input: Write a negative yelp review.
output: Icon, you've left me speechless--and not in a good way. Luckily, I can still write! I have been coming here for years, and I adore the Iconic tapas...particularly anything involving short ribs or flank steak. Or flatbreads. Somehow, it has always slipped my mind to yelp about this place. So it's very IRONIC that last night, when I visited with the full intention of remedying that oversight, Icon fell flat on its face. I'm incredibly cranky about this whole experience, and I am not going to pull any punches. Here's how it went down. I signed myself and my sister up for the Valentine's day prix fixe menu. $48 per plate. 4 courses. ICON. Money well spent, right? WRONG! I had issues with EVERY course. Not to mention that we had our coats on for the entire meal to ward off the arctic blasts each time the door opened. Now, I have to say that I went against my better judgement, which tells me to avoid seafood in the Midwest. However, it WAS featured prominently on a very expensive menu, so I thought what the hell? I bit: I went with the crab cakes in the first course. They made me want to jump the first plane to Maryland so I could remind myself what good crab cakes taste like. The crab had that distinctive frozen flavor (that you wouldn't expect in a high-end establishment). The cakes were otherwise dense and semi-gross. But I dug the saffron aioli...for whatever that's worth. For the second course, I chose the CREAM OF asparagus soup. I can't stress this enough: any chef should be embarrassed by what we were served. I emphasize "cream of," because the soup clearly had not been uniformly pureed and strained, as evidenced by the occasional spoonful of overcooked asparagus chunks. Moreover, the soup was crying out for salt--which was notably absent from our table. Really? REALLY?! THIS IS BASIC STUFF, PEOPLE. For the entree I chose lobster pappardelle, which was okay, but not memorable. My sister picked the standout of the meal: the porcini and truffle ravioli was fantastic, and I would have licked her plate if nobody else had been in the room. And dessert? I opted for the chocolate mousse. The presentation was a curious cross between something my puppy would have done and liver pate with birthday candles. I did venture a taste, and it was fine--but again, not memorable. I didn't detect the cardamom. So in short, I am pissed that I spent $48 per plate for a meal that was poorly executed. So, Icon...maybe I'll be back someday. Maybe I'll write a glowing update. But right now, I just don't see it.
input: Write a positive yelp review.
output: The concept is great. Framework "so green." The ice is to die. Do not miss that. The burgers are tops. You just have to be patient to find a seat
input: Write a negative yelp review.
output:
Hmmm, definitely not Sophie's anymore. The ambience reminds me of an asylum or hospital, perhaps a big white and off white crate. :0/. The parsnip soup is amazing. The server is wonderful.