Tula, New Brunswick

To be honest, some time has passed since we visited Tula, and I see that the website and menu have changed quite a bit. This being said, I will let you know about the experience we had, and then what looks new and different. Tula is on Easton Ave., the 'main drag' in New Brunswick, and is located next to Evelyn's, which is owned by the same people. The look is modern, but inviting... lots of open space, with very linear furniture, and a glass- mosaic bar. Tres cool.
Tula was boasting a prix fixe menu at the time of our visit. It was a pretty good deal, but I see now that they have done away with it (didn't want to get your hopes up, folks!) I'm going to give you the quick run down... Mom and I ordered the tuna tartare, Dad went with the white gazpacho, and Matt went with the (GASP) scallop. Yes.. Matt plus scallop happened. Weird. To be honest its because the only non seafood options for first course were the gazpacho or garden salad, and he didn't want to waste an order on a salad (his words, not mine!)

Breakdown: The gazpacho was delicious; Fruity, fresh and summery. It was made with green grapes and mint and cucumber and it had a nice crisp bite to it. A little sweet, a little bitey, herbacious and overall just good. Dad was pleased. (Note to reader: this dish remains on the menu to this day, despite the revisions! Get it!) Mom and I adored our tuna tartare. First of all, it was pretty to look at. Second of all, it was tasty. The caviar on top was (infused with, soaked in, mixed with?) wasabi flavored. It really lent a surprising, spicy bite to the sweet, supple tuna. Cucumbers on the bottom were attractive but unnecessary. The portion was large, too.... surprisingly so, especially for a prix fix menu. I enjoyed this. Tuna was fresh, caviar had that pop and sparkle, a bit of citrusy dressing.... all good things. Happy mouth, happy Mom and happy me. The scallops.... womp womp womp. Considering Matt has only JUST recently come around to ANY seafood at all, the scallop choice was already a risk. He likes them (as most people do) perfectly seared on each side, and soft in the middle. These were not that. These were cooked perfectly on one side, but squishy on the bottom and raw in the middle. There's nothing wrong with that in theory, but these were listed as pan seared scallops. It seemed almost like someone took one of those little brulee torches to the top of the scallop and completely neglected the bottom. It tasted good, but texturely, didn't do anything for anyone.

For dinner Dad went with the roasted chicken, Mom and I had the lamb chops, and Matt had the steak (sadly I do not remember the cut, and I see it's no longer on the menu... it was a prix fixe portioned thaaaang). Dad loved his chicken, but to me the star was the veggie mix in the butternut squash (or maybe sweet potato?) puree. So good. So creamy. So satisfyingly sweet, while playing so nicely with the crispy skinned chicken. Yum. Mom and I both thought that the lamb was out of this world. Cooked perfectly (read: pink in the middle with a meaty crust on the outside), it was tender, and full of flavor. It was over a bed of couscous that was better than any I have ever had (to be fair, know that I don't usually like it at all I don't eat a lot of it... but this was still absurdly good). It had all sorts of fun stuff in it... raisins and pistachios and tomatoes. I really enjoyed this dish. A lot. Matt's steak was good, too. A biiiit small, but it was a prix fixe menu (as if you don't remember by now) so of course this is forgiveable. Cooked just as he ordered, it was soft in the middle and had a great meat flavor. Nothing super special or worth noting... just a nicely cooked piece-o-meat.

Desserts were all delicious. Dad got some super rich chocolate thing, Mom and I got a fantastic bread pudding with white chocolate, but Matt picked the winner (BONUS! it is still on the menu, too!) It was a banana empenada, and it was downright insane. Crispy flakey outside, warm, sweet, creamy banana inside, topped with dulce de leche ice cream.... such a treat. So incredible. Hot vs cold, smooth vs crunchy, sweet, rich, so good. Yum. Get that.

While the prix fixe menu has been done away with, it doesn't mean that Tula is not worth a visit. It is SO reasonable (actually it is much cheaper now than it was when we went... Now no entree over 20 bucks! Hooray!) It also seems that the 'lighter fare' (sammiches, namely) are served during dinner hours too, where I do not think it was the case before. It has a much more 'bistro' feel to it now, ya dig? Comfy sounding food as opposed to hoity toity. The space is beautiful, the food is good, the service pleasant... what more could you want?

Tula

http://www.tulalounge.com/

47 Easton Ave

New Brunswick- 08901

732 246 0014