it, as well as sort of each other. I am not sure what I was tasting just "everything and too much of it" is what I would describe it as.
The waiter mistakenly left the truffle mayo on the side and left the the peppercorn off the steak. Fine though, when my daughter brought it up he brought out peppercorn sauce.
I still am not sure why they put half a jar of mayo on a dish for her - not just because she asked it be left off, but why such a large amount?
I wish I could have traded it for ice water and maybe some bread or flat crackers on the table to absorb some of the seasoning of which there was way too much on everything out of my mouth.
I wasnt going to leave a review, but as I type this,I finished eating over 3 hours ago and have brushed my teeth and used listerine, then fluoride rinse, and THEN STILL ate a plain tortilla but nothing can make my mouth stop tasting like a solid garlic clove.
We dined on a $150 gift card and I was happy to give the waiter a quite generous $39.76 tip to have used up the card.
For $150 plus tip we had the "fluffy pillows" (of SALT) served with garlic butter, a side of mashed potatoes, a steak with fries and half a jar of unwanted mayo, and 4 scallops atop mashed potatoes with spinach.
Thats it, no drinks, not even tea, not even ice for the water, and no dessert.
Atmosphere would be 4, the main restaurant styling has a lot going for it, but the bathrooms fail at what appears to have been an attempt at "maximalist chic." And I think the tables are a gold Calacatta marble laminate print, not real marble, although still really pretty.
I was very pleasant and didnt bring any of this up to the nice waiter. I didnt want to make it a negative experience for our special occasion. My daughter loved her steak, so theres that. Yay!
I feel sad for this place having not done better. Its a good idea and seems like theres much unrealized potential. I admire the courage of a solo restaurant chef/entrepreneur.
Its probably hopeless but I have to go brush my teeth again. Maybe I should try gargling with vodka. Seriously Im considering that.
