I was excited about Fourk's reopening after the closing news. However as a prior patron I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed.
I've been to the dinner service several times in the past & am not sure if today's experience was a change in the flow going forward or just the new team (day 3 of reopening) working things out.
The introductions started around 10 minutes late & were a bit rushed. While in prior dinners there was an eloquent & elaborate overview of the concept, the flow of the night & the meaning of the paintings on the wall, this most recent dinner was a tad curt & not as engaging as I have come to expect from the evening.
Alexis & her team were cordial but the evening did not exude the homey, communal atmosphere I equate to Fourk. I also found myself explaining the process to my dinner party as they had not been before, something that should have been covered in the intro. Lastly when dishes were cleared the team did not replenish missing cutlery which resulted in the team serving the 3rd course and walking away, unaware we had not way of eating it.
During introductions the chef seemed to struggle on describing what was on the menu for the night, an oddity in my mind. Shouldn't you know the intimate details of the dinner menu?
1st course: Panzanella Salad w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette (8/10) | Nice & fresh, great starter. I don't like capers & enjoyed them very much in this dish. The Salento pairing was nice & not over powering.
2nd course: Sesame-Ginger Ahi Tuna on a Crispy Wonton w/ Avocado Cream, Sriracha Aoli (9.25/10) | Best course of the night. The Chianti was a bit dry for my taste yet paired perfectly with the crispiness of the wontons & balances out the avocado cream & Aoli.
3rd course: Cola Braised Short Rib w/ Fried Shallota & Parmesan White Polenta (6/10) | Worst course of the night. While the polenta was creamy & the rib was tender, the dish came out tepid & was paired with a chilled Syrah which magnified that the gelatinous consistency of the almost cold dish. As the main course this was very disappointing.
4th course: Peach Cobbler w/ Vanilla Ice Cream & Bourbon Caramel Sauce (8/10) | The dessert course was good but I am not sure there was peach in it as it taste more akin of a coffee cake. The prosecco pairing was a bit odd at first but worked well.
Overall a subpar evening (expectation did not match reality). I will wait for the new team to iron out the small details before returning. Note the price increases to $64 (from $54) in September.
