LA SOCIETE WINTERLICIOUS

I am a big fan of The Oscars. Every year I try to watch all of the best picture nominees that interest me and usually, I’ve crossed off 1 or 2 before they are even announced. This year however, I found myself playing catch up, having seen none of the nominated movies with only a few weeks to go before the awards. I promptly organized a couple of Tuesday movie nights to rectify the situation. Conveniently, Winterlicious was also underway. Early dinner reservations at La Societe was perfect before walking over to Cineplex Varsity.

Atmosphere: La Societe is located in the heart of Yorkville on Bloor St. I still remember when the space used to be a fancy Chinese restaurant before transforming into the opulent French bistro it is today. Stepping into the restaurant felt like stepping into a different decade and city altogether; from the mosaic floor with gold lettering to the stunning stained glass ceiling. We were settled in a spacious leather booth and I loved having the extra room for my backpack and camera bag. My friends and I were casually dressed or dressed for work, but I could see the restaurant welcoming a wide range of attire.

Service: Overall, service was okay. Since we had plans to watch a movie after, I was paying close attention to the time and was happy that all of our courses arrived speedily from the kitchen. The one hiccup was a delay in our bread basket arriving. I mainly noticed because I was waiting to get some carbs in my body before I sipped my wine as I hadn’t eaten very much that day. Since our reservation was pretty early, 5:45pm, a server came by to apologize and let us know that the bread was still being warmed up. On a normal day, I wouldn’t have even noticed.

Food: From the three appetizer choices, all 3 of us opted for the Winter Squash Soup with toasted pumpkin seeds, caramelized apple and brown butter. The soup itself was warm, thick and wonderfully creamy. In the center of the bowl was a mound of caramelized apple that was covered by the soup. Digging in with our spoons, we were all surprised by the unexpected punch of sweetness. I didn’t love the two component separate, but stirred all together, the caramelized apples mellowed out and was quite tasty.

For entrees, two of us chose the Steak Frites, myself included, while my other friend tried the Pan Seared Salmon. The steak was at least 6 ounces and cooked perfectly medium rare, just as I had ordered, with a dark char on the outside. My knife cut through the steak easily and each bite was tender and juicy. The side of fries were crispy, lightly seasoned with herbs and served with ketchup and mayonnaise. All together, a very satisfying dish.

While all three dessert options sounded delicious (Lemon Tart, Chocolate Cremeux, and Creme Brulee), our table unanimously went for the La Societe Classic Creme Brulee. I always delight in breaking into my creme brulee with my spoon and making sure each spoonful of custard has a piece of the sweet, crystal layer. At La Societe, the custard was creamy and sweet, a perfect texture just before solid. The sugar topping was caramelized with just a touch of burnt, which added a depth of flvaour without being bitter.

After wine, tax and tip, my dinner added up to just under $80. For a normal dinner out, this was on the pricier side. For a nice dinner out, pretty on par. Overall, I enjoyed my Winterlicious meal at La Societe and would return to try out their regular menu in the future.