from one of my features with the Fort McMurray CONNECT
Last time I saw a facelift this impressive it was on Phyllis Diller or Joan Rivers.
Say arrivederci to Tio Mario Pizza &Steak House and ciao to Atmosfere.
Walking into its Biggs Avenue location last Friday my mouth dropped agape…slack jawed.
Wow! Double take. Wow!
Greeted by a smartly dressed gentlemen named George Vechimol, I quickly inquired, “Uhhhh…is it OK that I wear dress shorts here?,” in regards to my attire that evening.
“Of course it is. Come this way.”
Right away you know you are in a classy restaurant. We are talking classy with a capital C here folks unlike some other restaurants that are Classy with a Capital K that only try or pretend to provide a fine dining experience.
Opened only a week or so, Atmosfere still has a few kinks to work out in regards to finalizing the menu and such but talk about a visual experience. Right from the hanging lights shaped like diamonds to the rustic ceiling trim.
In the physical setup there are three basic sitting areas each with their own sort of theme.
At the front there is a large open room, kind of like a sun room, to which co-owner Ian Dirom describes as “our Paris room as it has a large mural of the Eiffel Tower.”
The main open area with wooden chairs, is accentuated by a large bar area which reminds one of Cheers a wee bit with its rustic but modern setting, including cupboard with multi-coloured lights that add a certain touch of big city eloquence. This main area also boasts five large flat screen televisions on the wall that have rotating photographs of various themes be it the Scottish countryside, flowers or the cannels of Venice. Appetite for the eye.
“With these (rotating photographs) we can created a slightly different ambience and atmosphere,” said Dirom.
The back room is really what vaults Atmopfere to the next level with its red vinyl booths and subtle lighting for the romantic type.
Along with business partner Osama Beniameen, Dirom says the menu will include “Italian with other European influences. We want people to come in and leave impressed and excited with the fine dining and service and social environment we will create. We will keep the concept fresh and exciting.”
Chef Marco did his magic this evening as our dinner- Table d’hôte with appetizers and desert – was New York steak and a Chicken A L’orange.
The entire experience was worth the dip into the wallet.
What Atmosfere may suffer in Location, Location, Location – 104-9925 Biggs Ave – it makes up for in Class, Class and Class.
For more info give them a dial at 780- 750-5767…tell them the stunned looking guy who came in last week in dress shorts sent you.
Newfie87 1 year, 9 months ago.
