Potager is one of those unfortunate restaurants where the atmosphere exceeds the product. The setting is a little shabby, a little chic and reminiscent of a French country restaurant. The outside patio is one of the best in the city. The food and the service, however fall well below par. I had been to Potager once before. Some girlfriends took me there for my own little ""anti-shower"" baby shower. It was an idyllic setting for a group of girls drinking, laughing and having a good time on a special day. But even then I was disappointed. I ordered the cassoulet. It was unappealing, lacking in flavor and showed no sign of being a labor of love (which it should be). My friends all pretty much felt the same. I was hesitant to return, but did so after receiving a gift certificate from a good friend that has raved about the place for years. The tilapia, highly recommended by the server was - in a word - boring. It fell short on seasoning, depth and portion - nothing worse than feeling hungry after a meal. The rib-eye, although cooked perfectly, was not like a rib-eye at all (typically all the fat makes this a very tender steak). It was chewy. Too chewy. And as for desserts, we had the cherry crisp. A crisp, whether it cherry or any other fruit, is so simple and soul satisfying that we all love them. If a restaurant is going to put it on a menu, it better be perfect. It was clear, however, the cherry crisp had been cooked well in advance; its temperature was barely warm but the overall flavor just wasn't there. Our empty plates lingered too long, we waited too long for each drink and started each course before the drinks arrived. Overall, we paid just shy of $200 for this meal (two apps, two mains, two desserts), accompanied by two glasses of wine and two beers. Usually, I have no problem forking out this type of cash if the end result justifies it. Potager, however, just didn't.
Pros: Indoor and outdoor setting
Cons: food and service
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