610 Magnolia

Recently found myself in Louisville and my Dad recommended me to try out Chef Edward Lee's 610 Magnolia. I am so happy I made the trek even through the snowy night and crappy traffic. I am absolutely blessed to have a Dad that can think of a restaurant off the top of his head in nearly every major city that I must try. I compare this restaurant to two of my all time favorites, Kitchen 404 in Nashville and Cafe Bar Pasta in Toronto. The atmosphere is great and the service is second to none. I feel service in a restaurant is a clear way to discern between the contenders and pretenders, it truly is an art form. I find many places to have great food but when the service is poor, it really dampens the mood.

Absolutely loved the menu! The 4 course prix-fixe menu truly makes the whole night an experience and not just another place for dinner. I know some won't like this idea because it is uncommon nowadays but I absolutely love it and wish more places would utilise this form. Also was really happy to hear they change the menu frequently and keep everything seasonal and fresh. Hands down one of my favorite features.

I. I started with a Duck Confit Ravioli with a Foie Gras foam on top. An absolutely beautiful dish that I just didn't want to take a bite of because I didn't want to alter the appearance. At first it caught me a little off guard but the more bites you took it developed into a great starter.

II. Next was the Shrimp Bisque and King Crab with Dehydrated Pepper and Onion with Red Curry. I saw bisque and didn't even have to know what else would come with it. The spice from the red curry and firm, dehydrated texture of the pepper and onion worked perfectly with the bisque and king crab. My waiter Alec, who was excellent, recommended me this to me saying it was his favorite of the dishes and not just second courses.

III. Similar to the bisque it is becoming incresingly difficult for me to turn down a Ribeye. The 610 Magnolia version of the Ribeye is a definite winner. Though I will say I believed my steak to be slightly cooked more than my preffered medium rare it was very, very good. The perfect side was their Petite Fried Broccoli and Potato Risotto. I wish I could have these sides every night with dinners, truly delicious. The Sauce Perigordine and Perigord Truffle were perfect complements to the Steak.

IV. To finish off the meal...Cider Panna Cotta. No words are neccessay other than amazing. The Tarragon provided a minty flavor to work directly with the sweetness of the dessert. Cinnamon Meringue was again a great addition.

I had a great experience at the 610 Magnolia. I hope to try the other Edward Lee restaurant in Louisville. I will hope to be a repeat. Ricardo, the sommelier, and Alec, my server, were terrific hosts and the rest of the staff made a great effort to make my night memorable.