Village Squire, 1979-02, Page 34SQUIRE'S TABLE
Relaxed is more than a cliche at the Marienbad
The word relaxed has become, next to
delicious, the most used cliche in
advertising and describing restaurants.
Relaxed dining enjoyment. Relaxed at-
mosphere. Everybody opening a new
restaurant works like hell to make you feel
relaxed in their establishment.
The word took on a new meaning
recently, however, when we visited the
Marienbad on Carling street in London. At
the Marienbad there is none of the hard
work to make things look relaxed. There
are no dimmed lights, no look that a
designer spent a good deal of time and
money coming up with just the right decor.
Yet relaxed it was with more the feeling of
dining with friends in the diningroom of an
old house. For atmosphere, perhaps the
only comparable feeling we've come across
was at the Red Pump in Bayfield, although
the Marienbad is an enlarged version.
The management advertises itself as
European and it obviously isn't the glitzy,
instant -Europe look they're after. The
restaurant is situated in an old building
with windows topped with stained glass
panels. Inside it is one large room with an
alcove off at the rear breaking it up a little.
The walls are covered with a heavily -
patterned wallpaper and prints and oils
that bring a European flavour. The tables
are covered with cloths. A collection of
crockery adds its bit to the decor.
The menu offers a wide selection and a
tough decision. Each of us had two or three
selections we would like to have sampled.
Eventually, the lady chose Sauerbraten
and the writer chose Chicken Marienbad.
We began with a bowl of soup to ward off
the chill of the evening outside. The lady
had goulash. It was excellent, filled with
Dine in old-fashioned style in this
120 -year-old Inn.
Dinner: 5:00 - 7:30 daily;
Sundays: 12 - 7:30 p.m.
YOUR HOSTS: THE DIEMERTS
The Albion Hotel
BAYFIELD, ONTARIO
•
32 Village Squire, February 1979.
big chunks of meat and potatoes and
vegetables and spicy.
The writer chose the pea soup and
though the goulash at his partner's place
looked enticing, wasn't sorry for the
choice. The soup was creamy and
flavourful, just the kind of thing to take the
chill off.
A small salad came next as part of the
meal. It was a simple combination of
various greens with an oil and vinegar
dressing.
And on to the entree. The sauerbraten
was thinly sliced roast beef with a cream
sauce and dumplings. Cranberries in sauce
accompanied it. The lady was mildly
disappointed. It was the first time she had
tried the dish and had expected a more
exciting taste experience. The fault.
perhaps was as much in the expectation as
in the dish itself.
The most startling thing about the
Chicken Marienbad was the presentation.
It came with boiled potatoes and
cauliflower but topped with a slice of
orange, a skewered cherry and a bunch of
grapes, certainly different than any plate
that had been delivered to us elsewhere.
The chicken was nicely cooked, but again
wasn't tremendously different than what
you're likely to get at your own home or in
other good restaurants. The cauliflower,
served in a sauce was, bless their hearts,
fresh (perhaps the location only a couple of
blocks from the Market has something to
do with that or maybe it's just culinary
honesty).
The large dessert menu proved tempting
when we had finally finished the entree.
The lady chose Black Forest Cake while the
LancdLcli yet cRestautant
and 7avetn Zinzitcd
Food at its Finest
DINE & DANCE TO TOP
NAME GROUPS
"NEW HOURS"
Sunday thru Wednesday
11:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Thurs., Fri. & Sat.
11:30 to l a.m.
Phone 524-7711
350 Bayfield Road, Goderich
Banquet and Convention
Facilities
L.L.B.O.
writer chose apple struddle. The Black
Forest Cake was layer on layer of chocolate
cake and whipped cream. topped with
cherries. very fresh and fattening.
The struddel was a large helping of
pastry filled with a apple. raisins and nuts.
The one disappointment was the quality of
the apple which didn't seem fresh but may
have just been overcooked in its sauce.
The service throughout was outstanding.
Our waiter was prompt. always on hand to
take away a pl'ate seconds after it was
finished. without appearing to hurry
himself. or us. He was polite, yet informal.
With tax and a cruet of the house wine
the bill came to about $22.00 which at
today's prices could be considered quite
reasonable. If you like that informal, casual
atmosphere with good food. simply
prepared and served with a touch of class
then the Marienbad may be for you.
MARIENBAD RESTAURANT and
TAVERN, 122 Carling St., London.
GOLDEN
BARREL -
STEAKHOUSE & SEAFOODS
Specializing in
*DAILY LUNCHEONS
*SALAD BAR
*GOURMET DISHES
OUTSIDE CATERING
FOR ANY NUMBER FOR
WEDDINGS, BANQUETS OR
BUSINESS MEETINGS
OPEN DAILY
9-11 MON.-SAT.
SUNDAY 10-9
RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED
FULLY LICENCED
LISTOWEL, ONT.
—
PHONE 291-3911