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A Seasoned Bistro!!!!
By Valerie Mansour (The Daily News)

December calls for leisurely lunches: a chance to socialize with friends and colleagues, a break from holiday preparations, or just some welcomed procrastination from work.

Seasons Bistro and Wine Bar in the Robie Street Holiday Inn is one of those easy-to-forget establishments. Years ago, I occasionally wandered in to the piano bar, but I can’t remember the last time I’ve eaten here. It’s huge, with that hotel restaurant feel, but has a fabulous wall of large windows overlooking the busy intersection below, and the Halifax Common. It’s a grand view.

Several staff members welcome my friend and me, and our server is eager to take our order. It doesn’t seem fair to complain about overly attentive servers, but in this business, timing is everything. And despite the attention, after one person informs us that the other will promptly bring our breadbasket, we don’t actually receive it until our starters appear.

The menu is pleasing, decorated with little red hearts for healthy selections and red peppers for spicy dishes. We go for two hearts, two peppers, and one that’s unadorned: an intriguing Five Onion Soup ($6). It arrives, oozing with melted cheese and sprinkled with parsley. The soup is loaded with onion — Spanish, red, pearl, and green onions, as well as their cousin, the leek. It’s hot and flavourful, and a bit sweet from the added sherry.

The healthy Spinach Salad ($8) is flawless, with its fresh baby spinach, long slices of dark brown portobella mushrooms and topped with slivers of Dubliner Irish cheddar. With poppy seed vinaigrette and a drizzle of a maple balsamic glaze, it’s one satisfying salad. A few slices of cherry tomato around the plate’s edge add to its attractiveness.

The presentation of the main courses elicits a few ooohs. My companion’s Thai Chicken ($12) is colourfully appetizing with an array of carrots, and red, green and yellow peppers over tiny rice noodles, served in a large white bowl. The vegetables and noodles are a tad mushy. The chunks of chicken are tender and tasty and have a bit of heat.

The Tempura Haddock ($13) is equally inspired, presented on a square white plate. There are two generous pieces of fish, with crispy, stir-fry vegetables including green onions, broccoli, celery, carrots, and water chestnuts. The fish is lightly battered and not overcooked. The pleasing sweet and spicy Thai sauce is moderately hot. Served with chopsticks, and sprinkled with sesame seeds, it’s a lovely Asian-influenced plate.

Since we are full, I take home a Roasted Vegetable Wrap ($10), a spinach wrap well stuffed with roasted peppers, zucchini and mushrooms, with shredded lettuce and tomato. Slices of perfectly ripened, refreshing mango make this a notch better than ordinary wraps, while the chipotle aioli gives it a unique smoky taste.

This isn’t the kind of place where you expect surprises, but on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Seasons serves potinis: mashed potatoes presented — believe it or not in a martini glass, with various toppings. I tried this high-carb hit at a food fair and while it is fun once, I think lunch is my preferred choice.