My girlfriend is finishing her exams this week, and on the weekend I wanted to take her someplace nice. We have been to Chien Noir, it was nice (better since they brought the duck poutine back, and the truffle dessert is excellent) but that isabout it, just nice, and we have been there a couple times already.
We have also been to AquaTerra recently, and highly recommend it. They had a wine matching 4 course meal there that was just excellent! A lot of fun, the sommelier tells you about the wine, rather then just pouring it, and the food was good.
So I want to bring her to a different nice restaurant. I have heard good things about both Casa Domenica and Bistro Stephan, but I am also curious about “The wandering Fork” which is apparently a culinary school. Culinary schools can be surprisingly excellent dinner choices, but I know of no one who has actually been there. Any opinions out there on the net?
As well, does anyone know if any of the above that we have not been to offer a similar dining experience to AquaTerra? Where the experts match the wine and food for you? That was a lot of fun. Thanks.
These are just some of my personal favorites. There are many good restaurants in Kingston, perhaps too many to try them all. If your girlfriend goes to school here, that may also be a good resource for referrals. The downtown core has many excellent dining places and the students know most of them.
Not a wine person though, so I can’t help you with that.
She does go to Queens. Most of the restaurants that I listed, with the exception of “The Wandering Fork” are known as the ‘nice’ restaurants in Kingston, but her being a student she is somewhat limited in referrals from other Kingstonites, and potentially things that are not downtown. I am looking for fancy shmancy as she will be be finishing the 1st semester of her 2nd year of Med School, and in my books that means she deserves a nice night out.
“The Wandering Fork” is on the southside (I believe, directionally challenged) of that weird concession/princess fork area near a Canadian Tire and an actual A&W store.
Thanks for the tips though, I personally have not heard of a couple of them (I do not however live in Kingston, I just visit on weekends).
I just checked the phone book and can’t find a listing for “The Wandering Fork” or any culinary schools. However that might only mean that it’s new enough to not have made the listing deadline.
The restaurants I mentioned would be considered “high end” and I don’t think she would be disappointed in any of them.
After reading your above post, were I in your situation, I would be leaning towards The Cavalier Room or Bistro Stefan. Come to think of it, I seem to remember a wine list on the table in both establishments.
Thanks for the well wishes. I am leaning towards Bistro Stefan, but that could be mostly because I have not heard of “The Cavalier Room”, ,and can’t seem to find a menu online for it (maybe my google-fu is taking the day off).
Here is a link for “The Wandering Fork” if you are interested, and care to do any research for me :). If you do end up going, any reports would be appreciated. I am more then happy to do the same. It is where I said it was, basically. Its on Bath Rd.
I don’t know if it qualifies as “fancy-schmancy”, but I have always liked Chez Piggy on Princess Street - really good, interesting food. Their companion bakery, Pan Chancho, is a few doors down.
Interesting sidenote - the restaurant was owned and operated by the late Zal Yanofsky, formerly of The Lovin’ Spoonful .
Well color me stupid!
It’s Travel lodge , Not Travel loge. I didn’t realize I’d omitted the all important D until I read your last post.
Aaaanyhooo, if you Google - Travel Lodge Kingston. ca , they do have a web site. Sorry, I don’t know how to do the linky thing. I keep telling myself I should learn, if for no other reason than my self-respect but,Oh well .
There’s no menu but it gives you a good impression of what you are getting into.
And I can heartily endorse The Piggy also. Outstanding. One of those “downtown” places I mentioned earlier.
As well, I will check out Liason ( yes it’s listed ) but not in time to help you for this w/e. Certainly looks interesting from the site.
We went to Bistro Stefan. It was a good time, the food was good, the service was excellent. We both thought the decor left something to be desired, but we thought it was meant to look like a “real” bistro, and since neither of us have been to one (like in France) that can’t be considered a strike against.
To begin with we had the “Cashew, coconut, peppercorn crusted brie with
honeyed flour tortilla chips, mango & pineapple salsa” which was quite yummy.
She had the lamb, and I had the signature steak. Both of us enjoyed our dinner, thought it was quite nice, but not spectacular.
One of the nicest things about the meal was they brought out these little treats to begin with, to “open the palate” or something like that. It was smoked salmon, with Dill served on a cracker of some sort. It was quite nice. As well, after we had decided not to get desert, they brought out 2 chocolate covered strawberries as “we couldn’t leave without a little something”. We both thought that was an excellent little bonus.
Overall our vote goes to AquaTerra. The atmosphere is more romantic, the lighting darker and it right on the water, the food was better, but not yards ahead. We both quite enjoyed the food at both places. The service at both was quite proffessional and well done, with Bistro Stefan probably winning out due to the little things. Overall the rankings of the 3 fancyshmany restaurants that we have been to go:
AquaTerra: Romantic Atmosphere, quality food and service, fun wine tasting
Bistro Stefan: decor was ok at best, quality food and service, nice wine list
Chein Noir: duck poutine!
The next nice dinner we go to I am leaning towards the “wandering fork” mostly because the name and culinary school intrigues me.
If I may suggest for next time, “Wooden Heads Pizza” on Ontario Street is amazing. Yes, it serves gourmet wood-fire pizza, but it also serves a variety of other delicious dishes, all in a sexy, classe candlelit setting.
And they only hire unbelievably beautiful people.
It isn’t a fancy-schmancy place, but it’s very nice. Nice enough to wear your dress pants and a button-down shirt. I love it.
I know about woodenheads. I personally I have not been there, but it was not considered. I suppose pizza isn’t fancy enough. No worries about not mentioning the decor. She did want to try Bistro Stefan, and I was more then happy to take her there.
I promise to post about “The Wandering Fork” whenever we do go. Talk to you later!
See ya.