Chris decided to surprise me when I got out of my yoga class and we went to a nearby restaurant called Piknic.
http://www.piknicplayavista.com/
We had gone there early last year when we first started dating and he always gave me a hard time because he swooore I hated it but I was really just full from a big lunch I had had. I was glad we were back to give it another try. If they have one thing going for them it’s definitely the ambiance. The dim lighting, waterfall wall, and maple leave lights create a very calming and intimate mood.
The complimentary bread that came out was pretty and yummy. There were two types of bread. One tasted like a baguette and the other was more of a rye with dried cranberries in it. Both went very well with the oil-based dipping sauce that came with it.
Complimentary Bread and Sauce, 3/5
We ordered Fried Calamari to start things off. It came out very quickly and was everything you would expect from fried calamari in all the good ways. It was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside with a lemon on the side to add that extra kick if you like it. Their marinara was the right kind of spicy that really enhanced the food experience.
Fried Calamari, 5/5
For an entree I was going to order a Chicken Caesar Salad to try and be healthy after working out but Chris convinced me to try the fish. I was going to order Swordfish because as far as I recall, I haven’t tried it yet. Alas, they were out of swordfish so I downgraded to the Blackened Barramundi. It came out and was plated beautifully with mango salsa atop the seasoned fish surrounded with potatoes. They had come out earlier and told me they ran out of the purple potatoes they typically serve the dish with and were going to substitute golden potatoes. I was only a little disappointed about that loss because I don’t think I’ve had those kinds of potatoes before either. Bit of a bummer again but I remained ever the optimist.
Blackened Barramundi, 3/5
Tastewise it was ok. The fish was not as tender as I was hoping it would be and I was confused if I kept biting into skin that I wasn’t supposed to eat or if that was just a tougher part of the fish. As far as the seasoning goes, it was nice, not too bland, which is more than I can say about the potatoes. I don’t know if the purple potatoes would have had more of a flavor of their own but the golden potatoes that accompanied my meal were a little lacking in my opinion. The saving grace for me was the artichoke hearts I found mixed in the with baby bok choy underneath the fish filet. Artichoke has a very pleasant flavor that I wasn’t expecting but was glad I encountered. I would not order Barramundi again, from Piknics, or anywhere else. I think it’s just not the fish for me.
Chris ordered the Build Your Own Burger and unfortunately I was not listening when he did, but looks like he ordered avocado, onion strings, bacon, Swiss cheese and the typical greens. His burger was served with a side of sweet potato fries and came with a separate plate of condiments for his liking.
Build Your Own Burger
It was a good burger that came out hot and fresh and I definitely kept picking at his plate throughout the night. He couldn’t finish it because he has a small stomach, but I gladly took the rest home for my lunch the next day.
I really want to give Piknic’s another go, but I’m in no rush to hurry back. Our dining experience was not lacking in any way but there was just something about it that doesn’t blow me away. Hopefully I can figure it out, but I won’t need to anytime soon. Thanks for a pleasant evening and ’til next year Piknic!
projectfood2015 