Inbound Thinking

I’m not sure why Bonfire is gone and Pairings has taken over, but the quality has dropped dramatically. Forgettable service, poor execution and scattershot menu combine to make Pairings a must-miss.

I booked a table for 7:15pm on Valentine’s Day; Krystal and I arrived to a nearly empty restaurant and a missing hostess — she also had to work coat check and was running back and forth.

The menu was all over the place: Italian firsts, Asian and Continental mains and French deserts, none executed well.

The Ravioli Carbonara was a single ravioli in a bowl of extremely salty,  thin, non-creamy sauce. The texture pushed the limit of al-dente, a bit too firm.

The Berkshire Pork looked nice but execution was off. The sausage accompaniement was overcooked to dryness. Broccoli sauce was underseasoned with awful flavor and texture. Several of the components did not work well together.

Creme Brulee was paper thin and so warm it became runny. The Lemon Tart was the best dish of the night: a nice balance of sweet and citrus.

Service was slow. Server was not knowledgeable about the menu or the wine list. It took nearly 20 minutes to get a check after final dishes were cleared, and that was only because we flagged down the manager.

The wine list was neither extensive nor impressive. Absolutely no vintage bottles listed, their best was a 5 year old bottle of Chianti. Pathetic for a restaurant called Pairings.

A big disappointment overall, especially at $60 per person. Based on the lack of turnout for Valentine’s I guess the word has gotten out. Hopefully when Pairings shuts their doors Todd English can bring Bonfire back.