Canterbury Royale Gourmet - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

I've eaten in restaurants in a dozen European countries and all over the United States and I can say with confidence that the food and the dining experience that Canterbury Royale offers is outstanding--it ranks with the best two or three meals I have eaten anywhere. Chefs Renee and Barbara are interesting, delightful people who are extraordinarily dedicated to their craft as chefs and hosts. The ambiance one experiences with them is very personal. One feels welcomed into their home really. The dining setting is quite formal, but in an older relation, rather than a stylish upscale restaurant, kind of way. The decor is intense--Hansel and Gretel cottage cum Victorian fantasy cum family heirlooms cum sculptures of animals and painted portraits of young beauty. These are mostly Chef Renee's own work. The service, provided mostly by Barbara, is skilled and attentive but not intrusive. In our party, people enjoyed Chicken Francoise, a seafood assortment ("Port of Marseilles") and Beef Wellington, all superb. No effort was spared on dinner rolls (croissants and a braided onion bread), leek soup (wonderfully flavorful), and a small serving of pheasant in a sauce with a Romaine lettuce headdress on a small round of soft cheese. Desserts were a torte from a cooking course offered by a culinary institute in Kiev and, for the GF diner, creme brulee with a stawberry/Chambord ice.

What a delightful repast - from beginning to end, we were immersed in fine French cuisine and a distinctly European atmosphere - just delightful.