50 Forks

Came here with a group of friends, some of whom had previous experience here, so the expectations were high. At least for the food, I knew not to expect too much from the decor--it is inside a school, after all. It's clean and minimal, but the acoustics are terrible, all the sounds bouncing off everything, and as the night progressed it got quite loud. Well, we didn't care since we were the loud table, lol, but you probably shouldn't come here for a quiet intimate dinner. Ambiance aside, the food ended up being surprisingly good! Between the 12 (?) of us we ended up ordering pretty much everything on the menu, and I don't think there was a bad item in the bunch. Some items got more raves than others (the arugula, tomato and fried pizza dough appetizer, the salted caramel thing with the bacon), but nothing was bad, which was good--it meant the students were doing great! I enjoyed my Tuscan seafood stew very much, and my tart lemon Sableuse was interesting and not too rich! Bummed they can't serve alcohol here, but oh well. The prices ARE very reasonable for what you get as well. Overall, a nice dining experience, helped out by the great company.

Grilled Asparagus served with tomato confit, rosemary, and Dijon mustard. The asparagus was marinated in balsamic vinegar. It was grilled to perfection and slightly crisp and quite flavorful. The locally grown grape tomatoes were presented with skins removed and sun-kissed fresh from the farm. Presentation was beautiful as well. Thumbs up, way up! Filet of Beef Carpaccio served with capers, EVO, and shaved parmigiano- reggiano. The beef filet was thinly sliced and practically melted in your mouth. The EVO and capers added yet another layer of flavor. The parmesan was elegantly shaved for a classic presentation. Thumbs up, way up! Cobb Salad layered with roast chicken, Maytag bleu cheese, maple bacon, and avocado. This is the prettiest cobb salad ever! The avocado was sliced and arranged in an intricate fanned base to frame the cobb salad components. The shredded lettuce top provided an enticing base for this fresh garden creation. This is one my favorite salads, incorporating the flavor elements I crave – buttery avocado, creamy & tangy bleu cheese, salty & sweet bacon. Thumbs up, way up! Market Pizza choices change so ask your server for the pizza creation for the day. On this occasion, it was a Pesto Pizza topped with mushrooms and red onion. The crust was hand rolled in-house with a crispy exterior and slightly chewy interior. The pesto and toppings worked well together for the perfect pie. For a gal who can’t have tomato sauce, this was the perfect pizza for me. Thumbs up, way up! Seasonal Fruit Tart with custard filling and topped with oranges, blueberries, kiwi fruit, and a raspberry. The fruit tart was yummy! All it took was one bite and I was hooked. The crust was perfectly crisp like a shortbread cookie. The custard was creamy and not too sweet. I would definitely get it again! It was a visual feast as well, incorporating fresh fruits in a delectable arrangement. Great presentation! Thumbs up, way up!