Jarnac

05/18/09

excellent food

by Lucyydan82

The food is excellent, the service superior and the atmosphere is a perfect place for lovers, friends or family get togethers. It is clear the owners really care about what they are doing and want you to enjoy your dining experience.

01/20/09

Adorable corner bistro, delicious food

by embrands

Jarnac was a quaint, classy, french bistro with reasonable prices and more excellent food. The cassoulette was superb, as were all of the starters we sampled. The salads were fresh, and the fish was cooked to perfection. Their wine list was extensive and paired well with their fare. If you don't know what to get, ask any one of the knowledgeable wait staff. It seems much more like you are walking into a family's living room and kitchen at home than going out to a restaurant.

• Pros: Great food, adorable ambiance

01/07/09

french food (but not like THAT!) Part 2

by prospect247

This is when the "french" aspect really came in to focus. This is not your typical night "haute". The formalities are revered at Jarnac but not fastidiously observed, as though we all KNEW the knights who dined to either side, but nary a "Sir" was heard all evening. And so it was with the food. To call it spare may mislead at first, but this must be said, if you come to Jarnac, leave your pretensions at home. If you need your maitre 'd with a side of contempt - and your hand-fed mozart-listening all organic nondenominational veal with a double portion of hand-blown willow puffs in glaze of darkened brinberry with a flatulated barley compote - you should probably stay home. The spareness is what makes this food work. It combines basic and beautiful flavors that work and play basically and beautifully with one another, with nuanced departures from the expected when "spare" is nearing "plain" . The riccotta gnochi my date ordered for his starter were an excellent example. They were served in browned butter and sage with bacon, - richness in an already heavy world,- but the choice of ricotta instead of, say, a more traditional potato, took this dish someplace we all like to go once in a while, "the lifestyles of the rich and Painless": a gnochi in butter and pancetta that you could eat four bowls of? Brilliant.

12/22/08

An exceptional place for a special occasion

by diningwithdenis

We had a table of six on Saturday night, outside it was cold and snowing, inside was warm and inviting - you felt as though you were at a friend's country home in France. The manager was pleasant when making reservations on the phone and in person. The waitress was great, personable, knowledgeable yet unobtrusive. The menu is simple, but is prepared sublimely and the wine list is very well chosen encompassing all price points and tastes. The appetizers that our table ordered featured two types of pate, a potato cake and an asparagus/leek plate - the food was served hot and the chef executed perfectly. The main course ran the gamut from salmon over lentils to cassoulet - the salmon was light and flavorful while the cassoulet was hearty and rich (without being overbearing). I am typically not effusive over restaurants, in fact this is my first review - however the experience was so exceptional I thought it necessary to write. Use the restaurant for a special occasion - it will exceed your expectations.

• Pros: food, service, ambience
• Cons: none

12/22/08

Amazing Food and great restaurant

by mereditheats

I went to Jarnac for the first time this saturday with one of my girlfriends. We did not know exactly what to expect and so went in with an open mind. We were greated warmly by the GM and taken into the dining room which was extremely warm and inviting (especially in the snow!) We decided to try the classic dishes of the restaurant. I got the Cassoulet and she got the sea bass. The food was right on the money. Warm, delicious, comfort food, and very French. Our waitress was extremely knowledgable about the menu and helped us make the right dining decisions. She was also spot on with the wine menu. I cannot remember a nicer time at a restaurant than my experience this weekend. We also met the owner who was 100% hands on which i happen to really like. I highly reccomend the restaurant.

• Pros: Terrific Food and great atmosphere