Forest

An excellent high end dinning experience– great food, conscientious service, modern clean décor.

My wife and I enjoyed a phenomenal meal. Chef Nick Janutol has created a gem in Birmingham. The octopus small plate was the highlight, with the NY strip, the Bolognese, and the short rib delicious too. The service was excellent as well.

I chose Forest for my birthday dinner — had not been there under the new ownership /​chef. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I have to say, we had an overwhelmingly positive experience. I was expecting decent food — everything I ate was outstanding! I ordered a signature cocktail, which was very good (and strong). The bread was actually worth the indulgence. I had the grilled octopus app, which was great. One of us had the peach gazpacho, which was also great (and a great idea). Dad had the signature app — the farm egg, which he enjoyed.
Dad & I had the Bronzino with quinoa and pomegranate which was one of those courses where you wonder how they could make something that tasty! His girlfriend had the duck breast, which she raved about. My honey had the lamb shank. It was huge (see photo). He’s picky, and he liked it — it just fell off the bone.
We ordered the baked Alaska for the table — it was sublime! Not too sweet, with some flourless chocolate layer inside.

LOOKS ARE DECEIVING!
Came in with a table for 5 at 8 pm. Reservation was confirmed but they made us wait about 35 minutes.
The 2 stars is coming from the beautiful redesigned look but what is the point if the food is far from what it could potentially be.
After finally being seated, the menu that seamed to look beautifully organized had many options to be picked but everything we had was very un-​seasoned and disappointing.

3.5 stars really.
Overall: Nice upscale restaurant with good food, nice ambiance, good service… Just a few things here or there that kept it from being great, particularly given the price point.
Ambiance: Nice interior, modern, kitchen is open (behind glass). good place for a nice dinner
Food: We had the octopus, the farm egg, the bronzino, the short rib, and a dessert. The food was all flavorful with good portion sizes and overall pretty tasty. More specifically, we particularly enjoyed the farm egg, bronzino, and dessert although all the dishes we tried were tasty.
Service: Our waitress was really friendly and nice. Unfortunately, the mains took quite a while to come out (the apps were fine), the candle on our table wasnt lit for ½ the night without anyone noticing, and my water cup was empty for a good 5 – 10 minutes before getting filled. Clearly nothing horrible at all but just not quite up to the level of restaurants at a similar price point.
Value: Ok– not exorbitant but you don’t come away thinking, «Wow that was a great value» either. Pricey meal for sure though but you know that coming in.
So yes, we would probably give it another try but there are a lot of other restaurants on our list to try first.

Was a fan of the old Forest Grill; probably won’t be going back to this one. Wasn’t terrible, so wouldn’t feel right going less than three stars, but there are a lot of better choices in the metro area, and even in the B’ham corridor.
The service was both not that great and kind of odd. Water glasses left unfilled for long stretches, server showing up as we were seated to say should would be right with us and then disappearing for what seemed like a very long time — not returning to take orders for our entrees until well after our starters were cleared, etc.
And then to the food. Really like the simple menu, and the focus on interesting starters. Definitely a middle eastern twist, and wish we were iwth a larger group to have tried more. But most of what we had was disappointing. Scallops with lentils were waaay too salty, beets with cumin and frisee were bland. (Had one bite with a crunch of cumin and had a hint of what it might have been — but wasn’t.) Duck breast was good, but a little tough and not special. And just to round things out, the wife’s bronzino was fine, but again pretty salty.
They do have interesting wines by the glass and a nicely curated beer list, not always something you find in a place like that, so points.
Bottom line is that if a friend wanted to go, I wouldn’t object, but even if we don’t feel like trekking to one of the great new choices in the D, there are better choices out here in Oakland County, especially when you look at the price point.

Made 8:30 rez, weren’t seated til 9. If you like your food on the «heavily charred» side, this place may be for you. Our octopus app (both meat and the fennel) was very much blackened to the point where it tasted more like the inside of my grill and less like octopus… my husband’s fish (Bronzino) had some serious char too. The redeemer was the short rib entrée. Tender and wrapped in pasta/​butternut squash purée. The duck egg app was pretty good too… however some of the other apps looked like pretty odd flavor profiles. Nice ambiance, but I care more about food which overall was «eh» for the price.

2^nd visit on a Tuesday night and disappointed. We dined at this restaurant about a month after it reopened and were impressed so this review is a combo of both Dining Experiences. The first 4 stars and this one 2 stars. First visit was a Friday night and close to perfection. The carrot soup was so tasty and complex, octopus was cooked to perfection, and cauliflower pasta was so delicious. The only negative was table was on main aisle.
This time everything was perfect from arrival to server intro until… Carrot soup to start, not the same as first visit. Not as tasty, less butter maybe. Fresh bread would have been nice with soup, sadly it arrived after the soup course. The cauliflower feel short too. I had the Halibut and cooked well and nice taste although more sauce. My wife had the Bronzino and this has to have been the most unappealing and ugly plating next to IHOP, looked liked corn beef hash… just with an insanely expensive piece of fish.
Because of my previous life as bartender in the French Quarter I didn’t penalize the server and she poured a nice glass of wine. Good service not great. I thought I overheard the chef was off so mate that’s the reason for the not so good food.
Consistency is the key to master class dining so not sure if this one will get a third try soon. Too many places to try in the area.
Chi Chi

I wanted a steak dinner, but in the neighborhood. We noticed a table and walked in to a comfortable room. I have been here before a long time ago. It seemed more at ease but still intimate. The two of us found it romantic but not high brow.
The food was good. The risotto was salty and I would not have it again. The server was friendly and helped make the evening. The clams in pasta was enjoyed and we also had the short ribs (no bones) wrapped in pasta which was a pleasure.
Desert was the oil cake. It was a nice change and very tasty the next day from the refrigerator.
It was a romantic evening dinner, which was not the intent.

Two stars for two reasons:
1. The Bartender
2. Sheer ambiance and intimacy.
I had the braised lamb shank and it was juicy, succulent and fell off the bone. One problem, no flavor at all.
I had Bollini wine to pair which was o.k.
I loved the upscale Birmingham elegance of the whole place. Perfect for couples, not a meet up spot.
Its a hidden gem on the east side of Woodward away from the young and new Birmingham.
I am an old head at heart and mind however, the crowd on a Thursday night; average age 55. Hence thee original Birmingham flair.
I love the setting and how it is nestled in within the community but the food is — blah. Not worth Birmingham prices.

To be blunt, that was an outstanding meal. My fiancée and I visited this evening and were completely blown away by the new restaurant, the presentation and the food… good lord, the food…
The meal consisted of the bolognese for my fiancée, and I had the bronzino. We also shared the roasted vegetables, panisse, octopus and home fries. The bronzino was light and flavorful, expertly complemented by a salad of quinoa, pine nuts, and pomegranate. I was barely able to get any of the bolognese to try, my fiancée was guarding it so jealously. After distracting her with a tossed loaf of bread (excellent crust!) I was able to snake a forkful of possibly the best pasta and sauce in Detroit. It was that good.
While the remainder of the meal was outstanding, the panisse stands alone as a wonderful, traditional yet surprising side. Just get it, you won’t be sorry.
For dessert we shared one of the icecreams that the sous chef had created for the evening: orange dreamcicle, which was creamy, light and a perfect dessert to end the night.

Executive Chef Nick Janutol and his team hit the bullseye of perfection in everything I tasted tonight. Opened in November 2015, this restaurant has new menu items. I ordered the Brussel sprout salad, Risotto, Duck breast, Coconut dessert, and French champagne. Every bite of the Brussel sprouts and Coconut dessert was a taste explosion of flavors. The duck was perfectly seasoned and very tender. The Risotto was a delicious comfort food. The bread was too hard for me. A choice of a soft roll would be greatly appreciated. Delightful and friendly staff were hardworking, very professional and helpful. The waiter told me they will be open on Sunday’s for Brunch sometime in the Spring. Future reservations will be a must.

Hours before we were set to try the new Forest Grill we all read a lukewarm review in a local magazine. Hard to believe this was the same restaurant…4 of us each had a fantastic experience. The updates to the dining room were great and make the space more approachable and inviting. The size makes it intimate — a neighborhood place. The service was great without any attitude. The food was incredible. The scallops were unbelievable, and I don’t really like scallops that much. The bolognese was exceptional with boar meat. we had 2 different desserts and they were also outstanding. Only flaw is that the website did not have a current menu, so don’t get your heart set on a particular dish… it may not be available, but I am sure the alternatives will be terrific. A nice addition to the Birmingham Restaurant scene — we will be back.

This has to be my favorite restaurant ever! The food is amazing and so is the staff! The décor is something straight out of New York. The farm egg is to die for. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve ever had! Don’t even get me started on the duck, the only word I can think of to describe it is perfect! I never use Unilocal,but considering how amazing this restaurant is I just had to.

Food was excellent, but the restaurant management not so much. Was gifted a considerably valued Forest Grill gift card in February 2015. I tried to use the gift card in July 2015, only to find the restaurant was closed temporarily. Ditto in September 2015, as the restaurant was still being remodeled. Following the restaurant’s reopen in late November, I tried to use the gift card in January 2016 to pay for a dinner for two, but was told that even though the name remained, the new ownership wasn’t accepting any previous gift cards. I was told a story that boiled down to the new owner forgetting to consider previous outstanding gift cards when contracting the sale, which I’m certain is true, but that should never be plied onto the gift card holders, especially considering these diners are often some of the most loyal. This is one group I’m forever gone from, as the gift card policy provides a glimpse of the lacking customer focus of this management team/​owner. In 2016, customer service is every bit as important as the food for restaurants. Service and food was at the 4.5÷5 level, and conversation with chef Nick was pleasant, but the management practices will ruin Forest.

Paid a visit to see the results of the new leadership team at Forest (a.k.a. Forest Grill). Any lingering misgivings taken away from our last visit were obliterated. From the gracious welcome we received upon entering, to the knowledgeable server, and most importantly, the spectacular food, the evening was a first-​rate dining experience. We shared the house salad, which came with a very nice dressing. We also split the pasta with clams, and found them to be first-​rate: buttery flavor, and cooked to perfection. For my main, I had a lamb shank that stands out as one of the finest examples of this dish I have ever tried. The co-​diner had short ribs, and found them tender and well-​cooked, but in need of something more — a bit more seasoning, to make the flavor pop. This is not a serious criticism, though. Our dessert was the pastry chef’s take on a lava cake — one that took the concept to a whole new level. The chocolate cake had a center of dark and liquid-​y chocolate that could only be described as divine. Hats off to the leadership team at Forest, including Sameer Eid (of Phoenicia reknown), Executive Chef Nick Janutol and his lovely and talented better half, general manager Alicia, and of course, the dessert chef, who we were very happy to meet. Looking forward to more wonderful dining encounters at Forest.

Let me start by saying that myself and the party I was with are in no way afraid to spend money for quality. Each of us has recently spent over $ 100 per person out for dinner, without issue. However, as I think most people would agree, with that price tag comes an expectation of quality of food, presentation, and of course excellent service.
With that said, my business partner and I wanted to treat our staff to a very nice evening out for the holiday. We wanted to have fun, dress up a bit, and just relax with some great food. We researched a lot of options before choosing to give Forest Grill a try. The reviews had been good since the re-​opening, so all in all it looked like a great choice for us.
We made reservations for 7pm on a Wednesday evening, with plans to arrive around 6:30 for a few cocktails before hand. Upon arriving, we were pleased to see that our area was already prepared and ready for us, so we decided to skip the bar area and sit down and enjoy drinks from there. The décor is very trendy and modern, and everyone seemed to like how it all was put together.
After sitting down, we all ordered drinks. There was an initial delay, but we were early, so we didnt give it much thought. Unfortunately, this was not a blip in service, this was reflective of our entire night.
Our waitress, from the very beginning, appeared to have an attitude with us. Upon asking us if we were ready to order — we asked her about any specials. She seemed annoyed that we would ask, and responded with an annoyed tone that «everything on the menu is special». OK THEN. No biggie in itself, but her service continued to be poor, despite the restaurant not being overly busy.
Everyone ordered their food, beginning with a few appetizers. I will get to the food in a moment, but over the course of three plus hours, we had to ask for, and wave down our waitress multiple times to get additional drinks. This got to be annoying after awhile as multiple people found themselves waiting extended periods of time without drinks.
Onto the food. The appetizers in general were very good. Everyone seemed pleased, and as others have mentioned in reviews, the Farm Egg was especially unique and delicious. Scallops were prepared properly and the brussel sprouts, while prepared in an interesting way, were also very tasty.
The main courses I would say were a step down from the appetizers. Not to say anything was bad, because it wasn’t. The duck was prepared very well, steaks cooked nicely, lamb shank and fish were good, but nothing was amazing. And not just to me, but to everyone in our group.
All of us were excited to try Forest Grill. And while everything was good, to have very poor service combined with the food being very good in some cases, and just ok in others, along with an expensive price tag, it is hard to recommend them or to want to go back. As with anything, maybe we just got the perfect storm of a bad night for them, but when you average around $ 150 per person — you expect to never have a bad night or service. In fact I would expect some amazing food, and exceptional service — both of which were missing for our visit.

Best food around. Get the Ribeye and the Cauliflower Ravioli. I love to sit at the bar with Matt but the service in the dining room is pleasant as well. Great cocktails for a pre wine buffer. Allicia the manager is welcoming and professional. My favorite place to frequent in Birmingham. Hell, the only place to go in Bham.

Forest Grill manages a rather incredible balancing act. Its food is artistic but not stilted, elegant but not intimidating, simple but not basic. There are veg and non-​veg options in the courageously short menu. In a world where the word «signature» is abused, this is one place whose dishes warrant it (incidentally they do not use it). The farm egg bird’s nest was unique in my experience, a subtle blend of crunch and runny that should be tasted rather than described.
All of this happens in a comfortable room under the auspices of an attentive chef and staff. He made us a special dessert (delicious and not on the menu). Our waiter made us feel comfortable throughout.
If you enjoy true food prepared with creativity and care in an atmosphere that never makes you feel small, this is the place for you.

I can’t truly find a flaw here. The menu was filled with exciting options, the waitstaff was fully conversant with the offerings and most importantly the food was magnificent.
The Farm Egg was a totally unique appetizer that, beyond the pizazz was flavorful and textural. The snap of the radishes and greens with the lamb loin was a tantalizing mix. To finish, the almond tart was nicely blended with marmalade. All perfect.
This was a special place and I look forward to the next visit.

I recently made reservations for a ate-​night dinner. The kitchen closes at 10, and that’s when I made my reservations (online) for. It was going to be cutting it close to make it in time!
At about 8:00 the restaurant called me, and I thought «this can’t be good». I couldn’t have been further from the truth! They were calling to confirm our reservations and to inquire if we had any special requests/​needs for the chef. I informed them that we were looking for vegetarian dishes and they said they’d be ready and even hold the kitchen open in case we ran a little late. In the 30 years I’ve been making reservations, I’ve never gotten a confirmation call that was so accommodating and courteous!
We arrived on time (basically) and were given a very nice window table. The server was very attentive (but not overly so) and professional. He was VERY knowledgeable about the menu and details of the food and guided us to two menu choices that turned out to be excellent! The Farm Egg was to die for, and the Cauliflower Ravioli Gratin was excellent as well. Paired with a nice craft beer selection, it was a wonderful experience. I’d certainly go back during the spring/​summer for the patio dining experience!

Hands down best quality food I had in a long while m very creative and tasteful. Yes it is pricy but definitely worth a try.
I recommend it to everyone. …

The meal and ambiance was amazing. Great company, great wine and great foods made this a Wednesday for the books :)
I had Pork cheek and the chicken in marrow sauce. Yum yum. The egg on the app list was delightful too. Everyone enjoyed their dish at our table (short ribs, sturgeon, and salmon). Mmm. Would go again!

I have dined at many restaurants before but none like this. As an aspiring chef and restaurant owner I pay attention to every little detail at a restaurant. With that being said, the experience I had at Forest Grill was remarkable.
It’s restaurant week in Birmingham and the Forest Grill is offering up a three course pre fix menu. My girlfriend and I wanted to try as much as possible and before the actual three course meal we decided to have the charcuterie board which consisted of delicious chorizo, salmon mousse, and porchetta. After this tasting, I was already satisfied. We moved onto the pre fix menu where my girlfriend had the romaine salad and I indulged in the farm egg. Although it was rather decent, the romaine salad felt a little short for me but nonetheless tasted pretty good. The farm egg was excellent. I was thoroughly impressed with the taste of the chorizo from the charcuterie board but the farm egg was by far one of the highlights of the meal.
Next up were the entrees. My girlfriend had the chicken breast and I had the short rib cannaloni. The chicken breast was perfect and the spinach angel hair pasta that accompanied it was great! The short rib was perfectly cooked and delicious but could have benefited from at least one more element or ingredient.
Simply put, the desserts were to die for. The almond gâteau and bonet just ridiculous. The bonet was easily one of the best desserts I’ve ever eaten I just wanted more of it.
With the three course meal being finished, I still had a little room left and I wanted to eat more of the Forest Grill’s excellent food. We ended up ordering the beef carpaccio after all, and it was a great choice. Perfect flavor combinations and it just tasted good to be honest.
The service here was spot on, I couldn’t have asked for better service. For starters, my water glass never reached below the half way point. Also, our waiter did a terrific job coming to check up on us just the right amount of times and explaining each dish to us.
The décor of the restaurant is very beautiful and the entire feel of the place just made me feel comfortable, as opposed to those fancy restaurants that have waiters and bus boys running around in suits and ties checking up on you every 2 minutes.
The meal I had here was the best I’ve ever had. Every little detail, from the front of the house to the back of the house was absolutely perfect. Kudos to the staff at Forest Grill and it was even my pleasure to meet Chef Nick as we left the restaurant. Our meal was worth every penny and I will definitely be returning here. Great job to Chef Brian Polcyon for putting together such an incredible restaurant.

Celebrated NYE at the Forest Grill and overall it was a very nice experience. Upon arrival we were told that our table wasn’t ready and we could wait at the bar… we were seated about 30 minutes later. The manager was very apologetic about our wait and decided to buy our first round-​nice touch!
For NYE they had a 3 course pre-​fix menu with an amuse bouche and palate cleansers – score!
My absolute favorite part of the meal was my appetizer-​the ‘farm egg’. Imagine a poached egg flash fried in a dough with a delectable cream/​mushroom sauce — I’d come back just for that!
I ordered the lobster with root vegetables for my main course – this dish was good, but I was not a fan of the root veggies, a little too hard for my taste. The pineapple sorbet with finely chopped fresh pineapple was the most delicate/​perfect palette cleanser before my chocolate bonet dessert – it was funny watching other diners trying to crack open the hard chocolate shell to reach the creamy mousse in the center – might need your knife for this one guys!
All in all, it was a lovely dining experience. I’ll definitely be back to show my out-​of-​town friends how Michigan restaurants serve up the good stuff ;-)

This place was lack luster for me. The menu is an underwhelming mix of mushy grains, pork, and cold cuts. Our hostess asked us 3 times if we were a party of two. Our server was slow, disinterested, and not engaged. We had to ask her the specials which were simply a collage of menu items. (How unoriginal) the exposed kitchen is a bit like the food court at the mall. On a positive note, the low lit ambiance and jazz music was nice. In the end we opted simply with the acorn squash soup, which was good, and their wine list is nice as well. Will most likely not return.

I will continue to come here ever so often! The second time I’ve been here, we went to a feature dinner by a visiting chef Jason Vincent, who put out a very impressive menu in collaboration with the restaurant owner Chef Brian Polcyn and the Chef de Cuisine Nick. Seriously a fantastic meal feature some duck, pigeon, and seafood flavors. One thing I truly appreciate from this restaurant is just how awesome of a guy Brian is. He never fails to go to every table and just say «Thanks for coming. Come back often.» I feel like it always adds that personal touch and makes you feel like always coming back, which doesn’t happen often enough at other «higher scale» restaurants. And it helps that their food is always amazing. Technique, flavors, pairings with wines are all executed incredibly well.
Joseph, the sommelier, is very knowledgeable about his wines, and always picks out great pairings. The additional benefit here is that when you do get a wine pairing, they also are able to order you the wine at retail cost. So, if you like the wine, purchase it (or ask Joseph where you can purchase it), and there’s no extra commission just because you’re getting it from them.
But god, i really do have to go there and try their actual menu. Every time I’ve gone, it’s always been for the pre fixe dinners!

With ceiling to floor windows and outdoor dining during the summer, every seat is a good one at this Michigan gem. I was happy to revisit this restaurant on a recent week-​end to help celebrate a friend’s birthday.
Perhaps I was influenced by the chalkboard that announced a Michael Ruhlman dinner (coinciding with his new cookbook launch), but the Farm Egg appeared to be a great choice and it was. The perfectly cooked egg was encased in a fried, shredded potato nest that when «cracked open» allowed egg yolk to stream into the sabayon. It was a pretty sight and a surprisingly light start to the meal.
As entrée, I enjoyed short ribs encased in a paper-​thin pasta sheet with a light and savory sauce. The mashed potatoes in a thin shell and oh-​so-​sweet baby onions were delicious. It was definitely a different approach to a classic braised short ribs dish.
I could not pass up dessert even though the birthday girl chose a coffee over something sweet. The Opera Cake with its thin layer of chocolate ganache, enhanced with coffee, went well with the chopped pistachios.
Service was very good. The restaurant staff responded to our questions and even offered up a sample of an ingredient to help expand our knowledge and help us make a decision. I love that! I cannot wait to return and sample a different, inventive menu.
Note that parking is a bit of a problem. Neighborhood parking is best if you prefer not to leave your car with the valet.

Truly Wonderful!
You know how people ask what your last meal on earth would be… I’d want the chef’s tasting menu from here!
I’ve been waiting years to return here so I could leave a current review, and since I had occasion to give this a second try for my birthday my wait is up.
I really can’t say enough about the Forest Grill. Both times I’ve been here I’ve had the chef’s tasting menu and both times I’ve enjoyed one of the two most memorable and religious meals I’ve ever had the pleasure of. The service is wonderful and the food is not only complex in flavor and conception but also technique. Quite honestly I’d wash dishes here for a week if it meant I could stodge here for a day or two just to learn from these chefs.
Simple sabayon, velvety veloutes, and punchy gastriques… these are a few of my favorite things. Add to that amazing cider glazed sweetbreads, carrot roulade, a pork shoulder or a veal cheek braised to perfection and I know where I’ve landed. I rarely have the opportunity to sample anything that’s raising my appreciation for the food I eat but Forest Grill will, given the chance.
Their food is magic and while I’m sure some would disagree I have to say that this is easily one of the best restaurants in Metro Detroit and definitely my favorite of any I’ve had the pleasure of trying. I’m already looking forward to the next time I return.
Lastly, a big thank you to Rory and Joseph for their attentive hosting making for another amazing evening here.

A legitimate contender for best restaurant in the greater Metro-​Detroit area!
Exceptional service to start with — knowledgeable, attentive staff that makes you feel as though you are their only table!
Food — excellently prepared!
1) The Charcuterie !! locally sourced and cured by the restaurant staff! excellent — the prosciutto di Birmingham is fantastic and not to be missed. This place is worth it for the cheese, Charcuterie, and drinks alone!
2) On the appetizers a must try is the farm egg! yum yum and yum… some type of breading and frying of the egg, but what is phenomenal is the Sabayon that it is served in! So good… the little mushrooms in there are a treat as well!
3) The main courses change often… I am confident that none of the options will be a disappointement! I had monkfish and it was perfect!
There is great attention to detail here and it is worth a trip for every restaurant fan in the area!

A decent find in the Birmingham area. Emphasis on charcuterie and cocktails. MI is definitely lacking gourmet finds like this one.
We were disappointed that they were out of some items we initially ordered, but the service and ambiance made up for that. We were enjoying a little pre-​wedding dinner, and the chef sent complimentary champagne for everyone at the table.
Highlight of the menu? The little dab of mustard on the charcuterie board. Seriously, the most phenomenal mustard anyone at our table had ever eaten. How often is mustard remarkable?
Other good bets: frog legs, tarte flambé, cherry bulleit and the rhubarb punch.

Sigh… what happened Forest Grill?
I really hate having to write a bad review update for a place that is supposed to be delivering quality food 100% of the time. However, after last night’s meal, I couldn’t come away not mentioning how awful the meal was. It wasn’t even about service or ambiance. Those were all still fine, but the food… FOOD! It was so shockingly bad that I almost felt like pinching myself, as if this was a dream.
It was our anniversary dinner, and everything from the bread to the pizza to our entrees were not on par with our last experience. I saw our waiter take a loaf of bread past our table and outside to the patio, and shortly after, he came right through the door and gave us the same loaf of bread. I thought it was odd. The bread was stale and dry and looked like it had been sitting around for a really long time. Even the butter that they provided didn’t help with the dryness of the bread. Normally, with hot fresh bread, when you pull it apart, it’ll flake off. Instead, each fiber of the bread broke off in chunks! I kept on keeping an optimistic outlook on things, but Husband was already foreshadowing the negative.
We ordered their Pizza Margherita ($ 16) and out came a soggy and sloppy mess. The slices of tomato weren’t even properly dried out, so all the liquid from it went into the crust and subsequently made each slice fall apart. There was no sauce, as it was just mozzarella cheese with tomatoes on top with a few pinches of basil. I realize that this is probably their take on the Italian classic, but the least they could have done was get the liquid out so it didn’t water down the mozzarella and crust.
Shortly after the pizza arrived, our entrees came. I ordered the confit lamb shoulder ($ 28) and Husband ordered the Prime Steak Frites ($ 34). When my lamb shoulder came out, it looked a little sloppy in presentation, not to mention the meat looked overcooked. I started to cut away the meat and it did cut very easily, but certain parts of it were dry (namely the end parts and tips). I mean, I’ve had confit of lamb shoulder before at other places, and never has it been dry. My only guess is that either the meat had been slow cooking for too long, or it was old meat that they simply reheated. Either way, it wasn’t as appetizing as it could have been. The cippolini onions were nothing to rave about, but the olive tapenade was okay, just too oily.
The disaster of the night was with Husband’s steak and frites (see photo). Poor guy! He requested medium rare, and out came medium well to almost well done. Because it wasn’t what he requested, back into the kitchen it went. A place like this should have no problems cooking a steak medium rare! Luckily, the waiter was understanding and said they would cook him a new one. About 2 minutes afterwards, another steak and frites came out. We were crossing our fingers that this one would be better. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. In fact, it was worse than the first one. The cut of meat was clearly smaller than 12 oz., and there was a thick layer of fat surrounding the outside and it was so tough that Husband couldn’t even cut through it with the steak knife provided. He tried to cut through it and it was impossible. :(
Our waiter came back to ask how it was, and Husband had to be honest. We felt bad in telling him so, but we had to. Apologetically, the waiter offered to have him choose something else from the menu, or another cut of beef. By this time, Husband had already had enough of disappointment and didn’t want the kitchen to waste anymore food. Right around the same time, I had eaten what I could from my lamb shoulder with a little bit to spare for Husband.
Something else I have to mention. Throughout the entire meal, I saw executive chef looking over at our table. Whether it was out of embarrassment or being ticked off, he didn’t once come over to our table to apologize. We felt bad that our waiter had to do his dirty work. It’s not even his fault. Truthfully, had the chef come over and showed some form of responsibility, we probably would have been more forgiving and try something else. Not doing so made us feel that he shows no form of accountability for his actions. In a restaurant, that is unacceptable, especially if you’re the executive chef.
As a last ditch effort to save the evening, our waiter offered us complimentary pot de crème. It was a nice gesture, even though we both didn’t want it. It was tasty and not super dense, but would have been nice if there was actual cream on top of it.
Anyway, this is getting long, and I appreciate anybody who’s read this far. I don’t know if what happened to us was just us, but based on more recent reviews, it seems like there’s a pattern going on here. For such a well-​known restaurant, even on a Wednesday night, there should have been more people here than just 5 tables worth.
For such a special occasion, I hope that if anybody else chooses to go here, doesn’t experience what we did.