THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Iris

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Iris Restaurant Review:

Alan Raines, Nicolas Bour and Lein Schoe banded together to craft the restaurant of their vision in 2002, and the result is this nifty in-town bistro that draws its patrons not only from the surrounding eclectic neighborhood but also from across town. The first Friday night the restaurant was open, the wait times were staggering, but everybody left with a smile on his face, including a 10-month-old in the arms of his father. It's that kind of welcoming place. The cold winter night's chill was ably chased by a soup of butternut squash, graced with pepita seeds and crème fraîche, while the grilled pork tenderloin with a fried sweet corn polenta, zucchini and squash, and herb mustard compote was perfectly pink as ordered. Dishes are homey yet sophisticated. Lunch focuses on sandwiches, including the classic pan bagnat. Desserts need more attention and creativity, with the best bets going to the Jake's ice creams (a local ice cream entrepreneur.) Skip the pistachio crème brûlée; it doesn't work. The wine list is bistro-sensible, with good choices at good prices.