I've always wanted to visit Nunavut and I finally got the opportunity to go through work. This was my first time in Iqaluit. We stayed at the Discovery Lodge Hotel, a beautiful boutique hotel just a quick walk from the airport. I happened to arrive on Victoria Day so to my disappointment, most businesses were closed. After taking a long walk through town, it was time to eat. With limited options, I decided to eat at The Granite Room in the hotel. This is a newly renovated hotel. It is quite modern with very tasteful décor. The Granite Room has Aboriginal artwork and carvings, it is ultra modern. The light fixture above the dining room resembles pieces of ice or icebergs floating in the sea and the lighting can be adjusted with different colours to set the mood.
When I first opened the menu, I was a little taken aback by the prices. You have to keep in mind that everything has to be transported in by air or by sea when the water isn't frozen over so prices are far higher than what we are accustomed to in Ottawa.
I decided to splurge and ordered the rib steak. There was only one other table that night. The entire town was quite, the bulk of business people would be arriving on the Tuesday so I enjoyed the very peaceful atmosphere and personalized service. The server was very attentive and welcoming. He immediately brought water to the table and shortly after I ordered, a basket of warm home baked rolls arrived at the table. After what seemed to be mere minutes, my dinner arrived. The waiter said it was very quiet so easy for the kitchen to get the food out quickly.
The plate looked stunning. There was a huge steak, and I mean huge. I've never ordered a steak and received one this size. The Granite Room uses very large plates and the steak took up the bulk of the real estate. It was served with a colourful medley of vegetables including rainbow coloured peppers, broccoli and carrots with a generous side of mashed potatoes. The rich bordelaise sauce was artfully decorating the plate while overlapping the steak. I had to take a picture and send it to my son. He wrote back immediately - "OMG, Mom that looks amazing! No fair, where's mine?" I can't think of any meat loving man that would look at this plate and not fall head over heels in love. Had I not already been hungry, seeing this piece of art would have quickly openned my appetite.
My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was so tender I didn't need to use the knife to cut it. It melted in my mouth. The rich sauce was thick and overflowing with flavours that further enhanced the meat. I loved that my vegetables still had a bit of a crunch and the potatoes were really hot. For me when my food is supposed to be hot, I want it really hot. My meal was the perfect temperature and stayed that way through to the last bite.
The waiter checked in regularly and made sure my water glass was always full. I had to pace myself cause there was no way I was going to waste a single bite of this feast. A few more customers came in adding to the ambiance as I slowly worked my way through the plate. It was incredible. The waiter couldn't believe I managed to finish it all.
The dessert menu looked amazing, but there was absolutely no room left. I settled for a coffee before heading out for another long walk to help me digest my dinner.
The price is high, but you get your money's worth. The portion was huge and it was a quality cut of beef. Perfect marbling, tender, juicy and cooked just the way I like it. The total cost for the steak, a soft drink and coffee was around $100.00 including taxes and tip for one person. Add to this the beautiful modern décor and excellent service and you'll agree it's well worth it.
The restaurant and hotel are clean and well maintained. Staff are very welcoming and pleasant, eager to please and make sure you have everything you need. This is the quality and service you would get at a 5+ star hotel/restaurant. I'd rate The Granite Room right up there with the Nobu in Manila.
In fact, it was so good we arranged to have all of my colleagues have dinner there the following night and they were all blown away. We all ordered the Surf and Tundra which was outstanding. The dish came with Arctic Char and Caribou steak showcasing the specialties of the north. Once again I was beyond impressed. The Caribou was better than any meat I've ever had.
Go ahead and splurge, you deserve it. I promise you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back!
Carm the Foodie
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