Sauté is the newest bar/restaurant in
Canton to try to differentiate itself from the usual mix of white baseball caps and foosball tables popular around the square. With a newly renovated space and a hot shot chef, Sauté hopes to redefine what people consider a good dining experience in the area.
Booze: Sauté offers a wide variety of booze for the experienced drunk. On tap, there's Clipper City Holy Sheet and McHenry beers, as well as Sam Adams Boston Lager, Yuengling, Bud Light, Leffe Brown Abbey Ale, Bass Ale, Hoegaarden and Stella Artois. Various bottles are also available.
If mixed drinks get you off, Sauté satisfies. The drink menu has multiple martini concoctions from the ubiquitous chocolate to a more unusual pepperoncini 'tini. You can also sip mojitos and orange crushes.
Let's say you're more of a wino than a James Bond shaken-not-stirred type. If that's the case, Sauté still has you covered. The wine list features 23 reds, 16 whites and four sparkling wines. Two thirds of the wines are from the States (mainly California) while offerings from France, Italy, Australia and Chile are also represented.
Food: The food is really the highlight at Sauté. The menu offerings are diverse and seasonal. The meats come from local farms and the quality and flavor are worth the high price.
There are some normal apps on the menu such as hickory smoked chicken wings ($8) mussels ($10) and fried calamari ($9), but it's the more unusual fare where Sauté shines. The Parmesan fried oysters ($8) and the pulled duckling nachos ($10) are outstanding. The Thai shrimp ($9) are refreshing and the avocado adds a welcome creamy component to the dish.
The main entrees range from smoked duck breast and leg confit ($26) and grilled whole trout ($23) to crab and shrimp cakes ($25) and slow roast pork loin ($21). There's even a meatloaf dish ($17) and a pan roasted chicken ($19) if you need a comfort food fix. And just in case you still can't find anything, Sauté also offers grilled pizza.
Digs: Sauté's newly renovated space is comfortable and contemporary. The bar and the dining room are separated by a wall, keeping down noise levels. The corner restaurant features a lot of French windows to allow copious amounts of natural sunlight, but the artificial lighting also adds some charming accents. And for those of us who prefer TV to actual human interaction, Sauté has five flat screens in the bar and five in the dining room (which are not on during dinner service).
Crowd: Sauté seems to have a young and hip urban vibe. The restaurant is hospitable to couples with children as well as the usual pack of guys looking for Jager shots.
Bottom line: The new neighborhood restaurant is starting out strong. Sauté succeeds by providing Canton with modern American food and first-class service in an upscale environment at a moderate price. If this level of service, attention to detail and culinary prowess continue, Sauté will become a beloved mainstay in Canton.
