Louix Louis

Grand rooms like grand gestures are sometimes suspect, often grooming the gullible before revealing the genuineness associated with reality. They're a debatable sell, pitting currency and comfort against access and replacing inclusion with exclusivity. Bravado is put through exhaustive paces and then offered up as a luxury.

In Toronto where desires are in demand, grandeur is as coveted as air. Ambitious locals clamour alongside visitors to soak up star service where and when possible.

Louix Louis, an offering from the St Regis Hotel is a Restaurant in its toddlerhood. Not shying away from superb expectations grandeur is their lead descriptor. Longing for a little luxe, it's where I found myself for this month's Culinary Adventure.

I was gamed for a Grand Afternoon. It had been a week not without trials and I wanted to get lost in the lighter side of life. I was alive and so was the wind, its biting presence reaffirming both our existence. I arrived on Bay Street and was instantly bewildered. The lack of life on the Weekends is always a shock. After a few detours, I entered St Regis' revolving doors a bit battered from the cold. I was in a questionable mood, one that I couldn't explain.

As someone who tries to live an even existence, I was spiking in the happy realm with no conscious explanation. I wrestled to reign myself in on the 31-floor elevator ride and the chime as the doors opened settled me a bit. I was on time for my reservation, warmly welcomed and seated in a prime location. A Prosecco to start added a little sparkle to the beginning and I lunged into the Menu momentarily restored to even.

A few sips into my Prosecco I had adjusted to the space, the Amber tones invading every inch of me. The Menu, a compact but well-crafted creation that reads well and focuses on quality. The short read didn't make deciding easier but with a quick question or two answered I was ready to order.

Walk into Louix Louis and you're instantly welcomed with splendour. On show is an imposing Bar centring the room daring you to cease staring. It's an engaging space, dominated by whiskey hues and warmed by leather. At first glance, masculinity seems to be the master but upon further inspection, it's not near the truth. It is instead a well-balanced space where a stunning ceiling that features a hint of feminity is the ideal finish.

I can never get enough truffle and this dish hit all the right notes. The thing about truffle is, if it's not done right, it can be overpowering, thankfully this was not the case. Here the subtlety was perfect, allowing the other dish components to shine. The chicken was juicy and tender and the nutty flavour of the farotto was its perfect partner. Every little detail was delicious.

This was complimentary to start my meal. I was surprised because it's a rarity in most Restaurants. If you want Bread you usually have to order it at a price. I usually don't, so this was a nice surprise. It was warm and fresh, and the butter was otherworldly good.

I love a Spring soup. At first sip, this was a little under-seasoned but after a bit of salt, it came to life. The woodsy notes of the assorted Mushrooms were very present. The truffle oil drizzle was nice and created a silky finish. I do have to say that the portion was very small and I was left wanting more after what seemed like four bites.

Light, crisp and fresh, this was the perfect pairing for my Main.

I can never get enough truffle and this dish hit all the right notes. The thing about truffle is, if it's not done right, it can be overpowering, thankfully this was not the case. Here the subtlety was perfect, allowing the other dish components to shine. The chicken was juicy and tender and the nutty flavour of the farotto was its perfect partner. Every little detail was delicious.

If you've been coming along on these Adventures, you know by now that I don't have a sweet tooth. I choose this dessert because I thought that Apples would be a manageable sweet but I was wrong. The apples were sweet, the ice cream was blindingly sweeter, the compote was also sweet and the non-sweet components of the dish were chalky. A fail, or maybe just not for me.

Louix Louis has an extensive cocktail list so I had to try one. This was a nice after-dinner treat, crisp and citrusy it's everything you'd want in a vodka martini. My only complaint is the stuffed olives, I wasn't expecting blue cheese.

The greet was great and my Server was friendly and answered all my questions. The meal was well paced with the exception of a gaping hole between the main and dessert. I wondered if they had to go out and pick the apples to make the terrine. Other than that minor glitch the service was flawless.

When looking at this bill I must first clarify that instead of two guests dining it was one. As you know I go on these Adventures solo. As for the bill itself, this is way more than I'm used to paying for lunch. Im not saying that it's not worth it, the setting was certainly beautiful and the menu unique. I picked items that were in the middle range in terms of price but this is more likely what I would spend for dinner.

Louix Louis is located at 325 Bay St. inside the St Regis Toronto.

Enjoy!