Fixed Price $35.00

• Hazel-nut crusted Michigan lake perch with hackleback sturgeon caviar, Harry's Farm micro greens, verjus hazelnut vinaigrette and organic apple cider reduction
• Midwestern coq au vin of Minnesota free range chicken, golden potatoes, baby turnips, organic carrots and wild button mushrooms
• Bittersweet chocolate creme brulee with raw sugar crusted cornmeal biscuit, black berry poached Anjou pear, and pumpkin seed brittle

Heartland is one of those restaurants that you just wish you had in your neighborhood. Cozy on a cold winter night, soft lighting to make everyone look great, great wine, amazing food, an ever changing menu and most important of all a chef who knows how we should eat whether we like it or not. But, alas, we can not all have that in our neighborhood. I am quite frankly glad to have a restaurant like this within driving distance.

It was Steve's birthday and we were leaving the next day for a weekend away in northern Wisconsin, so perhaps I was a bit more sentimental than normal, but I really, really liked this place. I think part of the reason is I really love fixed price menus, I love even more a fixed price menu with wine flight included, but that is another story. Heartland had a vegetarian and non vegetarian fixed price menu. I chose the non vegetarian. They start you with an amuse buche and on this evening it was a pickled cow's tongue. Now the chef is a smart person, he knows if he puts that on the menu very few if any will order it, but yet he feels it is important that we expand our horizons a bit and he gives it to you anyway. It was very good. My lake perch was very good, the apple cider reduction was extraordinary. The chicken entree was not the highlight of the meal, but it was very good as well.

Before dessert they bring out a cheese course. This evening it was an aged cheddar that was heavenly with homemade crackers, homemade crackers! Again the chef knows we should all have a cheese course before dessert, but we would rarely order if it were on the menu. The dessert was one of the best desserts I have had in a long time. Let me first say that typically I hate creme brulee and panna cotta and all those creamy custard things that people always talk about how much they love, but this creme brulee had bittersweet chocolate in it and it gave it such a nice touch that I had to like it. They served it with a cornmeal muffin, a bit of pumpkin seed brittle, and a piece of poached pair. To top it off they served little pots of really good tea from the Tea Source. Now the little pots of loose leaf tea and coffee were not cheap, but then they are several steps above the usually sub par tea bags you are offered at other restaurants. In fact, usually I will drink coffee even though I prefer tea because the selection is so bad. I know waah wahh your life is so tough, Renee, deal with it, but all I am saying is I am willing to pay a bit more for a great cup of tea.

If you live near Heartland and have not been, by all means make reservations this very minute. If you are far away from Heartland, make reservations an evening soon to drive over and enjoy a leisurely, amazing meal.

• Organic red kouri squash soup with toasted pumpkin seeds and maple syrup sour cream $8.00
• Grilled Northern Pride Farm elk strip loin steak with brussel sprouts, duck leg confit and roasted shallot sauce $25.00
• Wisconsin cranberry-white chocolate budino with cranberry cherry marmaletto, vanilla scented goat cheese, ginger creme anglaise and a cinnamon stick tuile $8.00

Just about everything at Heartland is exquisite. The simple, elegant decor is special; I especially liked the way the restaurant uses its glassware as artwork. It’s modern and homey all at once, which sums up this great restaurant.

The squash soup was outstanding. Be forewarned: if you can’t fathom paying $8 for soup, this may not be the place for you. However, if you know and love quality ingredients and you’re willing to pay for flawless service and presentation, $8 starts to seem like a bargain. Maybe you stop right there, kiss the chef and staff for sharing the best soup you’ve had in months, jump for joy, and save your loose change forevermore so you can indulge in the soup over and over again.

The elk strip loin steak was done medium rare, which was absolutely fantastic. I’m not afraid of mad cow disease yet, but if it spreads too far east, this will make for a wonderful alternative. I would hope that even the non-brussels sprouts lover would appreciate and finish Heartland’s fresh, simply prepared rendition.

The budino was not the best dessert I’ve ever had, but it was delicious. I wouldn’t go to Heartland just for the dessert, but it was worth the money spent. Looking back at the meal, I would definitely consider one of the fixed price meals next time to save a few dollars. Either way, three courses are a must here.

The final things that take Heartland over the top are extra tasting courses that the restaurant offers free of charge. The night we visited, there was one course of beef tongue with pesto and cabbage, the other course was black diamond cheese with homemade crackers. As Renee mentioned that night, few people would order these separately for about $5 each, but they are wonderful once you try them. The beef tongue was thinly sliced and surprisingly good (hopefully, mad cow disease can be contained). The cheese and homemade crackers made a great pre-dessert course.