Scowl, Nu?

Perfect Place for a Special Dinner

Review of: Quince Restaurant

By: Janet Glasser

Rating: 5

Read review on Judy’s Book.

Quince is the perfect place for a special occasion dinner. It feels very homey, but elegant at the same time, with low lighting and simple cream-colored decor. I had what was probably the best glass of champagne of my life to start, and the meal only got better from there. The food is excellent – all three courses were delicious, but I’ll never forget the petrale sole with mandarin sauce and white carrots (so fresh…and so rich!) Dessert (which I almost skipped and am very glad I didn’t) was also amazingly good. Service is very professional and attentive, right from the moment you step through the door.

As a special touch (and a very nice surprise), they had printed a special menu for me that read “Happy Birthday Janet” at the top (they had asked if it was a special occasion at the time the reservation was made). At the end of the evening, they presented it to me rolled up and tied with a red ribbon. These little details really make dinner extra special.

Just as a tip as far as making reservations, we called a week ahead for a Saturday reservation and got one at 10 PM, but they offered to put us on a waiting list for an earlier one. We honestly didn’t think there was any chance of that happening, so we were pleasantly surprised to get a call on the afternoon of our reservation with an offer of an earlier one at 7:30. The meal is rather pricey, especially if you indulge yourself with all four courses and a bottle of wine, but it’s definitely worth it, even if it’s not a special occasion!

The Ultimate in Cozy Dining

Review of: Canteen

By: Janet Glasser

Rating: 4

Read review on Judy’s Book.

Though I knew Canteen was small, when I got there I still had to marvel for a few minutes at just how tiny it is! It’s cute and cozy during dinner, with low lighting and plenty of candles. The books on the bookshelves at each table are a neat touch and a great conversation starter (one of my favorites that night was “Mr. Bell Invents the Telephone”). Like the restaurant, the menu itself is also small (the wine list is, too), with only four appetizers, four main courses and four desserts (plus one special dessert) to choose from on the night we were there. Service is friendly and amazingly efficient, and with a 9:15 PM reservation, we didn’t feel at all rushed. And the food? The food is excellent. Not necessarily knocks-your-socks off amazing, but very, very, VERY good. I started with a Spring Onion Soup with prawns, chose the Lamb Shoulder Confit with chickpeas, yoghurt and mint for an entree, and finished with a Tangerine Sorbet with champagne gelee and fromage blanc for dessert.

Best line of the night: “Would you like another roll? We have some just coming out of the oven.” Heaven!

The Ultimate in Cozy Dining

Review of: Canteen

By: Janet Glasser

Rating: 4

Read review on Judy’s Book.

Though I knew Canteen was small, when I got there I still had to marvel for a few minutes at just how tiny it is! It’s cute and cozy during dinner, with low lighting and plenty of candles. The books on the bookshelves at each table are a neat touch and a great conversation starter (one of my favorites that night was “Mr. Bell Invents the Telephone”). Like the restaurant, the menu itself is also small (the wine list is, too), with only four appetizers, four main courses and four desserts (plus one special dessert) to choose from on the night we were there. Service is friendly and amazingly efficient, and with a 9:15 PM reservation, we didn’t feel at all rushed. And the food? The food is excellent. Not necessarily knocks-your-socks off amazing, but very, very, VERY good. I started with a Spring Onion Soup with prawns, chose the Lamb Shoulder Confit with chickpeas, yoghurt and mint for an entree, and finished with a Tangerine Sorbet with champagne gelee and fromage blanc for dessert.

Best line of the night: “Would you like another roll? We have some just coming out of the oven.” Heaven!

Memories of Paris

Review of: The Butler & the Chef Bistro

By: Avery Glasser

Rating: 4

Read review on Judy’s Book.

Every time I walked by The Butler and the Chef, I always thought is just going to be an overpriced sandwich shop with a French theme. Who would have thought that under the vintage signs and new enamel tabletops promoting classic French brands lurked a real, traditional sandwich shop along the lines of what you find lining the streets near the Sorbonne.

The menu at The Butler and the Chef is simple – the sort of food you would take to go and eat while sitting outside, watching the hordes of students passing by if you were in Paris. There are four main categories of food here: cold sandwiches, hot sandwiches, crepes and what I’ll call “other”.

The cold sandwiches are made in the continental style – split baguettes simply dressed with butter instead of mayo. It might take a little getting used to your first time, but once you get through the initial shock of butter, cheese and a slice of french jambon (ham), you realise how decadent it is.

The Croque Monseiur, from the hot sandwiches menu, was an amazingly good version – topped with creme fraiche instead of gruyere cheese before placing under the salamander – it’s creamy, a little sour and perfect with a slice of tomato and herbes de provence.

The crepes looked nice, and there are sweet and savory options available. Finally, in the other category are some salads, soup and the breakfast dishes such as belgian waffles and a fantastic looking pan perdu (french toast).

The interior was a little warm last Saturday – but a nice cold Fischer d’Alsace Amber took care of that. Overall, the food was exceptional for what it was. the prices were a little high to make it a weekly stop, but now that it’s open weekends (which is amazing in this neighborhood), I’ll certainly make a point to stop in for a baguette now and then.

Amazing, well thought out selection at fair prices

Review of: John Walker & Co

By: Avery Glasser

Rating: 5

Read review on Judy’s Book.

I remember my first trip to John Walker back in the mid 1990s – I had been searching for an elusive bottle of Turley wine, and since then, whenever I had a craving for a hard to find wine or spirit ranging from Old Potrero Rye Whiskey to Del Maguey Crema de Mescal, they either have it or can easily get it.

Their Spirits Consultant, Dominic, is a veritable fount of knowledge about any type of distillate – which he applies generously when mixing cocktails at Range as well as when selecting his products at John Walker… and you can see his effect on the current stock. You can find products ranging from Fee Brothers bitters to Austrian Alpensahne to the classic digestives like the Italian Averna. If they don’t have it – John Walker & Co. can find it. Recently, they tracked down a bottle of 15 Year of Redbreast, available for shipping to the US from a single source in Dublin.

The prices are fair, and the selection and service is exceptional… and if you’re looking for the next hip vodka or the perfect Austrian Stone Pine liqueur – head over to the Crocker Galleria and see what’s in stock.

A LIttle Bit of Paris in South Park

Review of: The Butler & the Chef Bistro

By: Janet Glasser

Rating: 4

Read review on Judy’s Book.

I can’t believe I haven’t been here sooner, given that it’s so close to our apartment. Having exhausted all of our other Saturday lunch options in our neighborhood, we decided to give the Butler and the Chef Bistro in South Park a try. We were very pleasantly surprised – it is a very cute place with a real French feel – lots of French decor (and French music playing) and really cool cafe tables and chairs. I had an excellent Croque Monsieur that I’m still thinking about even the next day. The coffee was good as well; I’m going to note this as a new possible option for coffee-to-go in the area.

Their menu is made up of classic dishes that one would find in a Parisian bistro, including soup, salad, quiche, crepes and baguette sandwiches. One of the greatest things about the Butler and the Chef is that it’s open 7 days a week, which is great since most of the places around us are closed. The prices are a little high (the Croque Monsieur was $10, coffee was $2), but the food is of excellent quality, and the portions are substantial. Two chocolate truffles accompany the check, which is a nice touch. I’m looking very forward to trying some more of their dishes.