end bistro kind of place.

I found myself wondering what the food would really be like and whether there was a pretentiousness behind the restaurant's classy and attractive exterior. Of course you may think it a bit odd to be contemplating dinner on your way to work, but that's why I do, what I do.

So, it was with some anticipation, that I headed out recently to enjoy an early dinner at Laurel. There were several things on the menu that I wanted to try and I would finally discover what the restaurant was really like from the other side of the window.

When we stepped through the door, the very first thing that you see is the bar area. It's a pleasant marble clad bar, that is inviting and comfortable looking. It gives you a place to enjoy a pre-dinner drink or to wait for your table if you are a bit early. The main dining area is off to the right hand side, with large windows at the front of the building providing great light in the main area. The décor is upscale bistro and the high ceilings make for a pleasant open atmosphere.

Russ Berger, the executive chef and owner is a friendly fellow. He stopped by our table to see how we were doing and advise us on the menu. Laurel's menu is an eclectic selection of bistro style dishes. The majority of them are recognizable and most produce a Pavlovian desire to try them. We picked out a selection as you can see from the images and descriptions on the right. The dishes were uniformly delicious, with a focus on flavor and texture combinations that are designed to satisfy rather than titillate. We particularly enjoyed the lamb shank, which fell from the bone and was so tender it literally melted in your mouth.

The service at Laurel was friendly and informal. Our waitress was helpful, without being overbearing and she suggested several things that we enjoyed. The wine list was not too expensive and was reasonably priced as befits the bistro setting.

As the evening progressed, the restaurant began to fill up with a variety of different style of diners. What's obvious about Laurel is that this style of food appeals to a very broad section of the population. Fundamentally this is a nice restaurant, with good food, good wine and friendly service. It is what most people are looking for when they go out for a meal.

As we left the restaurant, I couldn't help but reflect on the number of times I'd walk by without stepping in. I had enjoyed an excellent meal and determined to return soon, life on the other side of the window was not that bad.

We sampled the Kenwood Viogner and J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon by the glass. Both were excellent and complimented the food perfectly. Laurel has about 16 wines by the glass to choose from. The average price per glass is $8.

The wine list is reasonably priced with over 64 labels. You can find bottles ranging from $18 - $60 with the majority of them in the $20-30 range. They also have a nice selection of half bottles.