I just finished dining here for the second time. I was firstly welcomed by a lovely waitress, who led me to my table. The atmosphere is dark and sensual with that old school vibe of chandelier’s and an impressive wine rack .
I was promptly served by Riley, who made me feel like a welcome guest in this establishment. I came on a Tuesday which is 50% of select appetizers/aperitifs. She took down my order for the Breton Peach drink.
The beverage was beautifully done, as it had a nice presentation as well as well rounded flavours. The alcohol wasn’t too overwhelming but still being able to taste the sour and sweet notes.
I order 3 app’s: the warm goat cheese salad, the lobster bisque, and foie gras brioche.
The kitchen team did amazing, as presentation, flavour, and temperature was all excellent.
Goat Cheese Salad: a generous portion of warmed/brulee’d goat cheese, as well as super flavour vinaigrette and delicious walnuts throughout. The beets were wonderful. If you love goat cheese, this is the salad to get.
Lobster Bisque: the temperature was very hot, which warmed me right up with the chilly weather outside. It was reminiscent of my chef’s lobster bisque that he made for me in culinary school. The texture and flavours were marvellous. I would order this again. Presentation was very nice, with a touch of spices on top. The bowl was clean and warm as well, which is a nice fine dining value.
Foie Gras Brioche: They came with 4 brioches that were stuffed with foie gras. Very flavourful especially with the combination of the cherries. By far the dish I was most looking forward to. It is reasonably priced considering the price of foie these days. I would order it again in a heartbeat. The only thing I wished for was some form of a crunchy element, as the brioche/foie/cherries are all very soft. But overall still my favourite.
The meal was delicious and I’m happy to have enjoyed it in such a beautiful atmosphere surrounded by true professionals. Watching the restaurant, I could see every staff member was attentive to their tables, and working as a clear team to make service as smooth as possible at a busy and fairly full restaurant. Tuesdays are the day to come. Every member should be applauded for running such an incredible and beautiful spot. Especially Riley for being such a lovely and bright person to interact with.
Chez Lionel brings the fine dining to Kanata, with much opulence expected from a brasserie you would find in Paris alike. Thank you for the meal, and I look forward to the next one I have here. A true pleasure.
