Blue Plate

Argyle style flooring and cookbook cover posters decorate the walls; classic French tunes play in the background, while a stainless steel bar and an open kitchen dominate the 50 seat room. Blue Plate is lovely and quaint with several charming French bistro elements and... one, not so much.

Blue Plate takes pride in being Roncesvalles' answer to comfort food with a twist. That being said, my guest and I decided to dine on a special themed evening; a Julia Child-inspired 4-course, $30 prix fixe dinner as prepared by Chef and co-owner Julia Young. What better way to indulge in comfort food inspired by a master and prepared by a seasoned chef?

A voluminous amount of ingredients sitting atop a rather small piece of toasted baguette made eating the tomato-basil bruschetta a bit messy. But, we didn't mind as it was full of fantastic flavour and a great start to our meal.

Nothing screams French classic comfort more than French Onion Soup. Presented beautifully, two crispy, elegantly placed pieces of baguette in the middle of the soup, topped with a blend of old cheddar and gruyere nicely balanced the flavour of the soup.

Then we got down to business. After all, what's a Julia Child-inspired evening without Beef Bourguignon, roasted mini potatoes and vegetables? Rich and hearty, it was the most tantalizingly tender meat I've had in recent memory and perfect on this chilly, autumn night. However, the dish took an unexpected turn as the last few bites became increasingly salty. It didn't ruin the experience but it didn't end on as high a note as we anticipated either.

The desserts made up for it, as the Chocolate Layer Cake with a scoop of raspberry sorbet was to die for, while the Apple Tarte Tatin was delicate and filling.

The bill was brought to our table before we had a chance to put sugar in our tea and coffee. Considering the restaurant had only a handful of patrons and no new customers in sight, feeling rushed to finish up and pay showed bad timing and etiquette. After all, it's the minor details of restaurant service that make a difference too.

Price: Dinner for 2 with tax and tip, $100-$120
Atmosphere: Casual
Wheelchair Access: No
Surprise, Surprise:  Co-Owner Melissa Fox-Revett, former owner of BoHo, same location.

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