Rialto – Yawn...

I’m going to keep this post relatively short because there isn’t that much to say about Rialto. The restaurant had no personality. Everything – food, décor, staff – was so muted and boring. The dining room has very low ceilings, dated faux-suede sage booths, and light yellow and white drapes on the walls…neutral and nothing more. The staff was very amateur, and our waitress couldn’t even describe the food. The only word she seemed to know was “beautiful”…that was her main response to our questions on various items on the menu. Um, thanks.

Heirloom Minestrone Soup - On the bland side. The fresh, clean flavor of the peas were the only thing that stood out.
Wavy Black Ink Risotto with Clams – the most successful dish of the evening despite the clumsy presentation. The razor clam was fresh and meaty, while risotto had a fantastic briny, shellfish flavor and depth.

Seared Salt Cod Gnocchi – the ratatouille was nice, but it didn’t compensate for the extremely dry gnocchi. The cod had this strange gummy saltiness to it, and I couldn’t eat anymore after a few bites.

Slow Braised Rabbit Leg & Grilled Rack Over Polenta - the rabbit was very tender, but there was a sweetness to sauce that I found to be too cloying. I would have much preferred a savory sauce/preparation.
Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, Toasted Almond Panna Cotta, & Chili Chocolate Sorbet – I really enjoyed the almond panna cotta and wished they would have just served that for dessert. The pistachio cake was topped with really sour pistachios…bleh. The chili chocolate sorbet was interesting, but didn’t really go with the rest of the plate.
Overall, my experience at Rialto wasn’t particularly good or bad, just ho-hum. It received a few awards several years ago, but my meal leads me to believe that the restaurant is now past its prime. I was bored and uninspired.

BITE METER: Rialto – 2.0 bites (out of 5)

Au Pied de Cochon – Just Let Go and Indulge

I was intrigued when I heard that Au Pied de Cochon was one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite restaurants. Given that the restaurant’s name means “At the Pig’s Foot”, I’m not surprised as Mr. Bourdain is known for his infatuation of all things pork. However, the restaurant is about more than pork; it’s about indulging in all things rich and comforting. The main menu is filled with a meaty assortment of pork, beef, and duck dishes (vegetarians need not enter). Foie gras even has its own section as a “meat” with over 10 menu items…a foie gras lover’s dream!
The restaurant has a lively yet laid-back feel. It is non-descript (no sign outside) but full of warmth as sunlight from the large windows and skylights cast a glow on the honey-colored wood throughout the dining room. The staff also provided excellent service in an easygoing manner. It was good to be in such a comfortable environment as I let go and ate myself senseless…

Foie Gras Poutine – poutine is to Canada as what chili-cheese fries are to the South. Up here, the Canadians top french fries with gravy and cheese curds...and Chef Picard then takes it one step further by adding a velvety slab of foie gras on top of it all. The gravy on this poutine was ABSOLUTELY MINDBLOWING! I don’t know if I can adequately describe it…imagine a gravy that’s thick, buttery, warm, creamy, and oh-so-savory, then multiply that goodness by 1,000. I cant' get over how good it was! Needless to say, I did not leave a single drop of gravy on the plate.
Plogue à Champlain – deliciously addictive! This dish consisted of a buckwheat pancake topped with cheese, potatoes, thick-cut bacon, and foie gras. And on top of that was Quebec maple syrup, chopped apples, and parsley. The contrasting sweet and savory flavors were in perfect harmony. It was like having dinner and dessert wrapped up in an exceptionally decadent bite! [Not surprisingly, I'm salivating as I write about this!]
Seafood Platter – the restaurant had a huge display of fresh/live seafood, so I thought it’d be a good idea to "balance" our heavy courses with a seafood platter...little did I know it'd be a gigantic mound of seafood! It was a heaping assortment of stuffed mussels, conch, razor clams, calamari, cherrystone clams, oysters, and even bowl of periwinkles sauteed in black bean sauce. Prepared with a number of different sauces and marinades, this was much more elaborate than the typical raw seafood platter. It’s now clear why this dish wasn’t served first. I did find all this seafood to be overwhelming though, and would have rather had the option to choose a few seafood items from the menu instead.
Dark Chocolate Pot de Crème – Luckily, I always have an extra stomach for dessert so I didn’t miss out on this luscious chocolatey goodness. It was so scrumptious with the graham cracker crumbles.
The restaurant also served this terrific spearmint green tea by Kusmi. I liked it so much that I found it online and ordered some afterwards. Too bad I can’t have that orgasmic poutine and plogue shipped to me as well. For now, I guess I’ll have to longingly count the days until my next visit to Au Pied de Cochon.

BITE METER: Au Pied de Cochon – 4.4 bites (out of 5)

Ferreira Café – An Almont Tart that Outshined Everything Else

After eating so much French food, I decided to dine at a Portuguese restaurant to change things up a bit. Ferreira Café opens out onto the sidewalk under a cobalt blue awning and has a chic Mediterranean vibe. Unfortunately, the restaurant's host wasn’t very personable, and the wait staff seemed scattered. At least I found the food to be enjoyable as it got progressively better with each dish…

Portuguese-style Oysters (cooked with chorizo, cheese, and tomato sauce) – I usually prefer oysters raw, but thought “When in Rome…” After trying the Portuguese-style oysters, I still think they are better raw. The toppings completely overwhelmed the oysters, and all I could taste was salty tomato sauce. The only way I could even tell there was an oyster in there was the slight oceany taste on the finish.
Fleur de Sel Roasted Sardines with Tapenade – nicely roasted, plump sardines with just the right amount of salt and olive oil. Simple and appetizing.
Porcini-crusted Roasted Black Cod on a Port Reduction and Mashed Potatoes – beautifully cooked piece of cod…perfectly even, super moist, and served at the right temperature. A feat given its enormous size. I expected an earthy flavor from the crust, but couldn’t taste the porcini and thought the fish needed a tad more salt.
Grilled Giant Tiger Prawns with Tomato Risotto – I’m always a sucker for big, juicy prawns and these did not disappoint. I also loved the tangy tomato risotto. It was delightfully light and vibrant for a risotto. A fantastic pairing with the prawns.
Almond Tart with Port-poached Pears – the best part of the meal. This almond tart was AWESOME! I can’t remember when I’ve had an almond tart *this* good. I loved the combination of the brittle crust with the warm, sweet almond filling and the ripe poached pears. The pear sorbet was also a welcome addition and a smooth palate cleanser. Since Ferreira Café boasts the largest collection of ports in North America, I had to get a glass with dessert. I can’t remember the name of the port I had, but I recall being pleasantly surprised at how light it was and how well it complemented the almond tart.

While the seafood was good at Ferreira Café, I will forever remember it for its amazing almond tart.

BITE METER: Ferreira Café – 3.0 bites (out of 5)