Name: Nolan

Overall Rating: 15/20

Dish(es) reviewed: JD Peppercorn Chicken- "succulent marinated chicken breast covered with our own peppercorn sauce."

Review:

The first thing to catch my eye upon entering JD Peppercorns was definitely the fountain - it looked great, and made for great background sound as we waited for our meals. I took two steps forward to get a closer look at this fountain, and, to my delight, there was a small nook surrounded by what looked like cast-iron gates. Inside this area were a few tables with nearly perfect lighting, a view out the front window, and a visual of a beautiful cherry wood wine rack. The walls were evenly decorated with a vast array of pictures and other artwork, which was a very nice add-on to an already excellent atmosphere. The two fireplaces (one on the upper level, and one lower) added the warmth, both in temperature and general feel. High ceilings, fireplace, warm walls, light background music, and the sound of flowing water - definitely a great place to be if you're looking to relax.

My first impression of the chicken was that it was a little dry, but then it hit me: this peppercorn sauce is nothing short of fantastic. Had it not been for the sauce, it would have been very disappointing. It was a very different taste, but still quite familiar. Served with the peppercorn chicken was a baked potato. I was brought a tray with nearly every condiment imaginable for a baked potato - I took sour cream and bacon bits, because that's the way I am. The potato was cooked perfectly (which I have discovered is quite difficult to do), and the toppings were great. The carrots served alongside were also cooked somewhere-near-perfect, but lacked something when it came to seasoning - they were quite good alone, though.

The food was above average, the environment and general atmosphere left me spell-bound. JD Peppercorns is definitely a great place to eat and relax. Comfortable seats, too.

Ratings: Food 7.5/10 Environment 7.5/10

Name: Cory

Overall Rating: 16/20

Dish(es) reviewed: Beef Frajalaki - "Tender beef broiled and topped with tomato sliced onions and feta cheese. Served with French fries and choice of Greek, Caesar or tossed salad."

Review:

Beef Sticks is what we got to start, and I must say it was very entertaining. It had a mini grill on a plate and you cooked the beef on a stick yourself. It also came with a sauce which was good, a little plain, but still added to the already good taste of the beef. As soon as I saw my dish I thought, ‘That looks really good.’ I wasn’t disappointed at all, The Beef Frajalaki sandwich itself was very good, the taste of the beef was amazing; it was very tender and had the perfect amount of seasoning, my only complaint was that the one half of the sandwich had too many onions on it. The dish had plenty of fries and they were very well done, the gravy gave them a great taste. I took the choice of Caesar salad and I loved it, it was strong but not too strong.

One thing I noticed as soon as we were seated was that it was that it was quite dimly lit where we were seated, but my eyes adjusted after a little bit and it wasn’t a problem. Almost in the middle of the dining area was a nice brick fireplace, it gave the room a nice feel. I also enjoyed the combination of paints used, with the interesting raised roof. Lots of pictures on the wall kept me from getting bored. It had an overall nice feel to it.

Ratings: Food 8/10 Environment 8/10

Name: Graham

Overall Rating: 15/20

Dish(es) reviewed: Cajun Chicken Pasta - “Strips of Cajun style chicken breasts, served over fettuccini with a spicy cream sauce. Topped with tomatoes, green onions and fresh cracked peppercorns.”

Review:

Since food seems to be the most important part of dining (imagine that!), I’ll start off with my review of JD Peppercorn’s food. I was beyond excitement after catching my first glimpse of the appetizer --- succulent strips of beef on skewers surrounded a miniature flame grill, which could be used to further cook the meat. I found the meat to be perfect as it was, but the presentation of the grill with the cute little flame was superb. The entrée that followed was equally impressive visually, with green spices covering a colourful sauce. The first bite proved to be good, yet it didn’t change my life. Like I experienced at Chianti’s, the “spicy” sauce was somewhat boring in my mouth. Besides the sauce, I was quite satisfied, and would recommend the food to anyone. The price was a bit painful, but the quality of the meal was apparent. Lastly was dessert, a beautiful mousse pie. Usually I’m not overly fond of sweets, but the indulgence was well worth it this time.

One of the best environments I’ve been in, JD Peppercorn’s was a great place to just sit and relax. No matter where you were seated, vibrant paintings and decorations were in plain view yet not over-whelming. But perhaps most impressive was the entrance, which featured a fountain, wine barrels, and various other niceties. I also found the fireplaces near our seats a welcome addition, and the temperature of the room was quite comfortable. The noise-level was kept to a hush, and soft music was audible from our seats as well. My only minor complaint was I found the lighting to be a bit low. The great environment alone makes JD Peppercorn’s worth looking into, complimented by good food and service.

Ratings: Food 7/10 Environment 8/10