Queer Quisine - Cuvee World Bistro

Hello ladies! I missed my review last week because I was so incredibly busy I was living off fast food for the most part, so I'm going to have to dig up a past review from my archives. Don't worry, I'll be back in the swing of things next week!

My first time eating at Cuvee was in August of last year. It was another one of those places that I had passed on a regular basis and yet never actually tried. My dinner date and I got there around 6pm and the restaurant was practically empty. This changed by the time we left, however, as late diners began to fill up the other tables. The atmosphere is very bistro-ish and quite intimate... if you get the right table. We sat at one of those extended booths, where they line a dozen or so 2-person tables that have the booth on one side and a chair on the other. When we first sat down, there was only one other table occupied and it was two tables away so we were able to have a nice, intimate meal. However I did see a potential issue if it got much busier. You'd practically be bumping elbows with the table next to you, making conversation of an intimate nature a little difficult. I'd recommend getting a table on the floor or near the window if you can.

Our server was quick, very polite and honest in her recommendations. My dinner partner was a vegetarian and luckily there were quite a few options for her. Our server asked us if we'd like bread and butter and once we said yes we had a plate on our table within minutes. My biggest pet peeve with restaurants is that they always serve hard butter with soft bread. Soft butter, people!! Soft butter! Unfortunately, despite the great bread the butter was, in fact, hard. But it did soften after sitting a bit. The bread was great, by the way!

We started off with the Queso Fundido as an appetiser (highly recommended by our server) and, in my opinion, it lived up to our expectations. The presentation was good, but not over the top. The Chihuahua Cheese melded its flavour perfectly with the roasted poblanos and tomato. The flour tortillas were just the right size and fresh. The perfect sized starter for two people.

For my entree, I got the Tamarind Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Mango Salsa and Coconut Infused Rice. My date got the Wild Mushroom Cakes over Avacado Pesto and Red Pepper Coulis (found in the appetisers). I had a bite of hers and though they were very good, they left an aftertaste that I couldn't get rid of. She was very happy with them, though, and said she would recommend them.

My tenderloin was excellent! Prepared just as I asked, it was tender and full of flavour. The hint of tamarind with the mango salsa and coconut rice was amazing! The three flavours complimented each other so well, I found myself digging around for more chunks of mango to add to my fork. It was a good sized portion that, after the bread and Queso, I couldn't finish.

On to dessert, often my favourite part of a meal. We opted for the Bumbleberries and I think we made the right choice! Such an interesting juxtapostion of sweet and savory it was the perfect way to end an already delicious meal. A combination of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries done in a brown sugar glaze over vanilla ice cream that is drizzled with balsamic glaze and is covered with a dusting of cracked black pepper. Yes, I said black pepper. Trust me, it's worth trying.

All in all, I think it was a great dining experience that I would have no problem repeating. Granted, there aren't very many vegetarian options on the entree menu, but there are enough on the appetisers to satisfy any non-meat-eating person. Next time I plan on trying the Mahogany Roasted Duck and the Jumbo Roasted Garlic to start. If I go for dinner. Lunch is a whole other story!

One note: if you go for dinner I would highly recommend making reservations. It gets busy fast, and this way you can be sure you get a good table.

Cuvee World Bistro: 8 out of 10

Bon appetite!