Koda

The Last Temptation of a Faux Bistro.  Two maybe three years ago I vowed never to return to Koda again.  It's not like it is life threatening, mind you, more like being stung to death by one bee: You won't but it will still be temporarily unpleasant.  So why did we go back to a place we were once regulars?  Temporary insanity.  I recalled to my wife last night of the time we visited Koda during a snowstorm--one not severe enough to close schools--and Mr. Owner meets us at the door and states they're closed but he'll buy us a drink when we return.  We did, he didn't.  Cheap you know what.  Heresy.  A scorned food and drink lover.
Anyway, last night was pathetic.  Note: We had seen a charming Swedish Horror film earlier that afternoon called Let the Right One In.  That doesn't apply here.
Server/Service: Like a 1975 Ford Pickup: Utilitarian but generally unreliable.  If he pushed his pedal to the floor he would go exactly 25mph, but I wouldn't know that because we scarcely saw him.  Pacing was a very slowly run (walked) 5K.
Owner: Luckily kept his distance
Drinks: Gotta have minuscule ice fragments in my Grey Goose.  Blue Cheese olives must've been green.
Food: Wife: Fatty and uninspiring: her braised short rib, not her.  Wasabi mashed quite good as is chili sauce but piece of meat was miniature and gelatinous-like.
Oh, and the ahi appetizer was not  pretty in pink it was a threatening-looking deep purple. I enjoy the band, not this ahi, A new species, perhaps.
And now the tour de force--not the Tour de France--although that is tainted as well.  A "Certified" Black Angus burger.  Certified by whom, Lance Armstrong?  It looked like one of those processed veggie burgers and was abjectly devoid of any taste whatsoever.  It was an apparition.  Ate 3/8 of it.  Pretzel bun was getting close to setting like concrete,  Frites were good but needed a pinch of salt, but I was worn out keeping a vigil for our waiter who was winning in hide 'n' seek.
He did finally return to collect his dowry.  I neither thanked him nor harangued him, just tipped him and got the heck out of there.
Note: This review is based on 15 visits--probably more--and a genuine hope that a "good" restaurant had arrived on the south side.  Nope.

Small, cozy place. Romantic setting. It took quite a while to bring out the appetizers, however, it was crowded so I didnt complain. I had the roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and crab cakes. Everything was very good. The staff was nice.

I had the Filet trio, the meat was melt in your mouth good but the sauces and sides were just good nothing special. My husband had Cassoulet  It was to die for mmmmmm. the wine was ok a little pricy. The host and server were terrific. We brought our 16 month old daughter and they were great with her too.