photo by Janet Wilson
ChatO Brasserie is a new restaurant located at 200 Manufacturers Road (Renaissance Park), across from Foodworks and behind Keller Williams Realty. ChatO describes the restaurant as “New American with an upscale yet casual setting”.
ChatO offers a nice atmosphere with flowers, linen napkins, and candles, along with art associated with foods. The front features floor to ceiling windows facing Renaissance Park. You can see into the kitchen as the chefs are working, preparing your meal. We’ve eaten there twice and so far everyone we have encountered has been super friendly.
You know how I am about being honest in my articles. Well, I have decided that I LOVE this place!!
I was disappointed on our second visit when I learned they are no longer open for lunch, as we enjoyed such a wonderful lunch there a few weeks ago. We both started with a cup of Sweet Corn Chowder with Blue Crab Spring rolls. I don’t know how to explain it any better, other than to say you could actually smell the freshness. The aroma, as well as the taste, was simply “fresh”. They do have the chowder on the dinner menu. Wayne ordered the Croque Monsieur (Ciabatta bread with Black Forest Ham, Gruyere cheese, and Maille Dijon mustard), served with homemade chips, while I ordered the North Shore Sampler (Chicken Salad, Lobster Salad, Hummus, with Beer Bread toast points and Lahvosh).
Our food was fantastic. Wayne’s sandwich had plenty of ham and cheese, and the ham was very tender. The Lobster Salad was wonderful; I hope they put it on their evening menu since at that point in time, it was only on the lunch menu. I put the hummus, which seemed to be made with pimento cheese, on the crispy crackers (Lahvosh). The Chicken Salad featuring pecans, was also delicious. The presentation is beautiful, set on a background of snow white plates.
Our second visit was for my birthday. For an appetizer (small plate) I ordered the loaded baked potato gnocchi ($6) featuring lardons (crispy bacon and/or pork cubes), chives, crème fraiche and aged cheddar mornay. I was thinking I would eat a few and take the rest home, but it was so good I ate all of it. Other small plates (or appetizers) are sweetbreads and foie gras ($13), Waguy beef tartare with summer truffles ($9), and Point Reyes Bolue and Bosc pear tarte tatin ($7).
Medium plate offerings included a Caesar salad ($8) and Lobster, Scallop, and Shrimp Ceviche ($12). A table next to us ordered two of the salads and I wish I had taken a picture. Whole Romaine lettuce leaves served inside a very large Grana Padano Crouton, with basil caper dressing. It was a sight to behold!
Ordering our entrees (large plates) was extremely difficult. There were so many items I wanted to try. I thought about the sugar cured pork tenderloin with pimento cheese smashed potatoes and succotash ($16), or maybe the diver scallops with lobster risotto ($23) or the coriander and chili crusted filet mignon with potato and smoked gouda rosti ($25). I finally chose the Colorado lamb porterhouse with stone ground grits, broccolini, Gorgonzola, croquettes and wild mushroom jus ($24). I can’t begin to tell you how good this was! I suppose, due to the potato gnocchi, I was full, and luckily I will be having this meal again for another dinner.
Wayne ordered the Maple Leaf Farms duck confit with arugula, dried Bing cherries, local strawberries and crisp potatoes ($19). He said the duck was extremely tender, as well as moist and tasty.
Usually, after a meal like that, we would not have dessert, but since it was my birthday, we went for the special dessert of the day, a luscious Elderflower soufflé with fresh crème anglaise custard sauce poured in the middle. It was absolutely amazing! And, they wrote “Happy Birthday” in chocolate across the plate! If you are going to order the soufflé, you’ll need to do so before you finish dinner because it takes about twenty minutes since each is prepared fresh to order, and served hot.
I feel certain we will be visiting ChatO Brasserie again and again. Service was great, food was even better. Did I say I love this place? Yes, I believe I did.
Hours for ChatO Brasserie are Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., and Saturday until 10 p.m. I was told that they are closed on Sunday, but our server mentioned they are going to start opening for brunch on Sunday so we’ll have to check that out. The bar is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on Saturday until 11 p.m. There is also a patio for those of you who might enjoy eating outdoors.
You gotta check out this place!!
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photo by Janet Wilson