Talk about ambiance, if I could step into a living room on the page of a Pottery Barn magazine, I imagine it may feel something like this. My guest (we’ll call him Sebastian) and I were quite charmed when we arrived at the Village Square Restaurant in downtown Winchester; we both instantly felt the warmth of the atmosphere, it felt like home.

As we entered the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by a tastefully dressed waiter.  Clearly, making reservations paid off as we were seated at a table for two nicely situated just across from one of the beautiful fireplaces; it made us feel very special.  Once seated, we then had the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and charm of the room.

The walls were a rustic exposed brick and the floors were made of wide wooden planks; this building has history. Black and white photos tastefully adorned the walls and vases of bamboo dotted the restaurant adding a modern touch. The restaurant was a bit narrow, however, this added to the coziness. The furnishings were smartly arranged so even though we were across the room we could view the fireplace and delight in its welcoming glow. As a slender gal I was thrilled that I could remove my jacket since I always find restaurants to be chilly. The Village Square, on the other hand, was comfortable and I delighted in its warmth.

The waiter promptly presented us with the wine list and menu.  While he was getting our water we had time to peruse the wine list.  We chose not to order wine since the only option was to purchase a bottle; the waiter did not mention if one could purchase by the glass. We then took a few minutes to review the eclectic menu, which featured everything from Sesame Crusted Tuna with Soba noodles and bok choy to a Lobster Spaghetti made with Maine lobster in roasted tomato primavera sauce over spaghetti noodles.  The time came to make our dinner choices and it was a difficult decision.

Round One: The Appetizers. Sebastian and I debated over who would order the shrimp bisque. It seems the rules that apply to shotgun also apply when it comes to appetizer (note to self). Since Sebastian called the shrimp bisque first...he won. Sebastian one, me zero. I decide on the crab cake.

As the time passed, Sebastian and I began to wonder if the waiter had personally gone to the ocean to catch the little crustaceans sea creatures needed to prepare our appetizers. The wait may not have been so long if we had been left with some bread or at least some goldfish crackers to keep our appetites at bay. When our apps were delivered, I was glad we had decided to share our selections. Don't get me wrong, the crab cake served on a bed of mixed greens with a red pepper remoulade was quite good, but the shrimp bisque made up for the delay. Served in a petite bowl, as to not ruin one’s appetite, its rich creaminess created a memorable blend of flavors.

Round Two: The Main Course. Sebastian, in typical male fashion, ordered meat n' tatters. He chose the special, a whopping 18 oz bone-in rib-eye, called "The Cowboy Chop." GIDDY UP! I went for the scallops, a proportionately more appropriate meal for a lady such as myself.

While finishing up our starters I noticed the other guests in the room all appeared to be enjoying their meals. I also realized that everyone did indeed have a basket of bread; I was no longer feeling special but a bit neglected until my plate was placed in front of me. Perfectly arranged atop a yam hash sat five large pistachio crusted scallops; each individually topped with wilted spinach. The spinach's dark shade of green popped against the golden orange hue of the yam hash and made for an attractive plate. The pistachio crust coating added a sweet/salty crunch that complemented the perfectly cooked scallops. The spinach, even though an attractive addition, did a disservice to the main course. When combined with the scallops it was overpowering and took away from their delicate flavor; Sebastian agreed. I ate the spinach on the side and thoroughly enjoyed dipping the scallops and the yam hash in the accompanying white wine sauce.

Sebastian cut into his favorite cut of meat which was served with a side of potato wedges and a sauce containing onions and tomatoes. "Well," he said, "It's mediocre."  The cowboy chop, although cooked as ordered, offered very little flavor. I tried the steak and had to agree that even though it was a nicely presented cut of meat it was bland and we didn't believe that the steak had been seasoned. Perhaps it was the chef's intention not to disguise the natural flavor of the chop but it left our taste buds disappointed. Sebastian regretfully added salt to his plate.

After we couldn't take another bite the clock started ticking again. We sat in front of our all but cleared plates and waited for what seemed like an eternity. As the time passed, my eyes wandered around the room.  I glanced down to my left and to my delight saw a trap door in the floor—another unique detail of the interior. How cool! I daydreamed that if I were to return to the Village Square on a date I would purposely request this very table. That way, if things started going south I'd have a quick escape route. Finally, our waiter is walking our way. He appeared as though he was about to breeze right by but I was able to catch his gaze and he removed our plates and returned with a dessert menu.

The Final Round: Dessert. Having learned my lesson, I immediately laid claim to the Crème Brulee. We were now even in our shotgun-like game. Sebastian went with our waiters suggestion, the Cubana Coffee Toffee Crunch which was a double chocolate brownie topped with a coffee mouse. The Crème Brulee was nothing short of amazing. Sebastian and I both agreed it was by far one of the best Crème Brulees we had ever had. From the caramelized sugar crust to the creamy vanilla bean speckled custard underneath, this was a truly blissful treat. Not too sweet, not too rich, but just right.  The Cubana Coffee Toffee Crunch would make any chocolate and coffee lover perk up. The two flavors perfectly complemented one another but did make for a rich follow up to our meal. I would suggest sharing this one between two.

Although, we had a less than attentive waiter, the food and ambiance would lure me back for another try.  The next time I am in downtown Winchester I will stop by, at the very least, to enjoy the atmosphere and the warm fire while indulging in another serving of the oh so delicious Crème Brulee.  I will also make a point of stopping in V2 Lounge and Piano Bar adjacent to the Village Square Restaurant. Rumor has it, V2 has an extensive list of martinis and on Friday and Saturday evenings you can enjoy live piano music; sounds like a great night out on the town if you ask me!