CXXXIV: Dîner de Luxe

I have a new favourite restaurant. I went for a late dinner with my friend Ralph tonight and was so glad to finally try this place out: The Corner Suite Bistro de Luxe. Its review has been sitting on my desk at work for quite a few months now (yes, I compile positive reviews and arm myself with the hunger to try these places out eventually).

The ambiance is chic and modern, a fully-packed bar lines the length of the room, the music is loud (but not too loud), giving it a lounge-y feel. Then there's the bible of a cocktail menu -- each page lists about twenty or so with a full description, and trust me, there are more options than you think are possible. The dinner menu fits on one page but don't let that fool you -- every item is almost equally enticing. There are two pages of cheeses and one page of wines. All this selection makes it difficult to choose. After mulling over a few of dishes, we were informed by our very attentive and wonderful waitress of tonight's two-course tasting menu (there's a different one each night, always for $24.07). Tonight would be veal tongue cut into thin strips served with pickled prunes and greens. The entrée was braised lamb in a consistency like pulled pork, put into a patty over some greens, served with Israeli couscous and roasted beets. I must admit that the tongue didn't sound particularly appealing but we decided to go for it. I'm so happy we did! The portions seemed small at first glance but we ended up being quite full. The lamb was particularly amazing -- I don't think I have ever enjoyed the smell of lamb as much as tonight -- and I couldn't get over the creamy and plump couscous. SO YUMMY!

We each had a demi-glass of Shiraz which we both really enjoyed. And I was stuffed to the point that I wasn't going to get a dessert. That is a big deal as I always do! I got suckered into it anyway because Ralph mentioned that girls never decline dessert. (I don't know how that argument worked on me now that I'm thinking back.)

He had a cookie dough parfait and I had a flourless chocolate cake. Both were yummy but next time I go (and there will certainly be many next times), I will gladly forego the dessert in favour of being at a more pleasant feeling of satiety. The meal ended up being almost $50 for each of us including tips, so I won't be going there every week, but I was definitely impressed and look forward to trying other items on the menu, including one of their hundreds of cocktails.