My friends have heard me describe O&B restaurants as dependable but rarely exciting - and usually overpriced for what they offer. So, when I was invited to dinner at La Plume, I went for the company, not the food. Much to my surprise, the meal was solid… easily one of the better O&B experiences I’ve had!

Their prix fixe menu ($55 for two courses; regular prices listed below) is also very reasonably priced, and it let me order both dishes I had my eye on. It turned into a very beef-forward evening.

I started with the beef tartare ($22), made traditionally with chopped beef mixed with Dijon mustard, shallots, capers, and parsley. Instead of mixing the egg yolk in, it’s thickened into a silky spread and placed on the side so you can control how much richness you want. My favourite bites were the ones where I could smear a bit of yolk and top everything with a garlic crisp.

I loved the carb selection of bread and root vegetable chips so you can switch up textures as you go. A side of pickles helps cleanse the palate and makes the dish feel less heavy.

The flat iron steak frites ($42) was well executed for a table of twelve. The steak arrived cooked to a perfect medium-rare and was surprisingly tender for such a lean but flavourful cut. You choose a sauce (béarnaise, shallot jus, or herbed butter), and I went with the jus - rich and savoury without overpowering the meat. It doubled as the perfect dip for the fries.

La Plume’s thin fries remind me of the golden arches, but with a stronger potato flavour and far less salt. They’re delicious. So much so that we started the meal with an order of their truffle fries ($12) to share. In my books, there’s no such thing as too many fries.

Sadly, Bonne Nuit, their upstairs speakeasy, was closed for a private event. Still, the main floor wasn’t a bad consolation prize. As the night went on, the lights dimmed, the music picked up, and before long we were standing, mingling, and ordering another round of cocktails to wrap up the evening.

Consider me converted: La Plume is one of the better O&B experiences I’ve had. Good food, fun energy, and a surprisingly solid value.