Thanksgiving at Seasons in the Park

Thanksgiving Weekend, and I dragged my out-of-town friend to Seasons in the Park for dinner with a view.

So many things wrong with that.

First, the view. Yes it's there, but once it's dark out, the reflections on the window glass can obscure some of it. If you're not taking pictures, that's not a problem and there are the city lights and skyline to make for quite a nice view.
Still, I'd recommend not going before sundown if a view is what you are after.

Second, Thanksgiving dinner. You're not locked into the set menu with Thanksgiving turkey, but there's only so much they can do to the traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner that what will end up being special is likely to be the appetizer and dessert. In short, before you go to any restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner, make sure it's not going to be about the food. About the view, the ambiance, the service -- sure. For turkey dinner, do your research first.
Seasons served up a very traditional nothing-interesting turkey dinner plate and I passed in favour of the day's special, a delicious ravioli.

It was Thanksgiving so I couldn't secure a reservation for an earlier dinner so we had to settle for something almost at 8pm. There were still many occupied tables and larger parties, though. Service is good, friendly and not pushy. Very understanding about things if you spent your time chatting with your dining buddy instead of studying the menu -- which is much appreciated. And one of the reasons to go to Seasons if you want fine dining AND actually spending face time with your friends instead of eat-and-go. A pleasantly unhurried experience.

Complimentary Bread

• Looks like exactly the same bread and butter as at their sister restaurant Cardero's, so it very well might be shipped in from elsewhere. Still it didn't seem at all like it had sat around too long, so can't complain. The bread it actually really decent.

Seasons Mushrooms ($14) crab, shrimp, cream cheese

• Cream cheese stuffed mushroom caps. Light, creamy, very rich.
• If they don't bring a spoon, ask for one right away. And maybe save some bread for the cream cheese mess you're gonna leave behind in the dish because it's that soft and creamy.
• Simple, delicious, and fun to eat. But ultimately, it scores a FAIL -- because the menu indicated crab and shrimp and maybe the light was too dim but I really didn't detect them in sight, taste, or texture. If it were there in any significant quantity the cheese overwhelmed it.
• If you don't mind this detail, it's actually a really nice appetizer and a goodly portion. They are not skimpy here with portion and a couple of appetizers carefully chosen could total a filling meal.

Fried Artichokes ($12) tempura battered, lemon tarragon aioli

• I don't often see artichoke on the menu so obviously I had to order it for science.
• Up front they tell you it's tempura battered so it's hard to fault when it comes out fresh but oily. It's oily because they didn't let it sit around too long trying to get the oil sponged out with a kitchen towel. So, definitely use the aioli provided, which is rather tasty.
• Don't worry about overdoing the aioli because the artichoke doesn't have that much flavour. The texture, however, is interesting, for being very meaty without actually being meat.

Squash Ravioli special of the day ($29)

• Can't remember what the server said about this but it was a slightly lighter plate (which was nice as I had the two appetizers, and in total a rather full dinner with no room for dessert) and rich and tasty.

Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner ($27 as part of prix fixe three-course Thanksgiving dinner)



Pumpkin Crème Brulee ($6 as part of prix fixe three-course Thanksgiving dinner)