What exactly a restaurant/lounge (handily condensed to the internet-friendly phrase, "restau-lounge") is remains unclear to this writer. Does it have two places to hang out, one more tables-and-chairs, and one more couches-and-a-bar? Or is it just that it's a lounge… with a full menu? Throw in the fact that Le Mood is known as "French rustic" – in terms of food and décor – and this writer is further confused.


On the one hand, the idea seems totally charming. Rather than the clean, slick, boring lounges that unfortunately abound, we have something homier, more comfortable, but with a solid menu. The thing that stops me, honestly, the thing that gets my goat, is the 'restau-lounge' phrase. It's too hip to be rustic.

On to the food: Le Mood serves up rather plain, unadventurous fare, which is, frankly, just what we need these days. I could go for a crème caramel right now - just a plain, classic take, no lavender infusions, no recommendations for what wine to drink with it. Even the more adventurous (read: something this writer can't make at home) stuff seems pretty classically French: Mille-feuilles with eggplant, duck confit with figs, a filet mignon. It might be nothing you haven't seen before, but that doesn't mean it won't be delicious, people.