On our latest trek into the city we tried the new Powerhouse. I would describe it as a very good place that will be a can't-miss place once it loosens up and the service becomes as inviting as the food. Reading that the building used to be a working powerhouse with boilers and generators, our initial impression was that the interior was a little austere. Tasteful and grown-up, yet uptight. It would benefit from a little bit of soul and spontaneity. Our server was nice and she answered our questions adeptly, though she seemed nervous. We had a hard time unwinding until the food started arriving. Powerhouse subscribes to the small food/big plate approach, but the warmth, and the creativity and the passion of the chef really came through. For appetizers, my friends had the lobster risotto and it was great to actually see some lobster. I had the delicious sweet onion soup, which they poured into my bowl at the table. For my entree, I had the venison and it was phenomenal! The sommelier recommended a wine that was just perfect, though his demeanor was also a little tense. For desserts we split the sweet potato donuts and the panna cotta, and both were luscious and tasty. Perfect for a cold winter night. The food overall was absolutely excellent. Everyone on staff seemed to be great at their jobs and hardworking, yet their nervousness made it hard for us to really relax. While we appreciated their professionalism, a few friendly smiles would have warmed things up for us a great deal. The bar looked a little more laid-back.
Pros: food and drinks
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