Last night I had dinner with my dear friend J at the Farm House Cafe , which I had been wanting to try since I read about it. It took over some of the old space The Linkery used to occupy (it has since moved to a bigger space), and like The Linkery, Farm House Cafe specializes in farm-to-table cuisine. Farm House Cafe Let me begin the review by explaining one thing -- that I think the first impression you have of a restaurant can greatly color your review. When I judge a restaurant, I not only judge the quality of the food, but also how I feel when I first walk in and dine. I'd like to feel immediately welcome, like going to dinner at the home of a friend who really wants to cook for me. A restaurant should give particular care to making you feel welcome, and just... good . The Farm House Cafe occupies a small but really cozy space, nicely decorated. My only beef with the space is that there's no real hostess area. You walk in and you're in the middle of the restaurant. There's a small sign in front of you that says "See the bartender to be seated." I don't like that. It makes me feel unwelcome. I turned to the bar, and the bartender wasn't there. Several waiters passed by, and one said, "Do you have a reservation?" We didn't, and he said, "Yeah, you can just wait for the bartender then." I wouldn't say that's outright rude, but it's not how I would treat a guest at my house, which is the standard of service to which a good restaur ...
Anytime
