Flipping through the 1961 Michelin Italy guide (the Red Book) while pondering what to have for dinner, I already felt that there was something special about Canteen, and I was right. From the simple decor to the amazing food and better than average coffee, Canteen is a force to be reckoned with if you're looking for modern interpretations of comfort food.
Dinner started with a drink, which tonight would be beer - a $6 bottle of Pilsner Urquell (yeowch!), followed by a challah dinner roll and a heavenly creme of green onion soup with prawns. I haven't had a cream soup this good since leaving Munich.
The main courses were all in the mid $20s. I elected to have the poached duck breast with lentils and a mustard crust - rich and flavorful without the grease that accompanies most preparations of this tasty bird. I finished with the vanilla souffle and a cappuccino.
Unlike many restaurants, Canteen selects two different sets of beans: Jeremiah's Pick for the drip coffee and Mr. Espresso for the espresso drinks. Both were well selected for their purpose.
The wrap up:
Service: 4 of 5. The waiter was knowledgable, friendly and truly interested in everyone's dining experience. The service was prompt but professional, considering they had a strict 90 minute seating policy. Providing a bottle of water at every table to reduce the load on the staff is brilliant. The only rub is that the bus-woman could have been a little more personable.
Food: 5 out of 5. Exactly what you expect - reinterpreted classic American comfort food.
Prices: 4 out of 5. The beer was outrageously priced, but the food was appropriately priced based on the great portion size and overall quality of the daily-changing menu.
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