Often
when we think of Indian food, we think of spicy all-you-can-eat buffets
priced around $10.
Xacutti Restaurant located at 503 College Street is
the exact opposite. It is by far the most expensive Indian restaurant I
have ever visited, and also, without question, the best.
Xacutti is not a true Indian restaurant but rather an
Indian influenced restaurant. Chef Brad Moore lightly uses
traditional Indian and Eastern spices with premium cuts of beef, fish and
poultry to produce a dining sensation well worth the visit. On our
Tuesday, November 08, 2005 visit, we started with the seared duck breast
with sesame-tamaride sauce. ($12) It turned out to be a perfectly cooked
medium rare duck breast with what seemed like a flawlessly balanced curry
sauce. For us the sauce was even more outstanding than the duck and the
presentation speaks for itself.
Our entrees were also terrific. The barbecue striped
bass with pomegranate extract, leafy greens chilled yogurt rice ($25) was
a fresh, perfectly cooked striped bass sitting atop what seemed like a
layered yogurt Basmati Rice. A great presentation and great flavors.
Our spice crusted beef tenderloin with Masala sautéed
potatoes and three jewel onion rings ($37) had a great presentation and an
interesting mix of flavors. Also, they continued to use superior
ingredients by offering prime Ontario filet mignon and premium onion rings
and potatoes.
We finish our meal with a sampling of two desserts
including their cinnamon doughnuts sitting in a dreamy caramel sauce and
the strongly recommended rich dark chocolate pudding. The chocolate
pudding was in fact an intense chocolate soufflé, freshly baked and
covered in an opulent cream sauce. Very rich, but outstanding.
Xauctti’s wine list was written by a very competent
sommelier, and they have an excellent but somewhat pricy wine list. They
do offer a very interesting concept. You can choose 3 two oz glasses of
wine from various regions of the world for set prices ranging from about
$12 to $20. This is a great way to try three outstanding wines.
One small regret I have from that evening was not sampling the
delicate hand cut frites. The next table ordered this increasingly rare
simple delight and the aroma was enough to convince me that I
have to come back and try this restaurant again. Well worth the visit.
Xacutti Restaurant
503 College Street
Gone 2007
Rating: 4 1/2
Stars
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