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Satisfying a Craving
On Monday, myself and several friends from work decided to try out a restaurant that I’ve been hoping to visit for quite some time now. L’Ecole is attached to the French Culinary Institute, a highly respected cooking school here in the city. Chefs training at the school spend time at the restaurant, learning on the job, but make no mistake, their skills are already quite formidable. In fact, I was told that a student chef by the name of Patrick Farrell was the person responsible for creating the entire prefix menu that we were served from

The Prefix
Dinner at L’Ecole was served from a four-course prefix menu with an appetizer, main course, sorbet and dessert, all for $40. I’d heard the portions were sizeable, so we all ordered different courses hoping to try a little of everything. I’m pleased to say, we weren’t disappointed.

Among the delicious creations we tried, the soup that was served as an appetizer was by far the most amazing dish. Complex, smooth, rich and delicious, the soup set off an explosion of flavor on my pallet that I won’t soon forget. The downside was that given how rich it was, the portion was perhaps a little too generous. Though we all shared, the people who ordered it has some trouble finish. This was actually true of many of the dishes, though I always say that its better to have too much than too little.

The other highlight in my mind was the duck, which was served in two parts: dark meat on the bone, and light meat breaded and filleted. Both were incredibly tender, and each portion had a distinct flavor which perfectly complimented the dish as a whole.

After the main course, a pallet cleansing sorbet of pomegranate and apple-cider was offered before dessert. By the time the creme broule, cheesecakes and fruit tarts came out, we delightfully full but just to taste the sweet things in front of us was well worth the effort.

The Atmosphere
The decor was simple but elegant, and the service was spectacular. We spent nearly two hours eating, drinking, laughing and never felt rushed or bored. This would be a perfect destination, methinks, for a nice but not totally over-the-top dinner date.

The Bottom Line
L’ecole was exceptional in all respects. I really can’t sing their praises enough. The service was impeccable and the food was five-star quality, while the price was quite modest considering the dining experience. I’ll definitely be back here again when they rotate the menu, which I’m told happens about once every six weeks as new chefs rotate in the kitchen. I suggest everyone give this place a try. I promise you’ll leave with a smile!