On a recent visit to Memphis I chose Le Chardonnay because it was listed as a very romantic restaurant. The atmosphere is dark, with candles on each table providing an amount of light that leaves on focused on their own table. The wait staff was more than sufficiently attentive and my waiter was also meek in a great way. He took our orders and kept tabs on how we were doing without being an interruption with excessive personalization. This greatly added to the 'moment' my date and I were sharing. The food was punctual, the correct temperature, and well balanced in terms of flavor. We had a filet mignon stuffed with goat cheese and topped with a mango chutney, which accurately balanced a salty and sweet combination, and all came alongside mashed potatoes and asparagus. I also ordered the goat cheese, red pepper, and pesto stuffed chicken breast served on top of linguine pasta with a light red bell pepper cream sauce and a side of asparagus. The food was reasonably priced in the range of $15 - $25 an entree, while I felt the wine was even more moderately priced (perhaps I'm just familiar with overpaying for wine in restaurants). Unfortunately smoking is permitted, but there were few smokers present and the restaurant did not have a smoky smell. I would recommend this restaurant for a refined yet casual dining experience with a courteous ""What's up"" type of wait staff.
Pros: Great Food, Romantic Lighting, Aesthetically Appealing Wine Cellar Feel, Swift Attentive Service, Wine Prices and Selection
Cons: Smoking Permitted, Pricey Appetizers
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