Local Guides World
ayush kalani
7 reviews on 1 places
Rating: 4.5/5
Joel Robuchon is a paragon of luxury dining. The opulent ambiance, characterized by soft lighting, a grand chandelier, and lavish floral arrangements, creates an intimate and refined atmosphere. While the service is generally exceptional, with knowledgeable and attentive staff, occasional lapses in consistency detract slightly from the overall experience.
Adhering to a strict business formal dress code, the restaurant maintains an exclusive air. The wine pairing is expertly curated, though minor timing issues arose on a few occasions.
We opted for the middle tier wine pairing. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and paired each wine perfectly with the corresponding course. While there was a minor hiccup with the wine timing with two of our courses, it didn't significantly dampen the experience.
Our tasting experience began with a delightful prelude: their imported unsalted butter. The butter was silky, velvety, and perfectly balanced. The bread basket was equally impressive, with the mini croissants and milk bread stealing the show.
The first course, la caviar imperial, was a standout. The presentation was breathtaking, and the flavors were even more extraordinary. The rich, briny caviar complemented the delicate crab perfectly, and the cauliflower purée added a creamy texture and subtle sweetness.
The second course, la tomate, was a conceptual masterpiece. The idea of capturing the essence of a perfect tomato in a single dish was admirable, but it didn't quite translate into a truly memorable experience for me.
The third course, les haricots verts, was a delightful surprise. The combination of tender, juicy foie gras, crisp green beans, and the bold wasabi vinaigrette created a symphony of flavors on the palate.
The fourth course, la saint-Jacques, was a symphony of flavors and textures. The sea scallop, though slightly overcooked, was a tender and succulent masterpiece. Its sweetness was the perfect counterpoint to the briny, salty pop of the caviar.
The fifth course, l'euf de caille miroir, was a playful and intriguing creation. The perfectly cooked quail egg, with its runny yolk, was a luxurious addition to the delicate pear rice. While it was a lighter course, it was packed with depth and complexity.
The sixth course, la laitue, was a surprising and delightful departure from the richness of the previous dishes. The lettuce velouté was incredibly smooth and creamy, with a subtle sweetness that balanced the savory notes. The scallion flan added a delicate texture and a hint of onion flavor, while the ricotta tortellini provided a delightful bite. It was a perfect palate cleanser.
The seventh course, la Howard, showcased the Maine lobster that was cooked to perfection- tender and succulent with a sweet and briny flavor.
The eighth course, la black cod, was a revelation. The fish was cooked to perfection, boasting an ethereal melt-in-your-mouth texture. It was undoubtedly the best black cod I've ever tasted.
The ninth course, la canette, showcased duck that was perfectly cooked, with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. The five-spice blend imparted a warm and aromatic complexity, while the sour cherries cut through the richness, providing a delightful balance of flavors. It came with a side of mashed potatoes, which was so creamy and light that we all ended up getting a second round.
The tenth course, la fraise, was a refreshing and delightful course. The Harry's Berries sorbet was intensely flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. It was very light and refreshing.
The penultimate course, la citron yuzu, was a delightful conclusion to the savory portion of our meal.
The grand finale, the Mignardises Cart, was a sweet temptation we couldn't resist. Each petite confection was a burst of flavor and artistry. From the classic crème brûlée to the ethereal panna cotta, every bite was a delightful surprise. The delicate éclairs, exquisite bon bons, and charming macarons were equally impressive. It was a truly indulgent end to an extraordinary meal.
Joel Robuchon is a paragon of luxury dining. The opulent ambiance, characterized by soft lighting, a grand chandelier, and lavish floral arrangements, creates an intimate and refined atmosphere. While the service is generally exceptional, with knowledgeable and attentive staff, occasional lapses in consistency detract slightly from the overall experience.
Adhering to a strict business formal dress code, the restaurant maintains an exclusive air. The wine pairing is expertly curated, though minor timing issues arose on a few occasions.
We opted for the middle tier wine pairing. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and paired each wine perfectly with the corresponding course. While there was a minor hiccup with the wine timing with two of our courses, it didn't significantly dampen the experience.
Our tasting experience began with a delightful prelude: their imported unsalted butter. The butter was silky, velvety, and perfectly balanced. The bread basket was equally impressive, with the mini croissants and milk bread stealing the show.
The first course, la caviar imperial, was a standout. The presentation was breathtaking, and the flavors were even more extraordinary. The rich, briny caviar complemented the delicate crab perfectly, and the cauliflower purée added a creamy texture and subtle sweetness.
The second course, la tomate, was a conceptual masterpiece. The idea of capturing the essence of a perfect tomato in a single dish was admirable, but it didn't quite translate into a truly memorable experience for me.
The third course, les haricots verts, was a delightful surprise. The combination of tender, juicy foie gras, crisp green beans, and the bold wasabi vinaigrette created a symphony of flavors on the palate.
The fourth course, la saint-Jacques, was a symphony of flavors and textures. The sea scallop, though slightly overcooked, was a tender and succulent masterpiece. Its sweetness was the perfect counterpoint to the briny, salty pop of the caviar.
The fifth course, l'euf de caille miroir, was a playful and intriguing creation. The perfectly cooked quail egg, with its runny yolk, was a luxurious addition to the delicate pear rice. While it was a lighter course, it was packed with depth and complexity.
The sixth course, la laitue, was a surprising and delightful departure from the richness of the previous dishes. The lettuce velouté was incredibly smooth and creamy, with a subtle sweetness that balanced the savory notes. The scallion flan added a delicate texture and a hint of onion flavor, while the ricotta tortellini provided a delightful bite. It was a perfect palate cleanser.
The seventh course, la Howard, showcased the Maine lobster that was cooked to perfection- tender and succulent with a sweet and briny flavor.
The eighth course, la black cod, was a revelation. The fish was cooked to perfection, boasting an ethereal melt-in-your-mouth texture. It was undoubtedly the best black cod I've ever tasted.
The ninth course, la canette, showcased duck that was perfectly cooked, with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. The five-spice blend imparted a warm and aromatic complexity, while the sour cherries cut through the richness, providing a delightful balance of flavors. It came with a side of mashed potatoes, which was so creamy and light that we all ended up getting a second round.
The tenth course, la fraise, was a refreshing and delightful course. The Harry's Berries sorbet was intensely flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. It was very light and refreshing.
The penultimate course, la citron yuzu, was a delightful conclusion to the savory portion of our meal.
The grand finale, the Mignardises Cart, was a sweet temptation we couldn't resist. Each petite confection was a burst of flavor and artistry. From the classic crème brûlée to the ethereal panna cotta, every bite was a delightful surprise. The delicate éclairs, exquisite bon bons, and charming macarons were equally impressive. It was a truly indulgent end to an extraordinary meal.
Foreigner Cafe offers a cool vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating. It seems like a great place to relax and enjoy a meal, although I opted for takeout this time.
There was a bit of a wait to order at the counter. It took about 10 minutes to get to the cashier. However, they do have something unique to keep you entertained while you wait - life-sized fake food displays of some of their popular dishes! It's a fun concept that definitely helps with the decision-making process.
Luckily, the wait for the food itself wasn't long. My order came out in about 10 minutes. I tried the salmon eggs Benedict, which came with a side salad and home fries. The portion size was generous - the potatoes were nice and chunky, cooked perfectly, but could have used a bit more seasoning considering their size. The star of the show, though, was the smoked salmon - it was fresh and delicious. The hollandaise sauce was rich and savory, and the bread, while a touch tough, held everything together nicely.
Overall, Foreigner Cafe gets a 4-star review from me. The food was delicious, the atmosphere seemed inviting, and the life-sized food displays were a creative touch. The wait time for takeout could be improved, and the home fries could have benefited from more seasoning, but those are minor bumps in an otherwise positive experience.
There was a bit of a wait to order at the counter. It took about 10 minutes to get to the cashier. However, they do have something unique to keep you entertained while you wait - life-sized fake food displays of some of their popular dishes! It's a fun concept that definitely helps with the decision-making process.
Luckily, the wait for the food itself wasn't long. My order came out in about 10 minutes. I tried the salmon eggs Benedict, which came with a side salad and home fries. The portion size was generous - the potatoes were nice and chunky, cooked perfectly, but could have used a bit more seasoning considering their size. The star of the show, though, was the smoked salmon - it was fresh and delicious. The hollandaise sauce was rich and savory, and the bread, while a touch tough, held everything together nicely.
Overall, Foreigner Cafe gets a 4-star review from me. The food was delicious, the atmosphere seemed inviting, and the life-sized food displays were a creative touch. The wait time for takeout could be improved, and the home fries could have benefited from more seasoning, but those are minor bumps in an otherwise positive experience.
Estiatorio Ornos had an undeniably chic atmosphere. The bright, airy space, high ceilings, white walls with huge wall mirrors and and the velvet cushioned seating felt very modern and inviting.
My friends and I went there on a Friday night and the place was quite busy except the bar area. Soon after we got seated, we had a server walk us through their 2 different menus (their regular menu & their tasting menu) and a sommelier who was very knowledgeable. We gave the sommelier our wine preference, and based on that, he recommended us a wine that was really good.
Note: Their tasting menu is family style, so everyone at the table has to participate. The cost of their tasting menu is $95 pp. I don't know if I'd call it family style because for most dishes, they gave us 3 pieces of each item as there were 3 of us (though I'm not sure if that's how it comes and we just happen to have the right number of people). Also, on Fridays, you get half off on wine if you buy the bottle (not a glass).
My friends and I opted for their tasting menu, and it included the following dishes :
First course-
1. TRIO OF SPREADS (substitution allowed)
tzatzikl, tirokafteri, melitzanosalata, toasted pita
2. DUNGENESS CRAB & ENDIVE
mizithra, 'granch' dressing
3.AHI TUNA CRUDO
falafel crouton, tahina, salata baladi
Second course -
1. TRIO MEZZE
salmon croquettes, zucchini fritters, kefalograviera
2. GRILLED OCTOPUS
santorini capers, white beans, red onion
Third course -
1. OAK-GRILLED DAY BOAT CATCH
santorini capers, oregano, lemon
2. LAMB CHOPS 'PAIDAKIA'
yemista stuffed squash, roasted peppers
3. CHARRED BROCCOLINI
toasted garlic, preserved lemon, chili flake
Fourth course -
1. THE LEMON
candied citrus peel, vanilla bean crumble
2. YIA YIA'S RICE PUDDING
calrose rice, cinnamon crisp
The trio of spreads (hummus, tirokafteri, melitzanosalata) with toasted pita was decent. The hummus was underwhelming, and it had no flavor at all, but the other two spreads were good. Overall, the spreads were fresh.
The Dungeness Crab & Endive with mizithra cheese was a bit of a letdown. The capers were a nice touch, but the endive was overpowering, so the crab flavor didn't stand out as much as we expected.
The Ahi Tuna Crudo was the star of the first course. The falafel crouton added a nice textural contrast, and the tahina and salata baladi dressing brought a cool, refreshing flavor.
The trio mezze was a mixed bag. Their menu mentioned salmon croquettes as one of the items in the trio mezze, but when our order came out, it was replaced with beef croquettes. They didn't bother to clarify that, so we had to explicitly ask and confirm. The beef croquettes were a bit dry and hard, but the zucchini fritters were light and crispy. The kefalograviera cheese was a good addition as well.
The grilled octopus was cooked well, but it felt like an afterthought because the white beans and red onions were in abundance compared to the octopus.
The oak-grilled day boat catch was by far the worst dish of the night. Our server had mentioned that the fish is served boneless, but we kept finding bones in our fish. When we informed the staff about it, they told us that they'll let the chef know, but they didn't offer to replace our dish with a new one (in the hindsight, we should have asked for a replacement).
The lamb chops "paidakia" were cooked perfectly. It was very juicy, but the yemista (stuffed squash) was a bit underseasoned. The charred broccolini with toasted garlic was a nice side dish.
The lemon dessert was an interesting concept. It was very well presented, but the citrus flavor was a bit too overpowering. It needed something to balance out the sourness.
Yia Yia's rice pudding was comforting and familiar, a nice way to end the meal.
After we were done eating, we asked our server to pack the rest of the fish for us to take home, but they somehow threw it away. The chef was willing to prepare another one for us, but we asked them to take it off our bill instead, and they were very nice about it.
Overall, Estiatorio Ornos had its moments, but the i
My friends and I went there on a Friday night and the place was quite busy except the bar area. Soon after we got seated, we had a server walk us through their 2 different menus (their regular menu & their tasting menu) and a sommelier who was very knowledgeable. We gave the sommelier our wine preference, and based on that, he recommended us a wine that was really good.
Note: Their tasting menu is family style, so everyone at the table has to participate. The cost of their tasting menu is $95 pp. I don't know if I'd call it family style because for most dishes, they gave us 3 pieces of each item as there were 3 of us (though I'm not sure if that's how it comes and we just happen to have the right number of people). Also, on Fridays, you get half off on wine if you buy the bottle (not a glass).
My friends and I opted for their tasting menu, and it included the following dishes :
First course-
1. TRIO OF SPREADS (substitution allowed)
tzatzikl, tirokafteri, melitzanosalata, toasted pita
2. DUNGENESS CRAB & ENDIVE
mizithra, 'granch' dressing
3.AHI TUNA CRUDO
falafel crouton, tahina, salata baladi
Second course -
1. TRIO MEZZE
salmon croquettes, zucchini fritters, kefalograviera
2. GRILLED OCTOPUS
santorini capers, white beans, red onion
Third course -
1. OAK-GRILLED DAY BOAT CATCH
santorini capers, oregano, lemon
2. LAMB CHOPS 'PAIDAKIA'
yemista stuffed squash, roasted peppers
3. CHARRED BROCCOLINI
toasted garlic, preserved lemon, chili flake
Fourth course -
1. THE LEMON
candied citrus peel, vanilla bean crumble
2. YIA YIA'S RICE PUDDING
calrose rice, cinnamon crisp
The trio of spreads (hummus, tirokafteri, melitzanosalata) with toasted pita was decent. The hummus was underwhelming, and it had no flavor at all, but the other two spreads were good. Overall, the spreads were fresh.
The Dungeness Crab & Endive with mizithra cheese was a bit of a letdown. The capers were a nice touch, but the endive was overpowering, so the crab flavor didn't stand out as much as we expected.
The Ahi Tuna Crudo was the star of the first course. The falafel crouton added a nice textural contrast, and the tahina and salata baladi dressing brought a cool, refreshing flavor.
The trio mezze was a mixed bag. Their menu mentioned salmon croquettes as one of the items in the trio mezze, but when our order came out, it was replaced with beef croquettes. They didn't bother to clarify that, so we had to explicitly ask and confirm. The beef croquettes were a bit dry and hard, but the zucchini fritters were light and crispy. The kefalograviera cheese was a good addition as well.
The grilled octopus was cooked well, but it felt like an afterthought because the white beans and red onions were in abundance compared to the octopus.
The oak-grilled day boat catch was by far the worst dish of the night. Our server had mentioned that the fish is served boneless, but we kept finding bones in our fish. When we informed the staff about it, they told us that they'll let the chef know, but they didn't offer to replace our dish with a new one (in the hindsight, we should have asked for a replacement).
The lamb chops "paidakia" were cooked perfectly. It was very juicy, but the yemista (stuffed squash) was a bit underseasoned. The charred broccolini with toasted garlic was a nice side dish.
The lemon dessert was an interesting concept. It was very well presented, but the citrus flavor was a bit too overpowering. It needed something to balance out the sourness.
Yia Yia's rice pudding was comforting and familiar, a nice way to end the meal.
After we were done eating, we asked our server to pack the rest of the fish for us to take home, but they somehow threw it away. The chef was willing to prepare another one for us, but we asked them to take it off our bill instead, and they were very nice about it.
Overall, Estiatorio Ornos had its moments, but the i
Overall, I would give Berber a 2.5 out of 5 stars, but Google doesn't allow decimal rating, so I'm rounding it down to 2 (it's really hard for me to justify a 3 star rating).
Berber is a Moroccan restaurant that offers a unique dining experience with live music and dancing. My friends and I went to Berber for the restaurant week. They had 2 prix-fixe menus, one with 4 courses and another one with 5. The 5 course menu had roasted branzino in addition to everything on the 4 course menu.
We opted for the 5-course prix-fixe menu, which started with a butternut squash soup served with dukkah spice and Greek yogurt. The soup was creamy and flavorful, and the dukkah spice added a nice nutty crunch.
Next, we had the Berber salad, which consisted of county line mixed greens, heirloom beets, and walnut balsamic dressing. The salad was fresh, and the beets were a nice touch, but it was slightly lacking in flavor. I wish there were more pomegranates.
The roasted branzino was served with raisins chermoula and roasted baby Yukon potatoes. The branzino was cooked well, but it wasn't deboned properly. My friend and I had a few bones in our branzino dish. The chermoula added a bright and flavorful touch, but there wasn't enough of it, and the fish lacked flavors and seasoning. The potatoes were delicious and perfectly cooked.
You could tell the lamb shanks were cooked well because the meat was falling off the bone. Though I will say the lamb was a bit gamey for my liking.
For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse cake, which was served with cardamom cream and raspberry sorbet. The mousse was rich. The cardamom cream added a nice complexity and was definitely a dominant flavor in the dessert. If you don't like cardamom, then you may not enjoy this dessert. The raspberry sorbet was a refreshing contrast to the chocolate mousse, and it had a very smooth texture.
We also got a free cocktail for checking in online on Yelp. We tried sarab and Moroccan 75, and they both were quite bitter (not our taste preference).
The service was a bit slow at times. We had to wait quite a bit between courses and had to constantly ask our waiter for a water refill.
The restaurant was full of people, and the music was loud, but it was easy to have a conversation with my friends at the table.
The food wasn't for me personally, but the service was okay, and the atmosphere was great.
Berber is a Moroccan restaurant that offers a unique dining experience with live music and dancing. My friends and I went to Berber for the restaurant week. They had 2 prix-fixe menus, one with 4 courses and another one with 5. The 5 course menu had roasted branzino in addition to everything on the 4 course menu.
We opted for the 5-course prix-fixe menu, which started with a butternut squash soup served with dukkah spice and Greek yogurt. The soup was creamy and flavorful, and the dukkah spice added a nice nutty crunch.
Next, we had the Berber salad, which consisted of county line mixed greens, heirloom beets, and walnut balsamic dressing. The salad was fresh, and the beets were a nice touch, but it was slightly lacking in flavor. I wish there were more pomegranates.
The roasted branzino was served with raisins chermoula and roasted baby Yukon potatoes. The branzino was cooked well, but it wasn't deboned properly. My friend and I had a few bones in our branzino dish. The chermoula added a bright and flavorful touch, but there wasn't enough of it, and the fish lacked flavors and seasoning. The potatoes were delicious and perfectly cooked.
You could tell the lamb shanks were cooked well because the meat was falling off the bone. Though I will say the lamb was a bit gamey for my liking.
For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse cake, which was served with cardamom cream and raspberry sorbet. The mousse was rich. The cardamom cream added a nice complexity and was definitely a dominant flavor in the dessert. If you don't like cardamom, then you may not enjoy this dessert. The raspberry sorbet was a refreshing contrast to the chocolate mousse, and it had a very smooth texture.
We also got a free cocktail for checking in online on Yelp. We tried sarab and Moroccan 75, and they both were quite bitter (not our taste preference).
The service was a bit slow at times. We had to wait quite a bit between courses and had to constantly ask our waiter for a water refill.
The restaurant was full of people, and the music was loud, but it was easy to have a conversation with my friends at the table.
The food wasn't for me personally, but the service was okay, and the atmosphere was great.
Service was slow, probably because they were understaffed. But the lady who led the tasting was super sweet. We were seated inside because all the outside seating was full. They have 3 different flights- reds, whites, and mixed. Each flight is $20+taxes. All their reds were smooth and buttery rather than dry. I think overall it was okay an okay experience.