You’re invited! Pineapple and Pearls feels like a party as you walk through its doors. We were first welcomed with a cocktail made with absinthe, apricot liqueur, and topped with champagne. We then walked to our seats and were greeted with balloons on the ceiling, waitstaff in velvet tuxedos, and bright colors everywhere. It was a fun and unique way to start the birthday evening.

After a few snacks that included a crepe filled with caviar and cream, we were presented with our first dish of the night, ‘Even if you don’t like lamb.’ While lamb typically has a prominent gamey flavor, this lamb was different. It was mild, and the gamey taste didn’t overpower. It was very good and accompanied by black forest cake and cherries. For the next dish, I ordered the gnocchi in parmesan cheese butter, with a generous amount of black truffles. Overall, it was a great dish. My wife chose the three-cheese ravioli. The menu claimed they would taste like Cheez-its, and they did! It was incredible how that flavor was recreated in such an elegant dish.

The entrees came out shortly after. I ordered the Japanese Surf and Turf dish, which featured grilled Japanese beef shin, white miso-poached abalone, and a sake-based au poivre sauce instead of cognac. I had never had beef shin before, but it was fall-apart tender. The au poivre sauce was also a nice addition to the dish. My wife went for the coffee parmesan risotto. The flavors were harmonious, and it was a delicious dish. As it said on the menu, ‘The person sitting across from you will be jealous,’ and I certainly was!

Dessert was the main attraction, in my opinion, and it did not disappoint. For my birthday celebration, they gave us some thick and fluffy sweet pancakes with a butter candle. We also decided to splurge and get the caviar ice cream sundae. We were given a bowl of ice cream and a tray of toppings, including caviar, sprinkles, gummy bears, and so much more. It was such a unique sundae, and the caviar was a nice addition (though I never thought I would be saying that). Lastly, we received buttered popcorn soft serve. It was a refreshing way to end the evening, and we were amazed by the flavor.

Of all the restaurants we have been to, we felt that Pineapple and Pearls was the most creative in terms of food, flavors, and presentation. It felt like we were walking into a party, and it was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday. Check out photos of our evening in the Restaurant Gallery section of the website!