Here's a Savoy Truffle mini-review. We made reservations for late-ish on Saturday and got abrasive vibes from the owner/chef right from first phone contact. The place is small, about 28 seats, with a very small staff (chef, plater/prep, and one waiter), so the long wait before we were able to order or be served was somewhat understandable and we were willing to be patient. The food is nicely priced, with most entrees under $10. We had to spend about 20 minutes perusing the menu and making our decisions (had to beause we weren't waited on during that time) only to discover upon ordering that fully 1/3 of the entrees on the menu were unavailable and had been replaced with other unlisted specials. I think this kind of information should be shared when you are handed the menu, not after you've spent a good piece of time looking at it. So anyway.... We got a pork tenderloin rolled in cracked peppercorns and in a mustard-something glaze, nice and pink inside and quite tender. Roasted potatoes that were hard as rocks. A tomato-pesto linguini that was fine but unexceptional. The food was good for the price, but here's the rub. When the owner/chef came to the table to find out if we were enjoying the food, I told her that what my companion was having (the pork) was very good. She then raised her eyebrows and asked how my own entree was. I replied that it was good, but didn't give it particular emphasis or inflate my reaction. She said "only good?" and not liking to be pushed I replied, somewhat undiplomatically but wanting to say something positive, "it's better than what I would prepare at home." Well, this was obviously infuriating to her and she raised her eyebrows and turned away in a huff. She returned to the table several times to try to eek out more praise. When I said the pasta was perfectly al dente, she sharply pointed out that the sauce was excellent too. Then remarked that sometimes when she went out with friends and liked what they had ordered better than what she had ordered, it didn't necessarily mean that what she had ordered was bad. She then related a story about a friend who had said of a dish she had prepared that it was merely "fine" to which she replied that a vintage wine he had given her was merely "fine" meaning, "don't understate a brilliant meal." Hmmmm. There was no chance that she was just trying to be a comedian throughout this, either. In short, her ego demanded a kind of stroking that I just wasn't up to providing. Her neurotic need to hear how splendid her food was overshadowed her concern about her customer's dining experience, and she was one step away from insulting any diner that didn't adequately praise her cuisine. The food was fine--not exceptional, FINE--but her personality was so unpleasant that I have no intention of setting foot in there again.
Chicago, IL