We were three couples of friends who met on a Friday evening in May, in the middle of a heat wave, at the restaurant L'Empreinte, located in downtown Sherbrooke on King Street West. Having had to cancel our visit twice in the last few months due to COVID, we were eager to discover this small restaurant with a menu inspired by the market, changing with the seasons and priding itself on showcasing fresh local products.
On arrival we were cordially greeted by the whole team, at work in an open plan kitchen, who directed us to our table. The smell of wood smoke pleasantly surprised us, providing a warm atmosphere, accentuated by the woodwork all around and the large wine cellar in front of us.
We quickly ordered delicious microbrewery beers from Cookshire-Eaton and Coaticook, Bloody Cesar and an Amaretto Sour, appreciated by all. The Moitomato, however, left a taste of disappointment for a guest, without having been able to create sparks. These aperitifs were followed by a bottle of sparkling wine, opened by one of our comrades with a knife, with the help and teachings of the waiter and under our admiring eyes.
Our host provided us with the usual explanations on the unique menu. It is available in seven services, each of which can be paired with a wine, offered in quantities of three ounces or one and a half ounces. We chose the latter option.
The first course, the cod cheek with misonaise sauce presented in the shape of a sphere, was exquisite, although the texture was rather rubbery. Accompanied by squash and edible flowers, it was married to L’instant rare Domaine de Luc Viognier – Famille Fabre, a white wine giving off aromas of honeysuckle and peppermint, whose taste evokes peach and apricot.
Also delicious, the second course, consisting of a runny egg with Hollandaise sauce, radishes and small crispy leaf-shaped crisps, was paired with another white wine. It was closely followed by a succulent baguette from the Les Bâtards bakery, located on rue Alexandre and which opened the same morning.
Crab bisque served on caviar and foie gras topped with quinoa made up the third and fourth courses, respectively. Not being fond of foie gras, we rather fell back on the accompaniments. Similarly, the fifth service consisted of veal tongue, the taste of which we really didn't like. However, an excellent haskap jelly completed it perfectly.
Throughout the services, the wines followed one another, each time presented by our host. The white wines were followed by a simply divine orange wine! The last dishes were paired with red wines.
The service initially seemed to us like this pretty restaurant: friendly, warm and a bit extravagant. However, as the evening went on, it seemed a little too familiar and overwhelming, so much so that we wondered about the sobriety of the employees.
At each presentation of the dishes, the host did not miss the opportunity to detail the composition of our plate and to mention the origin of the ingredients. Each time, it was a string of names of Quebec producers, from the Gaspé as well as all over the Eastern Townships. The pride of doing business with local producers was evident. However, for our group, the difference in the plate was not noticeable enough to make it "a big deal".
The mackerel provided the last service of the evening, excluding dessert. The piece of meat was cooked to perfection, excellent in taste and accompanied wonderfully by sauce and Louis d'or cheese.
Finally, dessert combined ginger cake with black chard and chocolates. This dish completed admirably well this succession of refined dishes.
To conclude, we are happy to have finally discovered this charming little seven-service restaurant in downtown Sherbrooke. The portions were adequate, the presentation of the dishes neat, the wines well paired and the time between services appropriate. The dishes served presented different tastes than what we usually encounter and were generally very good, but without the wow effect that we would have expected, considering the price paid. For those who would be tempted to try it out, or if the “local” aspect is important to you, we recommend a visit to the Empreinte. You will discover a restaurant that is out of the ordinary!
Rating: 7/10
What struck us the most during our visit: the refinement of the dishes
Do we recommend this restaurant: Yes, if you want a “local” experience
What time of day does we made our visit: Dinner
Pros:
- The smell of wood fire
- Location
- Speed of service
- Possibility of food/wine pairings
Cons:
- Price
- Service too familiar
