Sycamore House

The Christmas Eve dinner at the Sycamore House was a wonderful treat. Food was nothing short of amazing. The four-course menu tastefully curated to offer straightforward but delicious flavors from appetizers to dessert. Service was attentive but reserved and not intrusive, as always, very French in style. My only suggestion would be to freshen up the dining room with lighter colored walls, it would elevate the experience even more.

My work has taken me to many places in the world, and this restaurant stands right up against any I’ve eaten at in London or Paris. Not in terms of pomp, circumstance or fanfare, but in the ways that matter - the way they treat their customers with grace and respect, they way they treat their food with grace and respect. Everything here is super high-quality, creative, warm, and welcoming. You can dress up when you come here or dress down, and you will be treated the same. The chefs know what they’re doing. The front of the house and wait staff know what they're doing. The food is exquisite. The kitchen is quite accommodating, too; I like really spicy food, and most places don’t believe me ('middle-aged white woman can't possible really mean spicy!') and won’t spice up my dish. But this kitchen can take their fish almondine and make it extra spicy while still retaining the buttery richness that makes this nutty dish a star. I have a hard time ordering anything else, because it is so good and they make it so perfectly, just for me. My husband is stuck on their shrimp and grits; the shrimp sauce is dark and redolent of long-stewed seafood stock and the grits are perfectly al dente with a creaminess that is outta this world. We’ve had seared callops and ropa viejo and daily specials at Sycamore House, too, and everything has been excellent. The salads are perfectly dressed, very lightly. Every detail is perfect, but nothing is fussy. The ambience is charming, and you are always greeted with a warm smile. It’s a home run from the outset, starting with the crispy French bread and whipped, creamy butter. The wine list is good, too. You absolutely can’t go wrong here. I almost forgot to mention the desserts, because we're almost always too full, but they are also fab! I can personally vouch for the key lime pie and the creme brulee.

As a solo diner one doesn't always want to be privy to other table conversations. So, I asked to be seated on the porch and had the place to myself, as the large group wasn't due to arrive until long after my departure. It was my own special dining experience! If gazpacho is being served, I always order it. This was the best I've had: creaminess from yogurt and lots of minced cucumber. My main course was actually an appetizer: BBQ Shrimp. Thick roux with a dose of spice. Finally, what can be said about their creme brulee other than it was perfectly elegant. Highly memorable!