From November 17-21, The Foundry on Melrose participated in the OpenTable “Appetite Stimulus Plan.” OpenTable, the top online reservation booking service, recruited hundreds of restaurants around the country to serve three-course meals – $24 at lunch and $35 at dinner – to stimulate restaurant business in America’s down economy. This $35 option turned out to be well worth it.

The Foundry separated itself from many area restaurants by offering a dazzling selection of fresh-baked breads. Tomato brioche with shaved Parmigiano was like a savory cinnamon bun.

Herb-flecked focaccia came with a dish of acidic balsamic vinaigrette.

Our waiter presented a square bowl with a central pile of dried cherries, olives and Feta, then poured over the sunchoke soup. The soup was sweet, salty and creamy, but the Feta didn’t quite work. The normally fluffy cheese melted, becoming gloppy.

Warm biscuits came with garlic herb butter.

Greenspan plated Crispy Skin Salmon with red and golden beets, a streak of beet puree infused with balsamic vinegar, mache and decorative discs of Chiogga.

For dessert, the Pumpkin and Cinnamon Terrine was incredible, both for flavor and textural contrast, with triangles of sponge cake layered with pumpkin cream, a dollop of nutmeg ice cream, a dice of candied pumpkin and crunchy bits of gingerbread cookie.

Overall, the meal was a good value given the cost of the meal ($35) and the quality of the ingredients. We all debated whether it would have been worth the money at full-price. One thing’s for certain: our first visit to The Foundry was overdue.