Tableau Bar Bistro

Every time Mother’s Day nears, I always find myself in a rut on deciding where to go for brunch as I want to commemorate my mom’s efforts with an extravagant feast. Typically we go to a buffet, but this year however, we settled for a restaurant – Tableau. The main deciding factor on going here was that I had a gift card here and therefore, I didn’t have to worry about my wallet crying on me.The Apple and Pear Soufflé Pancake was one of the Mother’s Day specials and it definitely sounded better on print. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the presentation of the batter in the little mould, but the taste was a complete miss for me. The batter was flavourless and rather dense for what it should have been, with very few pieces of fruit at the bottom. Without the side accompaniment of the coulis, I don’t know how I would have finished the dish. The Steak & Eggs were very much enjoyed by my little sister. I had a little taste and I really enjoyed the sauce used – Most restaurants make it quite sweet and acidic, but the one here works really well with the ingredients of the dish. It also comes with a heaping basket of fries that were thin and crispy.The Chicken & Waffles for my brother.The Omelet ordered for my mother – fell in love with the bread served on this plate.

 

Hoping you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day!

 

Tableau Bar Bistro and Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe

Having swept numerous Golden Plates 2013 awards, I was curious to see if Tableau would live up to its hype on my visit. I arrived on a Thursday night and definitely could definitely sense the liveliness of the restaurant. The atmosphere of this bistro is unpretentious and exudes the perfect balance of elegance and comfort, a great environment for a date night with loved ones. I remember reading an article by Mia Stainsby of her raving about the gnocchi offered here a while back so I settled on this for my main course after much deliberation. I thought that the flavours were well executed (though I would have loved a stronger basil taste) and not too heavy on the tastebuds after a few bites in. The gnocchi was nicely pan-fried and pillowy, just how it should be. I would have loved the use of toasted pine nuts though, as it would help elevate the dish and provide more texture.

I did find the service here quite disorganized. My friend and I weren’t offered bread to start, even though all the other tables around us were. As well, in comparison to the other parties near us, our server did not seem too knowledgable or interested in providing his attention to us. Though I did have a lovely evening at Tableau with my friend, I’ve certainly had better experiences at other restaurants.

After our dinner date at Tableau, we headed to Thierry for some desserts as it’s conveniently located nearby. We ordered the Tiramisu and the Chocolate Marquise. They were both delicious, but as I had already devoured a drink, the gnocchi, and some flatbread from my friend, my stomach was at its full capacity and unfortunately, I could not appreciate the flavours. The shell of the marquise is very hard and there definitely needs to be some arm work in order to crack the chocolate exterior. The desserts were not too sweet which was nice, but I would not recommend getting both of them because they are both extremely rich. If you are ever in the neighbourhood, Thierry is great cafe to grab a late treat at or even people watch as it is located in the heart of the shopping scene of downtown.