Some friends and I went to the fireplace a few nights back. I've been wanting to try it for a long time now, as it looks so cozy inside. Much to my dismay, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. We were greeted by a hostess at the top of the stairs, far from the front door who waved us in her direction. It seemed rather abrupt. Since the rest of our party was not there, she invited us to have a drink at the desolate bar. Design-wise, the bar is too wide to promote a comfortable feeling. But that was nothing compared to the fact that there was not a bartender. The hostess doubled as a bartender and took forever to take our drink order and then make our rather uninspiring cocktails. (A manager just stood by) We were seated in the main dining room and had a nice view of the street and the other tables. The menu had stalwart items like roasted chicken, a pork chop on mashed potatoes, and some kind of seared fish, among other things. Each sounded good, but nothing was terribly innovative. I just feel like this place is stuck in the near past. Our corn chowder was good, but again, it was just that. It wasn't served piping hot, so that may have played a role in my opinion. The pork loin was flavorful and well-prepared, but putting it on plain mashed potatoes just did not inspire me. I really enjoyed the small ravioli filled with fresh peas (they must've been right out of the garden) very much, though it was confusing as to how they were to relate to the fish (I forget what kind). The desserts were incredible. I had a berry tart that was so sweet and full of berry goodness and mixed perfectly with the ice cream served alongside it.
Pros: Great desserts
Cons: Good, but not great food. Average service.
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