Le 5e Élément — Restaurant in Compton

I do have some constructive feedback for Le 5e élément, but I could not possibly bear to give it anything less than 5 stars; the food was delicious, the portions very generous, the service impeccable, the ambiance warm and friendly, the music classy – it's hard to think of anything that I would change about the evening we enjoyed there. They really went above and beyond in every way.

The chef is clearly an artist. I don't know this for a fact, but the dishes were screaming it. With vibrant colours and floral touches, every dish was a culinary painting. Such a breath of fresh air and a welcome change from the cold-and-calculated Michelin star-style presentation that so many restaurants seem to be aspiring for these days.

Everyone at the table had one of the three table d'hôte options on offer so I had a glimpse into many of the dishes on the menu. We started our dinner with a two-colour soup (potage du jour): one side Cajun, the other side a turnip-based sweet one. It was magnificent. So hearty and full of love. Like something your grandmother would make you.

With regards to the main dishes, I have two points of constructive feedback that I'd like to pass on, if only as food (pun unintended) for thought. First, I had the lamb shank which was delicious. This may be just my personal taste, but I always prefer the sauce to take the backseat and allow the flavour of the meat to shine. I understand that, in this case, it was a sauce provençale (a tomato-based sauce) but it was a little too strong and overpowered the meat. Since the dish is finished with the whole plate inside the oven, it only made the sauce stronger. I found myself pushing it aside with my knife so as to enjoy the flavour of the meat alone without any distractions. The meat itself was delicious, although a tad on the dry side. A small detail, but it can make a big difference.

Secondly, and lucky for me, I also stole a few bites from the grilled scallops and prawns risotto that the person next to me was having. The seafood was fresh and yummy. The risotto was ever so slightly undercooked (every bite had the odd rice grain or two that had a little bite to them). Again, a small detail, and it didn't stop the dish from being a delightful one overall.

Aside from my finicky feedback above, our visit to Le 5e élément was, without exaggeration, one of our favourite highlights of our holiday in the area. It's a restaurant not to be missed. Go enjoy it yourself and take some loved ones with you. They will thank you. And to end this review on a sweet note, make sure you get some dessert at the end. My favourite was the crème brûlée à l'orange, but honestly, you can't go wrong with...

This place is a real gem, hidden away in the small town of Compton in the Eastern Townships. We had a superb lunch, each dish prepared with care and presented beautifully. Service was excellent. The restaurant is delightful inside, clean and nicely decorated. The menu features all sorts of delicious local products. We...

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