Sophomore Family Weekend is only four weeks away and your parents are probably bugging you for a good restaurant where they can make reservations.
La Poule a Dents in Norwich, Vt., is not a good restaurant. It's a great restaurant.
This classic French style restaurant has only two rooms and about 15 tables. But don't let the size fool you. The small size of the restaurant means the chefs can spend more time preparing your dinner and you can taste the results
The quiet and sophisticated environment of the two rooms is matched only by the service, which is courteous and attentive to the diner's every need.
Chefs Barry and Claire Syder, who also own the restaurant, have taken local vegetables and seasonings from area farms and combined them with the freshest meat available from around the world (the venison I had was from New Zealand) making dining at La Poule a Dents an experience your taste buds will not soon forget.
For appetizers, the confit of Pekin duck was flavored well yet not overpowering. The strong duck flavor was balanced by a sauce of red onions, which took the bite off the meat and gave the appetizer a slight zest.
The cold soup of the evening, the other appetizer sampled, was extremely refreshing and cooled to just the right temperature.
The main course was extremely creative. The "venison served two ways" contained a vension sausage and three small tenderloins of grilled venison. The venison tenderloins, which usually tend to taste gamey unless prepared correctly, were well flavored and extremely tender. The sausage had a much stronger taste, but was still enjoyable.
The other entree sampled was grilled pork loin. The pork was also tender and not fatty. Most importantly, the pork had a rich, smoky flavor that was a unique way to serve the meat.
Both entrees were served three seasonal vegetables.
La Poule a Dents is known for its vast wine selection and won an "Award of Excellence" from The Wine Spectator, a national wine magazine. The wine list had a large selection of French red and white wines in a variety of price ranges.
However, the great food and the impeccable service come at a steep price. La Poule a Dents is a one-year anniversary restaurant for your significant other. Or even better, its a restaurant where your parents can take you on Family Weekend, when they pick up the tab. Dinner for two will cost at least $80, before alcohol.
Reservations are suggested a few weeks in advance of your dining plans.
