Infinite Dining @ Infinity
A dine review is usually all about the food and service, but often the best meals one enjoys when eating out have so many more components that make the experience fantastic. And so it was for our evening at Infinity in Oyster Bay Beach Resort (OBBR).
My dine companion for the evening had but a few weeks of confinement left. She needed comfort and air-conditioning and made a few conditions about going out. No spicy food; no Indian or Mexican; and the drive to the restaurant should be on a road with a smooth surface. We chose to go to Infinity.
From the turnoff down to OBBR, one starts to feel relaxed. There are glimpses of water on either side of the road; ahead is a very neat and tidy security gate with smiling guards and lush gardens set around the gatehouse.
As we drove through security, I spied what looked like a small kitchen garden to one side. Parking is neat and orderly.
My companion made her way to the restaurant while I dashed back to check out the kitchen garden – I had to see what they have growing and of course compared the green, healthy tomato bushes to mine, which are all but over now. After taking a few pictures to show my companion, who is also a keen gardener, I wandered back past the neat buildings and gorgeous gardens; they appeared to have a grey-water watering system which makes a big difference.
The entrance to the restaurant is through the main hall and courtyard. Even though this resort is set on a peninsular on the salt-laden windward side of the island, there is very little sign of corrosion, rust or run-down appearance. Top management is excellent at keeping things ship-shape. The tiles gleamed, the paintwork shone and the hotel staffers were all smiles.
There has been some great refurbishing going on to both the welcoming bar area and the restaurant situated next door; both face onto the pool area, the entrance to Oyster Pond and across to St. Barths. I was warmly welcomed and shown to our table as I entered the restaurant. I was awestruck at how stunningly elegant the refurbished restaurant is.
The ambiance is one of a more regal era. The blues from the sea are echoed in the paintings and deco, the table settings for the evening we were there were placemats rather than white table cloths bringing things into a more modernistic time. A wall of large arched windows allows one to gaze at the ever-moving ocean just outside. At the far end is an arched nook; no, it is larger than a nook because at the centre is a piano flanked by gorgeous paintings.
The pianist plays classical music with a lively beat. One can imagine couples getting up to waltz and sway between courses bringing back memories of almost forgotten elegant evenings of yore. There are doors at the opposite end of the room that lead out to a patio where one can dine overlooking the stunning large pool. Perfection it is.
Absorbed in this lovely atmosphere, we studied the menu. The theme the evening we went was “Italian Evening.” Actually, we noticed that there were many similar items on both the regular and special menu, all of which sounded delightful.
First wine – for me, not my companion; a tasty morsel of bruschetta with a tomato topping was brought to us that certainly wetted our appetite. We were also brought warmed rolls to nibble on. I ordered a small portion of calamari and cold, thinly sliced Octopus Carpaccio; there was a slight hiccup with the order in that some battered shrimp also arrived. This certainly did not go uneaten.
Succulent shrimp, crispy calamari and almost to-die-for octopus left my seafood craving satiated. My companion ordered a Caprese Salad. I am usually not a fan of this salad as I find the chefs often use tasteless, large beefsteak tomatoes. Well, Infinity chef, you rock as those tomatoes were gorgeous; did they come from your kitchen garden? (I forgot to ask.)
To follow, I ordered the gnocchi – I am on a gnocchi kick these days. This turned out to be a tender and delicious dish with a sublime gorgonzola and chopped pecan sauce. My companion ordered a veal which she thoroughly enjoyed although she did say she found it a wee bland. She can’t jazz things up with pepper or spice for the next few weeks, but she did order some red wine and enjoyed a couple of sips.
We ordered a to-go for the babysitter which we tasted and found it to be excellent; medium-rare beef tenderloin medallion served with asparagus, mashed potato and truffle sauce. For dessert, we were tempted to order what the table next to us were eating – a delicious looking brioche pudding – but decided to share the trio of crème brûlée. Funny how there was none left!
We floated out of Infinity feeling well cared for. Those on the wait-staff are to be commended (happy staff, good service, satisfied customers) – definitely an insight to top management – they must be great at this lovely resort. What a lovely evening; we highly recommend you go there sometime soon.
Info:
Infinity
Oyster Bay Beach Resort
Phone: 543-6040
Open: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Cuisine: International / Italian
Good: Welcome, service, food, setting, parking
Price range: $$
Reservations: Yes
Ratings:
Staff friendliness: ****
Service speed: ****
Restaurant cleanliness: ****
Food quality: ****
Value for money: ****
Ambience: ****
