The Twisted Frenchman

The food at the twisted Frenchman is truly inspired. It’s modern French cuisine for the foodie who wants classic French fare with a scientific twist. Sometimes when molecular gastronomy is involved the food tastes weird but here, there are flavors that I’ve never before experienced and I absolutely loved every bite.
This was the perfect spot for my birthday dinner. It’s an intimate setting but it feels light and bright. We started with the vouvrey and Sancerre wines, nice and crisp and dry whites. Then we had escargot. It was served over a parsley risotto and other components like grapes and garlic paper. Yes garlic paper!
The foie gras was heavenly. Each savory bite of decadence made me want to run a treadmill for an hour but also nap at the same time. So yummy.
We both had the duck for the entrée and the skin somehow came out thin and crispy like bacon. The meat itself was tender and the foie gras mustard was awesome. I was surprised that the serving size was so large since it is a French restaurant. We had to pack up half our meals to save room for dessert. But also we did eat a lot of the baguette and yummy salty thyme butter so yeah.
And then there was dessert. Since it was my birthday my husband called ahead and the chef did the nitrogen chocolate mousse presentation. I was in awe as the top of the chocolate hardened as he poured the liquid nitrogen. Then he poured the nitrogen on his hand and pretended to hurt. Oh you silly chef.
This meal was unforgettable. I love when restaurants have a passion for what they do and really pride themselves in service, taste, presentation and atmosphere. I wish I could rate this place with 10 stars!

My GF and I had the tasting menu with wine and it was a magical night. 11 courses of delightful dishes with well-​paired wines. The wines were a fun mixture of whites, reds, and fortified dessert wines.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect for a special night. With only 6 – 7 tables, the ambiance is intimate and relaxed. The wait staff were a blast, introducing each round with anecdotes to build our anticipation.

we heard great things about this place, so we had to try it! what better time than for valentine’s day & my birthday!
we read there was valet parking. there wasn’t. let’s just say i wasn’t dressed to walk 4 blocks in a wind storm.
the staff was welcoming, & we were seated immediately. we went with the 8 course tasting with paired wines. let me say, EVERYTHING was ridiculously DELICIOUS! best french food i’ve had in a long time!
HOWEVER, i felt like i was on an assembly line! it seemed as though everyone was having the tasting menu. it was as if all they did was make the tasting menu, so it came quick & fast: every dish perfectly the same. which is what you want, i know, just not that perfect.
i watched as the chef went to each table saying the same rote speech as he poured the nitrogen over the dessert. he didn’t seem to be feeling it.
it got pretty loud too, as the people drank more. again, i get that’s what they want, but for a romantic, quiet meal for 2, nah. we had to yell to talk to each other.
i’d give it another try, but i’d order off the menu, & maybe go on a week night instead of the weekend. & i’d wear better shoes for walking!

The experience was wonderful from start to finish. I had the steak and my partner went with the duck. To start I had the beets. Everything was perfectly prepared and plated. If you’re looking for a night with amazing high quality food. This place will not disappoint.
Revisited last weekend. News from the chef is that a bigger space is in the works. I had the wagyu steak with lobster hush puppies. Absolutely delightful. Looking forward to seeing the new space!

We did the Valentine’s Day tasting menu.
Food: Delicious things were done with vegetables and fungi. The potato leek soup was flavorful and a perfect match for the two mushrooms. The beets were freaking amazing. I actually got in trouble for taking too long to eat the beet dish. (See service below.) I wish all plates came with that little line of goat cheese. The foie gras was fine. I’m not a huge fan, but it had a nice, buttery finish, and the nut butter gave it an interesting dimension. The salmon was perfectly sous-​vided (it’s a word!), and I loved the lavender flavoring. Coming in second place only to the beets was my exquisite duck main course. Perfectly cooked. Great sauce. The (gluten-​free) lobster hush puppies on the side were eh. My husband LOVED his Wagyu beef. Period.
Dessert: Yes, liquid nitrogen is super fun. However, after it floated away, my dessert was basically chocolate pudding and vanilla ice cream with citrus fruit. I’m gonna need a little more than that.
Service: The service impressed us at the start of the evening because although my husband had called ahead to secure a gluten-​free version (of course) I threw a curve ball with a «yeah, I also don’t eat read meat so I’d like to skip that Wagyu beef part.» I told them it was unnecessary to edit, and that I was happy to skip along to dessert, but the servers and the chef insisted. They did a super fast pow-​wow, checked my prefs and double-​checked my allergens (yes, just the wheat) and came up with a replacement main course on the fly (well, an hour-​ish later). WOW. Awesome and thank you!!! After we ordered our drinks, a beautiful dance commenced with dish upon delicious dish delivered to our table. I will say that some of the servers clearly enjoy/​understand their job more than others.
Unfortunately, two things happened that undermined the goodness. One, we didn’t know that we were under the gun to finish our meal! They had scheduled the tables exactly two hours apart so about an hour into dinner we were informed that we were eating too slowly and that we had to hurry up to make room for the next seating. I’m don’t get much time out alone with DH, it was Vday, and I had multiple courses of delicious food to eat so I though the speed was ok. The staff made me feel like I was being rude for taking the time to enjoy my evening. Two, as they rushed us through to the end, my gluten allergy got overlooked, and our desserts had to be remade. Eek.
Overall, we enjoyed the food and would return. However, we’d want to know exactly how much time we had to eat so we could plan accordingly!

Took me a while to get around to writing this review, but after dreaming about the amazing food for the umteenth time, I decided it couldn’t wait any longer.
So, my girlfriend and I came here for the New Years Eve 8-​course prix fixe dinner (yeah, this is almost 2 months overdue). We also ordered a bottle of the Cidre Bouché Omaha Beach champagne, which was rather disappointing (but not disappointing enough to prevent me from downing the entire bottle by myself).
We’re not from the Pittsburgh area, so we chose this place based on the zany name and the Unilocal reviews/​pics. We were a little reluctant to pay $ 100 per person without any idea of the menu, but we got our money’s worth and a whole lot more.
I will say that the dinner got off to an inauspicious start with the amuse. According to my foodie girlfriend, it did not qualify as an amuse, being much too substantial. An amuse is meant to be bite-​sized whereas this was an entire bowl. Of course, I wouldn’t be complaining if it were good. My girlfriend was obsessed with introducing me to foie gras and was horrified at the prospect of my first taste coming in the form of some freeze-​dried foie gras shavings.
The next course was an oyster with caviar, and was also very weak. I chalked up my dislike to me not being a big mollusk fan in general, but my girlfriend normally loves oysters and she hated this course.
At this point we wondered whether our $ 300 wouldn’t have been better spent on… well, just about anything. But alas, there were 6 courses remaining for the twisted frenchman to redeem himself, and redeem he did!
If I recall correctly, the next course was a beautiful mixture of red and yellow beets prepared 3 different ways: raw, roasted, and in chip form. The beets were sitting on a smear of goat cheese and the two went perfectly together.
The next course was beef tartare with foie gras pâté and snail caviar. Every element of this dish was immaculate. My girlfriend finally got the caviar she had been craving and I enjoyed foie gras for the first time (spoiler alert: it wouldn’t be the last of the night).
I’ll briefly mention that other courses included soup, squab, and sturgeon, and each was phenomenal. Unfortunately, my fading memory prevents me from further singing their praises.
Now without further ado, I’ll move on to my favorite course: the classically prepared foie gras on brioche with caramelized onion jam. Let me tell you, this was the best thing I’ve ever tasted! I think I even did that weird thing where I closed my eyes to better savor each bite. I’m officially a fan of foie gras and my girlfriend couldn’t be happier.
The final dessert course was relatively unremarkable, but we were both so stuffed that we didn’t much care. Worth noting was the cool little dry ice demonstration our waiter presented at the table. The meal ended with two dark chocolate truffles which we had to bring home.
The dining room felt very intimate and the service was top-​notch. Our waiter brought us complimentary glasses of champagne at midnight and seemed to be in no hurry to rush us out the door. All in all it was a truly unforgettable experience.

This is the place to go if you’re celebrating something special. Or if you want to feel special. Or if you enjoy French food. Or if you appreciate beautifully plated deliciousness. Basically, hurry up and find an excuse to visit this restaurant.
For Valentine’s weekend they ran a 6 course chef’s tasting menu ($ 80) with optional wine pairing ($ 45).
I have to admit I was a little nervous to partake in a meal that’s chosen for me. I like carbs. I like cheese. I like ordering off a menu. I like control. But I relinquished control, threw caution to the wind, and I’m happy to report that I’m left with no regrets.
Dinner began with French bread from La Gourmandine Bakery and a yummy thyme butter. Carbs (check)! We were off to a great start.
What followed was a perfectly paced multi-​course extravaganza that consisted of:
Potato leek soup with arugula foam– This is the best soup I’ve ever had in my life. It was so creamy and so flavorful and I kind of wish that it was served in a barrel instead of a miniature bowl. I resisted the plate lick, but only barely.
Beets with goat cheese mousse– Who knew beets could be exciting? There were roasted beets, pickled beets, beet chips, and beet dust. All variations were gloriously distinct and delicious.
Foie Gras over toast with nut butter and jam – They call this the adult PB&J. I don’t like Foie Gras (it’s a texture thing), but I could get down with the flavors of this dish. My husband said if we were millionaires, he’d eat this for breakfast every morning. So there you go.
Salmon with lavender– Rare salmon isn’t something I usually enjoy, but this was good! The lavender was very flavorful and was a great accompaniment to the fish.
Waygu Beef with lobster hush puppies– I want to write a love poem to this slab of meat. Whoa. Just. Whoa.
Dessert, for me, was a vanilla custard with blood orange and a shortbread cookie. It was plated over a bowl of aromatic sugar (not to be eaten, but to be smelled). My husband got the decadent chocolate French mousse with a brownie. The server brought liquid nitrogen to the table and froze the mousse to add texture. I got a little dab of liquid nitrogen to my bowl too for dramatic effect. The desserts were out of this world.
The drink pairings were also superb. There was champagne, sherry, a fantastic Pinot, some kind of Bordeaux, and a port. I’m kicking myself for not taking note of all the names, because I would like to stock my wine cabinet with everything!
With our bill we got two delicious little chocolate truffles. I also got a beautiful bright pink rose to take home. What a nice touch!
Many compliments to the chef and staff for a wonderful evening. I’m looking forward to visiting again!

Hey Twisted Frenchman! First my apologies for forgetting to write this review (in June) but me and 4 of my friends came in for my birthday dinner and had an absolutely amazing time! The service was amazing, the food was incredible and the wine flowed like a river! Everything was paired perfectly and at the end the chef came out and froze a chocolate mousse at the table! I could not have asked for a better night and it all started with the Twisted Frenchman!
Thank you for the start of an incredible night!

My husband and I went here from my birthday dinner on January 9^th. We’re very open and love to explore new food. (Sorry, picky eaters, but this may not be the review for you) We got the 8 course Chef’s Tasting, and I got the additional wine pairing to go with it. This was my first time actually doing a wine pairing with my meal, and I absolutely loved it! I’d be surprised if every wine pairing is done this well, but if it is, I wish I could eat every meal this way. My husband had 3 of their specialty cocktails and loved those as well.
Our server was extremely knowledgeable and seemed about as excited about the food as we were. I don’t think we could have asked for better service.
The meal itself was wonderful. The presentations were creative and gorgeous. It was basically like eating art. The only dish my husband and I weren’t huge fans of was the sturgeon. The way it was cooked made it taste a little fishy in our opinion, but neither of us are too experienced when it comes to sturgeon. I’ve seen other reviews raving about this dish, so it may just be a matter of opinion.
We’ve done tastings before, and have sometimes left feeling like we could still eat or might be hungry again in an hour. Overall, I’d say that this restaurant it well worth the money. We definitely left full.
My husband and I make a point to try at least one (usually two or more) new restaurant (s) each month– something we began when we first started dating, so we do have a lot to compare to. This may very well be my new favorite restaurant in the city. I’m excited to come back and try individual things on the menu, and hopefully one day make it to a Chef’s Table (14 course tasting).

Hands down the best restaurant in Pittsburgh right now.
My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate out anniversary a few month back. We tried their Chef’s table with wine pairing. Everything from the setting, the staffs, to the food and drinks was the best we’ve he in Pittsburgh. Every dish was very well though through and each pairing was on point. Definitely recommend to go there for an intimate, special occasion.

4.5 stars rounded up.
Just got back from a fantastic dinner at the Twisted Frenchman for Restaurant Week (which by the way, is one of the more «worth it» dinners during Restaurant Week!).
I started with the potato-​leek soup with a dollop of crème fraîche and a wonderfully roasted maitake mushroom. The soup was poured table-​side (love it!) over the other elements. The soup was lightly creamy, warm, and that maitake mushroom — sooo good.
For my entrée, I got the salmon. The salmon was perfectly cooked, served atop some whipped (?) potatoes and a sauce, along with some braised leeks. This was a fairly standard but well done dish.
My friend, on the other hand, got the agnolotti as her entrée. It was stellar. The pasta was perfect, the sauce was great, and the truffles — oh, the truffles — they were so satisfyingly savory. I will remember this dish and come back for it.
We ended on the frozen chocolate dessert. The chef/​owner himself (Andrew) came out to carefully pour liquid nitrogen onto the chocolate mousse portion of the dish and explain anything we wanted. After all the liquid nitrogen, he cracked open the top and mixed it with the rest of the chocolate mousse. So fun! This was all served next to a chocolate cake sitting on top of a strawberry purée and topped with a cara cara orange sorbet. The chocolate mousse was nice and the frozen part melted in your mouth but was a nice change in texture. The cake (brownie?) was a bit dry and the strawberry purée was not really my thing, but the sorbet was nice and overall the dessert was worth it for the experience more than the flavor. The presentation of each of the dishes was truly spectacular, and it definitely added to the fine dining feel of things.
All in all, solid dinner. The service was attentive, knowledgeable, and pleasant (thanks to Roy and the rest of the servers that helped us out!), and the food was pretty good to amazing. If I could critique anything, maybe the décor/​lighting/​signage could use some work, but honestly, that would not keep me from coming back here for another great meal.

Went here for restaurant week, so I can’t comment on the full experience. For $ 35, got an appetizer and entrée. I chose the foie gras and Rohan duck, while my dining partner tried the potato leek soup and the truffle agnolotti. We also split a bottle of blah wine for $ 60 and the frozen chocolate for $ 12 for dessert. As a plus, complementary baguette from la gourmandine!
I loved my duck dish, it was a great texture and flavor and was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was a sizable entrée and I was definitely full from it. I wasn’t fond of the foie gras, it was served with a marmalade which overpowered the normal flavor and made it really sweet. I also tried the truffle agnolotti and maybe I’m just not a truffle person but I thought it was a very overpowering flavor. The soup was delicious and might have been my favorite part of the meal.
The frozen chocolate was quite a show. A rich chocolate brownie with strawberry purée and blood orange sherbet came on one plate. The chocolate mousse came out on a separate plate and the Chef poured liquid nitrogen to freeze the top layer. It was an interesting mix of flavors, not bad but not mind blowing. I actually thought the frozen component took away from the mousse, other then it being a good show. The frozen parts were a little too hard to eat and tasted kind of icy while the nonfrozen parts were good.
The space is really small, and surprisingly not very decorated. Plain walls, no artwork, one large modern chandelier piece. Overall the food was good, but quite pricy. I wish the dishes were more consistently mind blowing and I wasn’t in love with the wine or the space. I suppose a place like this is really set apart by its chef tasting menu, which I’d love to try one day.

Nicely displayed dishes, but the taste is not as sophisticated as the presentation. I had sturgeon, the beat appetizer, and the chocolate moose. The sturgeon tasted like simple salmon and the chocolate moose was too watery. The signature drink was OK but very strong. The service was mixed. We had a reservation. At the entrance, no one was waiting to seat us. After a bit of hesitation we decided to go inside and see what we should do. We almost were entering the kitchen area at the back of the restaurant when someone finally told us to sit somewhere. It was a Tuesday night and the restaurant was not busy at all. But the rest of the service that night was good.

We couldn’t decide what to order, so we got the tasting menu after being assured it could be made shellfish-​free. Unfortunately, there was a mis-​communication and the first course came out with a scallop, but there were no other issues. Allergy sufferers, double-​check your food.
That said, the food was generally outstanding, particularly the smoked salmon (reminiscent of Alinea’s smoke pillow plating) and the lamb-​wrapped lamb chops. I would come back to eat both of those dishes again, and I almost never order the same thing twice. Everything else we had was also quite solid, except for dessert. I know liquid nitrogen is exciting and everything, but it has been done a lot and so desserts using it should stand on more than just the theater. The chocolate mousse was not particularly remarkable, and the vanilla custard was nicely flavored, but a bit of a letdown after such an exceptional meal. If TF steps up its dessert game, I will be there for each season’s tasting menu.

I came here for my birthday and I honestly can’t say enough good things about the Frenchman. We ended up being late for our reservation but the staff was still able to make the night enjoyable even if we couldn’t do the chefs tasting.
I started dinner off with a Ginger Pear drink and it was delicious light and refreshing. A perfect starter drink. For my app I went with the Tartare. The flavors were amazing and the presentation was fun. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. For my main dish I went with Bordeaux Marinated Duck. It was hearty and perfect on a cold November night. The ratatouille that it was served with was my favorite part of the dish. Also worth noting is the wine that accompanied it. It was a perfect combination. For dessert I had their frozen chocolate which was not only scrumptious but came with a bit of a liquid nitrogen show. The balsamic vinegar reduction put an interesting spin on the dessert. To accompany it I choose a LBV Port. It was a great combo. The service threw out the evening was impeccable. Every dish was explained when it was brought to the table and I never felt like I was sitting around waiting on service. I can not wait to return and hopefully try the tasting menu next time. Needles to say it was a very good birthday.

What a pleasure it was to dine at the Twisted Frenchman last night. We were celebrating the Wifes birthday and I don’t think we could have picked a better place to enjoy the special occasion. We were running late due to traffic and they were MORE then accommodating given our tardiness. If I could give this one six stars I would.
We started off some house cocktails, I opted for their version of a Black Manhattan. It was strong, although slightly sweeter then most. I for one appreciate that. For an appetizer, I went with the Pheasant. It’s served with Duck Confit, Black Truffle, and a Puff Pastry atop. Next to the dish is hay with a ember burning in the middle. The scent of Pennsylvania fields filled the air and it instantly took you to the home of the hero of the dish, the Pheasant. I love how they were able to incorporate all of your senses into the dish like that. The puff pastry on top was so delicate and fluffy, it really brought everything together.
I went with the Lamb for my entrée. I also ordered their signature cocktail, the frenchman. The drink was served with liquid nitrogen still bubbling in the glass, filling it with smoke and chilling the drink. It features St. Germain, a french liqueur, along titos vodka, lemon, and Green Chartreuse. Its light and refreshing. The lamb chop is wrapped in lamb sausage, and served atop a brie stuffed onion with a Concentrated Carrot on the side. It’s then topped with a red sauce served table side. Everything was of course spot on. Juicy and tender, cooked to perfection. The spice of the sausage combine with the flavor of the lamb steak in a wonderful way, i was very satisfied with my meal.
For desert, I opted for the Vanilla Custard served with blood orange. I also went with a french white wine that I didn’t catch the name of, but it was as sweet as ice wine and very good. The custard was served over a bowl of vanilla sugar that had liquid nitrogen poured into it table side. The smoke that rose was filled with the smell of the vanilla. They also did a table side chocolate moose, that was covered by a table side pour of liquid nitrogen to freeze the top layer, then crushed up to provide different textures of the hard frozen top pieces inside the still soft creamy inner moose.
Overall I was really impressed with the Frenchman. The attention to every detail with the incorporation of rising scents and the fun that table side gastro brings really made the evening special. My compliments to the Chef, and also to the very attentive staff, for a wonderful night. Next time I visit, I’ll be doing the 14 course chef table, and although I was just there last night I already cannot wait for it.

When it comes to my birthday, my motto is «go big, or stay home.» This year was no different. I’ve been wanting to try the Twisted Frenchman since it opened maybe 6 months ago. When I learned they had a Chefs table, I knew where I’d be dining for my birthday.
Parking was street only which made it difficult because everything was occupied. Thankfully we found a spot and made our reservation. Walking in to this intimate restaurant, we were immediately greeted and sat in front of the window. The 14 course tasting menu and wine pairing was about to begin and I was giddy with excitement.
I took photos of every one of the 14 courses. They all look beautiful, but they taste evern better.
For appetizes, the celery root soup was something I never would have thought of but it was creamy and delicious. Very French! I also loved the beet salad (what can I say — I LOVE beets). The watermelon was innovative and smart. I never would have thought pine nut butter, goat cheese, and caviar would be so delicious. 100% unique!
However my two favorites were the smoked salmon and the foie gras. The presentation of the smoked salmon was sensory-​filled and the bite can only be described as what salmon was meant to taste like. The foie gras was Chef’s play on peanut butter and jelly. It reminded me of French toast. Crispy brioche with soft and savory foie gras. Pine nut butter with red onion marmalade… absolutely incredible!
The entrees were all wonderful… but I will dream of that poached sturgeon with carrot polenta. It was light yet rich with flavor. I could have licked the plate, it was that good. Please do yourself a favor and order this dish and when you go, call me and I’ll join you.
I don’t know how I was able to consume dessert, but I did… and I’m glad. The chocolate mousse was light yet rich. The liquid nitrogen brought a fun presentation and a nice texture to the creamy dish. Also the strawberry purée, balsalmic drizzle and brownie crumbles made the mousse even better.
The best dessert in my eyes was the vanilla ice cream with shortbread cookie crumbles and blood orange foam. Ladies and gentlemen, this was by far the best vanilla ice cream I’ve ever had. BEST. I’VE. EVER. HAD! Flavorful yet not too sweet — Ben & Jerry’s has nothing on this. The shortbread cookie brought texture and the blood orange foam added whimsy and acidity.
The wine pairings were also perfection. Everything complemented the meal. I was highly impressed.
Thank you to everyone at the Twisted Frenchman for an incredible meal. I will never forget my 33^rd birthday dinner. Though I’m unable to travel to France right now, I look forward to being transported there by my next meal at the Twisted Frenchman.

Came here for dinner and had a wonderful time. French food is not exactly the most veg-​friendly, but I had a great experience here.
The wine selection is amazing. I had an experienced person at the table, so I didn’t get the chance to see their sommelier in action, but the list itself is already great.
For the first course I had the beet salad, which had a combination of roasted and pickled beets that I really enjoyed. It was over a magically whipped goat cheese (goat cheese + beets = perfection).
Then for the main dish I requested the off-​menu veg item. They asked me if there was anything I liked, and anything I especially hated. I told them my one hated thing (star anise/​fennel type flavors) and they came back with a gnocchi in a rich mushroom sauce. The gnocchi was unlike any I’d ever had, made from pastry dough as opposed to potato. It was like eating air. I loved it.
There are only two dessert items, but they both are pretty great. I’m not a foam fan, but the bubbles in the citrus dessert are actually amazing. Also, of course, the chocolate mousse with the liquid nitrogen «crust» is pretty amazing. Mostly I enjoyed having the chef come to the table and chat with us while he put the finishing touches on it.

I am pleasantly pleased with the delicious food here. I will be back!
Drinks weren’t great. Didn’t offer copper for a French mule bc they may have to put them in the dishwasher. Huh? I’m not complaining! Just confused.
BUT, once apps came I have to say the food was fabtastic. The shellfish and grits was fantastic! Like I was crazy over the grits flavor!
Fois Gras and brioche with balsamic… damn… this food. I’m in love.
Duck, mushroom ravioli I just cant… it was great!

If you’re looking for an excellent fine dining experience in the East End, The Twisted Frenchman is absolutely worth a try.
My friend and I went on a slow, stormy, Sunday night. We looked over the menu, which was largely meat-​based, but were very intrigued by the custom vegetarian entrée option. We ordered the beet salad and a soup as appetizers, and each got the vegetarian entrée. Apparently, there is a multi-​course vegetarian tasting menu available as well, if you want to go the full mile.
Both the soup and the beets were excellent. I often joke about «New American» restaurants and their beet salads. Like, you’re not a New _​_​_​_​restaurant unless you have a damn beet salad on your menu. And it has to have a drizzle. And be served on a rectangle. However, this was like… the best of those beet salads I think I’ve ever had. So, I couldn’t even crack my jokes.
The server was very friendly, and helpful. He knew when he was needed and when to stay away, answered questions with accurate detail and impeccable memory skills — even on the two vegetarian entrees. He also worked on talking with the chef in helping us select a wine that would pair perfectly with our dishes.
Then, the entrees came out. The chef *could* have made us both the same thing, but didn’t. Each was customized according to a list of ingredients of foods we didn’t care for (the list was short). My memory isn’t as good as the server’s, but my dish was some sort of delicious carrot polenta purée cake which had a nice hard texture on top, and was delectably smooth in the center — think sort of like crème brûlée. It was over a bed of ratatouille, and was surrounded by all sorts of yummy treats, a few sauces, and a balsamic reduction drizzle. It was superb.
My friend’s dish had a really excellent green (pesto?) sauce, fresh gnocchi, vegetables, and, well, I forget at this point. It was equally excellent. However, we both agreed that we liked our own dish the best, so somehow that worked out well.
Dessert was an adventure. We got both desserts, and didn’t regret that decision at all. The chocolate mousse has a special surprise preparation at-​table, and an amazing combination of textures (again, sort of like crème brûlée). I was in heaven.
The décor of the restaurant has been very much stepped up from when it was Notion. Now there is actually art and décor, and the seating isn’t one giant wall bench. It feels more intimate, warmer, and thought out. It feels like somewhere you’d get a nice meal — not like a hotel restaurant afterthought. The hanging dried flowers are a bit strange, but, its better than blank beige walls.
After dinner, we went to the kitchen to thank the chef, and ended up chatting with the entire staff for a good 10 minutes or so. They were all very friendly, receptive, and excited to share their vision with us.
I absolutely recommend this place. Yes, its a bit on the pricey side, but I’d rank it over Spoon or Salt in quality — with an experience very much like Root 174.