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.