Carte Blanche 2114 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75206

"We have been wanting to try this Dallas take on a tasting menu based concept for a while now, so we were excited we were able to experience the Valentines day pre fixe dinner with wine pairing. Overall the food was generally enjoyable but we have questions about the restaurant's approach to fine dining. For a restaurant that very much desires to project a lofty opinion of itself, it fell short in a number of small but noticeable ways. Our tasting journey started with a sunchoke fritter with a truffle sauce. As an amuse bouche this was a nice beginning, and the aroma of the truffle was heavily prominent (did they use truffle oil?). It was paired with a French sparkling rosé that went well and was very tasty. However, when asked about the wine specifically our server could only tell us it had strawberry notes. She even had to look at the bottle to tell us where it was from. From there we were served a crudo of sea bream. My dining companions liked this course, but I thought it was the most generic of the entire meal. It was dotted with pickled daikon which was the only flavor I got. The fish was a non-entity. This was followed by what all of us agreed was the most inventive and well executed course of the meal, a foie gras mousse with a gingersnap tuille, pepper jam and a cultured butter croissant. Very tasty. We were told the chef/owner’s wife is a pastry chef herself and it clearly shows. The mousse was rich but light and spreading it on the flaky, buttery croissant was a treat. The pairing with Hungarian Tokaji was unexpected and clever. Next up we had a seared halibut with lemon beurre blanc and charred kale. I personally liked this course well enough, but my dining companions thought it was very under seasoned. The main course consisted of grille venison loin with a mole and preparations of squash. On the side came wild boar burnt ends over a small charcoal burner. The restaurant bills itself as specializing in game and this was definitely one of the stronger dishes. The venison was beautifully cooked, and the wild boar had an almost pastrami like taste and texture. Both were stand outs of the meal. While the mole complimented the boar very well, it really overpowered the venison. I found it to be best with only the faintest dab of the sauce. One curious problem that came up was the undercooked squash one of our tablemates received. It was so underdone he could not penetrate it with a fork. When alerted, our waiter replaced the squash, but this portion was again inedible. The venison mole dish was paired with a very nice Rioja, possibly my favorite pairing of the evening. Finally, dessert was a play on funnel cake with berry compote and ice cream. This was an interesting idea and I think we all enjoyed it. Service was efficient but clumsy. Our server, while very friendly, was not clear on many of the details of the food or wine and when asked specific questions often resorted to saying how much she enjoyed the dish in question. When the table was being prepped for the next service flatware was placed off to the side of the diner rather than in front of them. Glasses were not cleared between courses leading to a collection of them gathering at the end of the table. When entering the restaurant there is no proper waiting area so patrons must stand awkwardly near the door dodging passing servers until their table is ready. One couple we observed from our table stood for nearly twenty minutes before being led to their table because the previous diners overran their allotted time."

"Carte Blanche was an experience. I like how exclusive the venue felt when I first walked in. Wasn't very busy, I believe only a few tables were occupied (max 6-7) including our table. The six-course menu was spectacular, perfectly portioned dished full of flavour to enjoy. Timing between each dish was on point which allowed us enough time to enjoy. The french wine I chose (shown in the photos attahced) was also incredible, highly recommended for any wine lover. The service however I felt could've been better. We got three staff members assisting us. Our drink orders were mistaken more than once and had to be replaced. When we asked about the dishes, the waiters were able to explain and answer all the questions but didn't seem very happy about being asked. We stayed there till around closing time, the waitress came to the table and sort of dumped the bill next to one of my colleagues, just made us feel rushed. Wasn't surprised that the tips were already factored in the price. Despite that, still a 5-star restaurant."

"While in Dallas my friend took me to this bakery which also doubles as a restaurant . I ordered a caramel latte, a mushroom quiche, and a tomatillo croissant that was stuffed with ricotta and chimichurri . All three items were delicious . Brandon, one of the employees, took the time to check on our table and ask us how everything was. Overall, my visit to this bakery-restaurant was a delightful one. Keep up the good work!"

"If food could be considered an art then this place should be considered the metropolitan museum of art! The marriage of flavors, textures and colors in delicate balance is so artfully achieved. It is an experience worth doing atleast once in your life."

"As a coffee and pastry connoisseur I was excited to try their bakery offerings. I ordered the vanilla brioche donut, and the cranberry filled croissant with a regular coffee, all together with tip $17. The donut was really good, loved it and would totally get again! The croissant was good too but not as good, I would not get it again. Coffee was just regular coffee. They didn't have a menu for the drinks but they do serve lattes and espresso. With the space and fast pace service it can be a little confusing if it's your 1st time. Overall, I may go again to try something new but I wouldn't put this in my top visits. If you plan to go, go early!"