Bitten - appetizer & dessert bistro

Atmosphere: 4 out of 5
Service: 3 out of 5
Food: 3.5 out of 5

I like downtown restaurants...well at least the idea of downtown restaurants. The chains (chili`s, montana`s etc) can stay with the big box stores. The thing about downtown is of course parking...and the idea that it isn`t safe to be downtown at night. This is not something I tend to believe, however there is a weird vibe in downtown Regina when it is dark, like the streets have been rolled up and you should be tucked safely in your home. Regardless, we ventured out.

I hadn`t been in the building since it was a New Orlean`s styled restaurant a number of years ago. The atmosphere is nice, the tables are all pub height which I like but they are a little big and we couldn`t sit opposite each other but near the corner just so we could talk. This caused some upset the whole service (waitress was constantly handing things over the large table including the candle and drinks). I also should have switched chairs as my footrest seemed to be broken off which caused my feet to dangle and was soon a little uncomfortable.

The restaurant itself is narrow and long and the addition of the counter on one side of the restaurant to simulate a bar takes that much more room from the walking spaces so it is a little tight in there.

The menu has a nice selection of appetizers and desserts and it looks like a nice selection of cocktails and martinis - too bad we are not much of drinkers.

The starter selection is very nice - we tried the Korean Beef BBQ letuce wraps which were very tender and had excellent flavour.

The entreés are few, mostly I assume because they are an appy/desert place and not an entreé place. I ordered one of the pizzas (Honey Dijon Chicken) which had very nice flavours and came with choice of side (cesear salad in my case). The salad was good but nothing that stood out. It was definitely better than some I have had but not near the quality of others. My partner in dinning crime had the Prosciutto & Brie Stuffed Chicken Breasts with the bacon wrapped potatoes. The chicken was nice - smooth brie and salty prosciutto, but why such a large portion of meat (2 breasts)?!? The bacon wrapped fingerling potatoes had some promise but not cooked long enough so potatoes were not quite done and bacon on the soft side.

Related to atmosphere but maybe just petty on my side - the tableware...I guess when I am prepared to pay in the mid/high range for a nice meal out I expect a few little things to accompany my meal...like napkins. Having your cutlery wrapped in your napkin is fine at a chain, but I put this restaurant in a higher category and expected a nicer service (napkins - cloth preferably- on tables with silverware ontop - not knife and fork wrapped in paper napkin and taped together). I also expected a little higher quality plates and actual silverware. This really does seem bitchy but I do judge the quality of a restaurant by the weight of their silverware. The light aluminum stuff you get from the bottom end restaurant supply isn't what I think.

Dessert was again good but nothing fabulous. They have a very nice selection but I noticed no fruit and cheese board which I would be tempted if having a night of appy`s with friends. I should have went with my first instinct of cheesecake but went with the cremé brulé. Nice and smooth but the sugar was a little on the burnt side. I do wish I would have tried one of their flambé or cheesecakes.

I will most likely go back but not for a regular supper - I think it would be a great lunch downtown (when they also serve burgers or wraps) or just drinks appy`s and dessert (which was the original concept for the restaurant). If you are looking for a supper place, I would look elsewhere, but if you are looking for a place to have drinks and appy`s after work, the theatre or a movie then this is a good choice to unwind.

Upstairs Fondue Restaurant (Saskatoon)

Atmosphere: 3.5 out of 5

Service: 5 our of 5

Food: 4 out of 5

Okay, I'm actually starting the blog on Regina restaurants with a review of a Saskatoon restaurant.  We were in Saskatoon for convention last week and we decided to finally try the Upstairs Fondue Restaurant (http://www.theupstairsfondue.ca/) at 613 8th Street East.  

The place is a slightly out of the way and a little hidden - I had noticed the sign before while traveling down 8th Street heading toward Broadway, but it is easy to miss.  Pulling in was a bit of driving gymnastics and parking is limited, but Patrons do park in the Running Room's parking lot when it's closed.  

When we first entered, I was a little confused on layout - bathrooms are the first thing you see - thought I entered a back door.  Kitchen and the reservation counter are downstairs, and as the name suggests, the dining room is upstairs - with a flight of stairs that is not well lit.  Safety and accessibility concerns aside this was not a problem for us but if you have mobility issues this might be cause for concern.  The dining room is intimate, maybe 10 tables, total seating of about 30.  It is nicely decorated - I love the lighting fixtures - not over the top or trying to be too trendy.  For music they opted for Sirius/XM station set to world/latin music.  I enjoyed that touch (happy I didn't have to listen to commercials on regular radio and set a nice tone to the evening).

The Menu looks busy - which is a little odd because, although you get a number of choices, it is not a wide menu - it's a fondue restaurant after all.  I would recommend a revamping of the menu layout with the options cleanly laid out and a separate wine list.  You can order separate fondues (cheese, entree or desert) or you can order the 4 course meal which runs about $40/person - that's the route we went.

First course - soup or salad.  We wanted to mix this up so one of us got the mushroom soup and the other the broccoli almond salad.  The soup was not too thick and had a great earthy flavour with ample fresh cut mushrooms.  The salad had lots of crunch with broccoli, almonds and peas and a sweet dressing that made the broccoli pop.  The serving size was quite ample as well.

Cheese Course - your choice of 2 different cheese or a non-dairy alternative (for the vegan's out there I guess).  We chose the Garlic Cheddar which was served with bread cubes, vegetables & apples.  A couple share the fondue itself but they serve the dippables on separate plates.  The fondue had a nice bitterness like horseradish and a garlic flavour that didn't overpower.  The server offered more bread/veggies to finish up the fondue itself.

Entree - Although a fondue place, they offered hot rock in addition to oil or broth fondue.  Maybe next time for the hot rock but we went with the oil fondue.  We each choose 2 meat and one veggie - they also have some seasonal specials and Elk was on the menu.  Elk, Pork tenderloin, Teriyaki beef tenderloin, and chicken was ordered up.  All is served with a breading mixture and a variety of dips from dijon mustard to hot sauce and a side of dill potatoes.

I've had hotpot before but this was the first time for an oil fondue.   Cooking of course is a bit tricky - lighting provided it's challenges to see if your meat is done, and the odd oil pop did cause a couple of mild jumps at the table.  As for the food, I must say the elk was very nice and the teriyaki beef is a must.  I liked the variety of dips but I was hoping for a bit more unique mixtures to try out.  The potatoes were good, but I would suggest fewer potatoes and more veggies.  The size of the table was also a bit of a challenge with a large fondue pot, a number of dips, 2 plates and various glasses, room was at a premium. 

Desert - well of course here comes the chocolate.  With a choice of 5 different chocolate flavours or butterscotch (peanut butter cup was this nights choice) -  it came with melon, pineapple, pretzels, banana and crispy squares.  I was hopping for a slightly better mixture of fruit (apples, strawberries) and maybe a nice pound cake but the actual fondue was smooth and delicious.  I think I will try the special chocolate with a shot of liqueur next time.

For those who know their wine, they have a nice wine selection ranging from $30-$80/bottle.  I had a nice zinfandel from BC which was nice with the cheese and entree fondues. 

The service was exceptional.  The waiter was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Oh and remember to tip - our waiter made a lot of trips up that stairway with hot fondue and loaded plates of food.

I don't think this is a place I would visit weekly, or even monthly...but as a special occasion place this is fun and intimate.

Overall, the restaurant is an experience and not just a meal.  It is on the pricey side of $40 a person plus drinks, but for a 2hour+ dining experience, the fun of fondue and relaxing with good food and friends it is well worth it.  

In it for the food...

I was encouraged to start blogging my reviews of restaurants from around Regina - probably so I would stop complaining or raving to my significant other :-). 

As it says in the intro, I'm not a foodie - I'm not looking for the perfect pairing (since I only seldom drink) - but I am looking for a dining experience that I will enjoy.  This may sound simple but I have found that either the food, atmosphere, or more often than not, the service, can ruin that experience.

Now I may be recreating the wheel here - there are great review sites which tend to be hit or miss; there are other blogs reviewing Regina restaurants, which are good - but I think what will distinguish this blog is that I am (sadly?) of a middle aged generation with no kids - a niche market granted - that is not looking for hip, cool or the next place to be.  I want a good meal with good service.

I will be chronically the restaurants that I frequent with friends, alone or with my husband.  Some may be chains (although I have almost given up hope), local restaurants, brew pubs/sport bars or anything else that hits my fancy.  If nothing else, I hope this will expand my horizons to try some out of the way places and enjoy the tastes up for offer in Regina.