Imagine the greatest physical and mental sensation possible to man (and woman). Now imagine it as something you can do with your mom. That's 7 Numbers! Every time I visit this restaurant I'm reminded that these people really know what they are doing. Their decor is hip and mismatched; records on the walls, burlap and butcher paper on the tables, tapered candle holders covered in, it seems, years worth of dramatic and romantic wax drippings. The staff is casual and easy going, yet concerned, and quite possibly part of la famiglia!
The menu varies daily, weekly and seasonally but it is always simple, true to ingredients. The wine list is so well priced and easy to read with descriptions of how each one tastes, that it's hard not to go for a bottle, hmm, or two while visiting. The menu is written on blackboards on the wall, separated into antipasti, primi, secondi, and contorni aka. appetizer, pasta course, meat course, and side dishes. Usually we order a few of each course and then everyone shares. If you have five or more diners they offer a $27 prixe fixe menu served up family style. What a great way to eat!
I rave about this restaurant to everyone I meet. Last night I took someone who had never experienced 7 Numbers before. I hyped it up way passed the reasonable threshold of amazingness, so you can imagine my disappointment when our experience was anti climactic.
We started with two antipasti (and a pictcher of Sangria for $25). The green bean and beet salad was quite nice, crisp vegetables, light lemon dressing and just the right amount of cheese. We also had prosciutto with figs and aged balsamic. The prosciutto, I hate to say it, tasted too much like what it is, raw, ok, I know, cured, pig. The fig was great though, plump and bursting with juicy melony flavour.
I usually skip primi, because I find it too filling and I always want room for secondi! Last night however we had a small portion of veal lasagna (they also offer meal size versions of their pasta for $9). It was ok, a little greasy. So far in my books it was still 1 for 3.
(we ate this before I got a picture)
Secondi and contorni. Now I'm excited! So many great choices. We chose the braised lamb shank with onions and peas and the Newmarket sexy duck leg with thyme and white wine. Grilled oyster mushrooms and braised favas and artichokes were our contorni picks. The mushrooms were amazing, smoky and just the right amount of salty. The fava beans and artichokes were good, but nothing to write home about. It doesn't compare to their artichokes braised in a tomato sauce that they often have, although didn't last night. Those, I always always write home about. The duck lives up to it's name, crispy salty thyme encrusted skin over fall of the bone moist dark meat. Ooooh, ahhhh. It makes you want to close your eyes and take a moment for yourself. Annnnd...regroup, its time for the lamb. Oh no. The lamb was dry, the peas looked dehydrated, and the flavour fell flat in my mouth while I was trying to summon enough saliva to swallow it.
Feeling defeated, I couldn't go without having the chocolate mousse, it would lift my spirits! A creamy amaretto* spiked centre lovingly surrounded by thinner layers of the richest chocolate mousse. (They get their dessert, with the exception of Tony's canolis, from Bake:Dessert Co). As we ordered the mousse, a latte and a tea (that would come in a presumably stolen Country Style mug!) the sound of 'Nantes' one of my favourite songs from my new favourite band, Beirut, floated out to us on the patio. This is going to be good. The chocolate layers were divine, like your first french kiss (assuming your first french kiss was any good). But, the usually amazing centre layer was gritty. My heart sank again.
We got the bill, which came to just under $100 for the two of us, before tip. This is the only time that 7 Numbers has not exceeded my expectations. I think it is safe to assume that something in the universe was not aligned as it should be. Despite last night's experience I think I will remain a loyal patron. I'll just cross my fingers and hope that we are not destined to be star-crossed lovers.
*I don't know for sure whether the dessert contains ameretto, it isn't however a problem for my nut allergies, but may be for yours. When I told our server about my allergies at the beginning of the meal, they talked to the kitchen and then came back to tell me I would be safe. They run a clean open kitchen in both their restaurants, and I always feel safer when I can see where my food is being prepared.
Comments