My husband and I have lived here since 2006 and have always been curious to try Tayst. We aren't ""green"" or ""organic,"" so maybe we aren't this place's target audience. The ambiance is pretty bland - it didn't feel lively or energetic, though it's in a good part of town and parking is a breeze.
I ordered the crab cake appetizer and my husband had the special veal app. My crab cake was pretty fishy-tasting and not very creative - it was laid on some normal hollandaise and had a few slices of apple on top. My husband really liked his app but I'm not a veal fan so I don't know. Note, the portion sizes are pretty small, but we are used to that so that isn't really a problem. If you want huge portions for cheap you go to Outback or something. :) We want quality and creativity more than gorging ourselves.
The entrees were pretty terrible. I ordered the lamb which was chewy, though cooked to the appropriate temp by appearance, and accompanied by uncreative rice, sliced carrots, and two big chunks of goat cheese that looked like they came right out of a package. My husband ordered the pork shoulder, which when I tried it was like eating a salt lick, but he said it was ok, though he liked mine better.
The server was perfectly nice, but not very knowledgeable and seemed to be sort of out of it the whole time (P.S. we still tipped 20%, as we normally do). We both commented that he was a little ""off.""
Overall, we were just really disappointed. I spent ten years waiting tables at many restaurants and my husband is a chef so we are both extremely tolerant and view things in the most favorable light (everyone has a bad night, for sure). This place just really missed the mark. We will not return nor recommend it.
We ordered a $42 bottle of wine, two apps, two entrees, and a dessert to share and the total was $131.00 plus the $26 tip. Maybe there is something I am missing about the difference in ""green"" or ""organic"" but if that is the case, I'm not sorry to miss it.
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