The appetizers are dazzling almost across the board. Fried oysters splashed with soy-ginger and bursting with briny broth are delicious, as are tiny Maryland crab cakes sweetened with shaved golden carrots. Yellowfin tuna tartare is sweetened with butternut squash and a quince verjus foam. The only complaint I have is for the lobster tossed with limp pappardelle that sticks to the plate. Pan-roasted cod paired with pumpkins and sweet potatoes gives off a heady perfume of cardamom and curry.
Seared monkfish is served with beautifully stuffed calamari tubes and an earthy ratatouille.
A pan-roasted halibut special is wonderfully rich and decadent. I'm a big fan of the cheese course, and Restaurant Serenade offers a small but well-chosen selection from around the world. Monday through Friday, noon to 2 PM . Wheelchair access easy. All major credit cards.