04/15/09

Sublime Dining worth finding...

by winelover1982

It's been a couple of weeks since my wife and I had the pleasure of dining at Bonne Soiree, but as I've found myself describing elements of the meal numerous times recently, it seemed to be time to project these thoughts into cyberspace.

We took advantage of one of the occasional Sundays that the restaurant is open and went in for an early dinner. We were greeted by the Owner/Mgr, Tina, who was amazingly gracious and accommodating from the time we made our reservation until the time that we departed. She is truly blessed with the gift of hospitality, and her staff follow her example admirably.

The meal began with a country paté and some of their lovely homemade bread, along with a glass of champagne. It took a great deal of faith for a self described wine geek such as myself to allow Tina to pair wines with each course of our dinner, but as we sipped the champagne, my wife remarked, "You did the right thing, honey...This is delicious." She was right.

Next came a little amusé bouche of soft scrambled eggs infused with black truffle, accompanied by shaved truffle and perfect little baton of toast. I would drive across the state just for a spoonful of that goodness. Suffice it to say that my bouche was very amused.

The appetizers were equally impressive, with my wife selecting the goat cheese tart, which sat atop the fluffiest homemade filo dough I've ever tasted (this is sure to be a painstaking process in the kitchen), and fresh NC bay scallops for myself. Throughout, we were treated to tastes of a variety of terrific wines, including a pairing that blew me away: Alsacian Gewurtztraminer with Caesar salad, our shared mid-course (yes, we were hungry).

The entrées were nothing short of spectacular. We chose a duo of poultry: chicken for my wife and duck for myself. Chef Chip wasn't done with the truffles yet: He sliced them thin and put them under the skin of the chicken before roasting, and made a rich creamy pasta in a gratin dish that was smothered in truffles and cheese. My duck was world class: it featured five quenelles of pureed root vegetables and even one of prune (!?!), each of which enhanced the duck in different way. My plate had both the breast AND the leg quarter, which was prepared something like a confit, and a little bit like good ole' southern bbq. A true delight with a lovely glass of grenache. And considering the amount and quality of food on our plates, the prices are reasonable. You might think you are saving a few bucks eating at the Lantern (love ya, Lantern!), but don't fool yourself...

By this time we were completely full, but couldn't resist sharing a dessert, since we noticed that Chip's amazing filo pastry was available in a sweet setting.

The bottom line is that if you enjoy dining as a activity unto itself (ie not just the process by which you refuel), you'll find a natural kinship with Tina and Chip and their whole staff.

• Pros: Excellent service, sophisicated cuisine, super wine list
• Cons: none I can think of...

08/24/08

Chic intimate dining

by MadameN

My husband and I chose this for my (gasp!) 50th birthday! Our table was ready only 5 minutes after the reservation time but we were offered a glass of champagne for that five minute wait which I thought was very considerate. For the appetizer, we had the composed salad and the goats cheese souffle. The salad was sublime - very fine, fresh ingredients, a simple vinaigrette sauce. The souffle was delicious as well. For the main dish, I had the filet mignon and my husband had the lamb. Both meats were cooked to the correct level of doneness and of very good quality. However, they were lukewarm and not as hot as they should have been. The filet had the butter sauce (maitre ?) that is traditionally served with filet mignon. However, perhaps because the beef was not warm enough, the butter was in a disk rather than melted over the top of the filet. We were too stuffed for dessert but did enjoy the cappaccino at the end of the meal.

The service was slow with the cappacino.

Our overall impression was the atmosphere was elegant, the food excellent but the service lagged at times. The calibre of the food was equal to what we have had at Saint Jacques in Raleigh but the service was not. However, it is a relatively new establishment and we certainly intend to dine there again.

• Pros: Calibre of the food (both quality and preparation), Refined atmosphere, Warmth of owner
• Cons: Service is slow at times

02/17/08

Best restaurant we've ever eaten at; it's amazing!

by tammyasu

My husband and I decided to try Bonne Soiree for our Valentine's dinner after reading about the restaurant in Bon Apetit. The food and service were beyond exceptional. For an appetizer, I had an amazing leek and mushroom tart with homemade puff pastry as the base, drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction. My husband ordered a veal terrine. Both were absolutely delicious but the tart was probably the best appetizer I've ever eaten. When it came time for the main course, the food just blew us away. My husband usually doesn't eat duck, but decided to try it and it was by far the BEST meal he's ever had. The duck ($28) literally melted in your mouth and was paired an amazing leek-filled side dish. I had quail ($29) stuffed with foie gras served on a bed of vegetables--everything was cooked and seasoned to absolute perfection and I can't stop raving about how amazing the food is at Bonne Soiree. Our desserts were also excellent--creme brulee and a chocolate hazelnut torte topped with chocolate ganache. The service was also excellent...the staff was very attentive and professional and eager to answer your questions and make recommendations. This is by far the best restaurant we've ever eaten at...it is just up at the top on its own level...a level beyond even Magnolia grill. HIGHLY recommended!!

• Pros: Best food I've ever eaten!
• Cons: None