I was expecting THE BEST POUTINE EVER(!) when I waited in line at 4am (yes, there was a huge line but it went by pretty quickly) and what I got was slightly-better-than-average-but-still-nothing-to-write-home-about poutine. I definitely was not licking the bottom of my plate as I did with my La Belle Province poutine container. I'd go back to this place if I was close-by but definitely wouldn't make the trek just for it. I think people mostly go for the atmosphere.

negative

Really good cheese on the antipasto board. Great atmosphere, very woodsy and warm. Kobe meatballs were only fine but calamari were awesome.

positive

Good points: Nice server, good wine, great location. Bad points: Food. Food. Food. First problem: The menu had very little to choose from. The same ingredients that make up a particular pizza can also be found in salad or entree form. Here's the rest of the play-by-play: Bread and oil - The bread was pretty good, home-made and salty. Appetizers: 1)Proscuitto wrapped mushrooms stuffed with risotto - Decent. Nothing to write home about. Clever idea but the sauce and filling were bland. 2) Baked brie and jam wrapped in pastry: I'm a good home cook, not great. However, this is a dish that I've made at home and it turned out much better. The brie was either under-heated or just poor quality, because it was not as melted as any of us expected. Also, this dish was surprisingly salty. Entrees: 1) Cheese pizza: just like Domino's makes it. But more salt. 2) Chorizo and manchego risotto: Chorizo was fine, risotto was chunky. 3) Shrimp linguine: Again, good idea, just needs alot of work. 4) Mushroom and spinach risotto: Worst part of the meal. I will never go back because of this. The risotto was chewy and mushy, the spinach was all but raw, and it was topped with, you guessed it, lots of salt. I ate a few bites because I was hungry, but couldn't bring my self to try to get full on it. The server claims they make the risotto with "a cream base, which is why alot of people don't like it." The next thing I will want to say is that the "white wine" list included Rosso Dolce. If you're thinking to yourself "Rosso sounds like red," you're right! I ordered it off the white list and was surprised when I was given a glass filled with deep red. It was wonderful, and the sweetest red I've ever had, but when we brought this to the servers attention she said it was on the wrong list because it was sweet. She also struggled to answer the question "Is the zin red or white?" As I said the service was very friendly, and the chef graciously accomodated a request (one which wasn't on the menu) for a member in our party. The place has great potential, but they really need to work to reach it.

negative

Great place. Cheapest fleur du sel in the city and wonderful array of spices and mixes. Tandoori spice and za'atar mixes are great! They also have hard-to-find and inexpensive citric acid and pectin for canning/jarring. Rating Scale: 1 Star: Avoid the town in which this place is located just to be safe. 2 Star: With so many great places to choose from, why risk this one? 3 Star: I'll try it again or consume here in a pinch. 4 Star: I go here regularly if financially and/or calorically feasible. 5 Star: I look forward to taking my wife or friends here.
positive