The Plumed Horse
2.9444/5 (16 reviews)
14555 Big Basin Way
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-4711
Category: Unknown
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| Updated: |
October 19, 1999 |
| Cuisine: |
Continental |
| Reviewer: |
Marc Roseman |
Relation: |
Not Related |
| Attire: |
Casual |
Reservations: |
Accepted |
| Ave. Wait: |
10-20 minutes |
Payment: |
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| Facilities: |
Lounge, Seated Bar, Valet Parking |
Phone Orders: |
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| Smoking: |
Smoking Areas Only |
Meals Served: |
Dinner |
| Seating: |
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Alcohol Service: |
Full-Bar |
| Type: |
Fine Dining |
Entertainment: |
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| Crowd: |
Locals, Normal |
Atmosphere: |
Romantic, Elegant |
| Uses: |
Bachelor/ette Parties , Birthday Parties , Business Meetings , Private Parties , Romantic Evenings , Weddings , Conferences |
Nearby Places: |
Downtown, Nightlife, Shopping, Tourist Spot |
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16 Reviews
REVIEW #2
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Alex J.
Avg. Entree: $30-40
Rating:
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September 10, 2005
0 of
1 people found this review helpful
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Just had dinner here last nite with a business client - one of her
recommendations. From the valet to the greeter to the waitstaff,
everyone was very friendly and willing to ensure an enjoyable
experience.
<br>
We ordered the prix fix menu for $68 with a wine pairing for an additional
$24/25 (I forgot). I will say that the first choice of seating
was in the middle of the room next to some ugly looking monstrosity,
but we got a nice table on the side free from the center of attention. <br>
There was a starter from the chef of cold cantelope soup and mint
oil. It tasted exactly how'd you expect it to....it was refreshing
and tasty.
<br>
First course was a salad of thickly sliced heirloom tomatos and
olive tapenade. 4" diameter purple, yellow, orange, and
red juiciness with earthy olive oil and large mature leaves of
basil. I was glad to have such a large portion just for myself,
but I could see how some might prefer a smaller portion.
<br>
Second course was a roasted quail stuffed with foie gras over
a creamy reduction sauce. The quail was slightly over-cooked
(most likely to ensure doneness of the stuffing) but retained
excellent flavor - not too gamey and the sauce easily made up for
any lost juiciness.
<br>
Third course was a nice slice of white fish with skin on. Laid over
a bed of wilted greens and accompanied by a molded creamy custard,
I slowly and extensively enjoyed this course.
<br>
Last course was seared venison tenderloin accompanied by potato
gnocci and wilted greens. If you love venison and came with an
empty stomach, you will leave a happy and full game meat affecionado.
VERY generous portions - about 8 slices, each the size of 3 pads
of butter.
<br>
Dessert wasn't especially memorable, but still very nice
way to finish meal. Phyllo dough rolled around baked apple slices
cut on the bias and soldiered around a scoop of ice cream. Tastes
just like great apple pie a la mode, but different.
<br>
Very pleased with meal, service, and atmosphere. Hopefully
my experience is indicative of the competitive restaurant climate
of the day and a return to the good reputation this restaurant
once had. I will return to and recommend this reataurant in a heartbeat.
Bill came to $198 for the 2 of us.
<br>
The following is the listed prix fixe menu from the restaurant's
website:
<br>
Amuse Bouche
<br>
House Cured Duck Proscuitto Salad
Arugula, watercress, mint and basil, wrapped in duck proscuitto,
parmesan-pecorino vinaigrette
<br>
2003 Quivira "Fig Tree Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc,
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA
<br>
Fresh Daily Fish
special presentation to be described by your server
<br>
2001 Calera Chardonnay "Central Coast" Hollister,
CA
<br>
Jumbo Texas Quail
stuffed with foie gras and brioche, with braised endive and princess
green grapes; quail demi-glace infused with foie gras
<br>
2002 Moshin Pinot Noir "Lot 4 Selection" Russian
River Valley, Sonoma, CA
<br>
Intermezzo
<br>
Free-Range Venison Tenderloin
pan seared rare with a huckleberry demi-glace
<br>
2001 Vacqueyras, Domaine du Grapillon D'or, Southern Rhone,
France
<br>
Cherry Napoleon
Layers of crispy phyllo dough, sweet cherry pastry cream and
marinated bing cherries. Accompaned with a red wine cherry sauce
and bitter-sweet chocolate sorbet.
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REVIEW #7
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Rating:
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November 7, 1997
0 of
1 people found this review helpful
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Four of us went for dinner on a Sat. eve. We ended up being
disappointed and embarrassed because we had talked our friends out
of trying a different area restaurant. Where should I begin? Each
dish was cold. Not one thing that should have been hot was hot.
They were out of at least one thing that was ordered from the
appetizers to the dessert. By then, the waiter was so embarrased
by having to tell us they were out of things that he had the
maitre'd come to our table. They did end up comping our desserts.
We complained, and the manager called us about a week later. He
invited us to return, but, of-course, it would not be "on the
house". We could not understand how an expensive, large, well
established restaurant such as this one could run out of so many
things on a Sat. eve at 8:00. (And not even manage to serve hot
food!).
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REVIEW #8
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Marc R.
Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:
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April 28, 1997
0 of
3 people found this review helpful
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Every time I go there, I always end up saying that it's the most
fun fine dining I've ever had. I have been to better restaur-
ants, but nver had a better time.
The service is always polite, friendly, and has a sense of
humor (once when I asked a waitress if the person at the next
table was Susan Hammer, mayor of San Jose, he whispered it into
her ear, and she and her husband laughed, and sent a drink to
my table ! Everyone there seems to have a good time)
I highly recommend their venison and lamb, easily the finest
I have ever had, always with expertly prepared sauces. They
also have an extensive, and reasonable wine list.
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REVIEW #10
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Avg. Entree: $30-40
Rating: Unknown
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January 26, 1997
0 of
3 people found this review helpful
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after arriving from Europe a friend invited me for dinner. We had
to wait 30 min for a reservation made for 7pm - we did not want
cocktails and told we the M'd we would rather be seated. We were told
that the time will be about 20 min. When finally seated in
half empty dining room we wondered what we were doing there, but
in respect to my friend I did not say anything. We ordered salad
each. I had the pork chop (way overcooked with cold potatoes and
vegetables). My friend ordered the Salmon poached, with no sauce
or garnish of any kind just a piece of lemon. Well he got the
salmon, Baked !! with a sauce and same cold potatoes and
vegetables. My friend told the waiter about his fish but waiter said
that baked salmon is "better for your health". We declined
dessert as well as coffee because waiter never returned to our
table. My friend asked for the check. Dished out some 120 dollars
for a mediocre dinner and poor un-professional service. My
feeling is that the place is highly OVERRATED & NOT WORTH A VISIT
and I sure will tell all my H.P. team mates aboutr my experience
in the horses stable.
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REVIEW #11
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Michael C. B.
Rating: Unknown
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December 1, 1996
0 of
1 people found this review helpful
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Why no rating or prices? Because despite having a confirmed
reservation, our party of 10 didn't get to eat here.
We had made reservations a week in advance, for a
party of 10, for dinner at 10pm on a Saturday, and were
assured that there would be no problem with the late hour,
and that the kitchen would be open and the full menu
available. This was to be the cap to a special
evening beginning with a champagne hors d'oeuvres party,
theatre tickets for Patrick Stewart's A CHRISTMAS CAROL,
and we even rented a passenger van to go to the theatre
and dinner. We were wearing evening clothes (tuxedos
and evening gowns).
On the way to the restaurant we called to let them know
that we would be a few minutes late because the performance
was late in starting. The reply was that the kitchen was
closing and that --- despite our reservation -- we could
only be accomodated "in the Bistro" (presumably a more
limited menu). The manager didn't seem to care that we
had booked the table a week in advance and seemed completely
uninterested in accomodating even a slight delay, and whined
about people having to stay late.
Look -- if you're willing to seat a party of 10 for a
sit-down dinner at a first-class restaurant (i.e., a
2+ hour seating with appetizers, wine, dessert, coffee, etc.)
at 10pm, it is difficult to imagine that their arrival
at 10:15 is going to change anything.
With that sort of attitude, they won't get a second chance.
(Luckily, Il Fornaio in the St. Claire Hyatt in downtown
San Jose was able to accommodate us on short notice -- it
was by then about 10:20), and even set up a special room
for us, and we had a very nice, though delayed, dinner.
Bravo Il Fornaio!)
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