Fabulous & French

The idea of fine dining, in a Mall setting has taken some time to get used to.  And the concept of the food court and all that goes with it has hardly helped.   

But the tide is turning and if you wanted some proof you could do worse than head to the ever expanding Lynfield market, just off Route 128.

If you've got watched the recent SouthPark episodes about Whole Foods you'll know the drill - a wash of regenerated landfill now making way for trendy shops and eateries.  So before we get to Gaslight let me confirm that yes there is a dog biscuit bakery and of course. A Whole Foods.

But move that aside and head to Gaslight - one of the newest restaurants to open. 

The interiors are a mix of shining white marble and rich leather booths, encased with high ceilings and a frantic open kitchen. 

Bread is served as oven fresh, demi baguettes in crisp white paper and as the first martini is placed on the starched, cotton table cloth you start to get a sense of a good time ahead.

From French Onion soup to Escargots it's what you would expect, but there's just that little extra zip to everything.  A fresher take than is often the French style in America.

The Entree list is pretty much perfect modern French with variety but without endless options.  The seared (please order it rare) Tuna, for instance, was magnificent. A melt in your mouth experience that had me shaking my head in pleasure.

And from the Rotisserie Chicken through to the charred Octopus salad everything was deemed a hit.

Perhaps the only word of caution is that alas, the serving style also has tinges of 'Je ne sais quoi' to it . Answers are often not known and speed of drink replenishment hardly optimal.

However, quibbles aside, it's a great place.  A reward after a good mornings shopping, or a way to fortify before one does battle with Mamon.