text: Disclaimer:  This review is based on notion's soft opening.\n\nThank the blogosphere that I caught wind that notion was having a donation only soft launch.  I decided to surprise the fiancee and whisk her over to East Liberty one day after work for what I hoped would be a unique experience...  notion definitely didn't disappoint.\n\nEliminating any inconsistencies from the rating (can't really ding a new restaurant on that), our server did a great job explaining the four course meal with wine pairings plus the bonus two complements of the chef.  Every plate was well artistic, well presented, and complex yet refined relative to the ingredients, which are the true star of the show here.  Notion ever so slightly transforms their ingredients to meld into something that overall satisfies the palate.\n\nAlas, that is also what prevents me from giving notion a 5-star review.  Although ALL of the dishes were pleasant to eat and I would order again, NONE of them managed to blow my socks off nor leave me craving for more.  At the end of the day, we donated an amount close to what the meal would of cost anyways (we thought it was worth it), but I wouldn't find myself ever proactively seeking notion out again.