Among starters on the current menu are fried oysters with thyme-marinated vegetables, grilled quail salad, tuna carpaccio with a citrus vinaigrette and crabcakes with avocado remoulade.

A warm quail salad and a warm grilled chicken salad are among the summer inspirations.

"Foxwoods doesn't have anything like this," one friend said after our frenzy of quail salad, buffalo tenderloin and coconut panna cotta subsided.

This 20-seat (including two at a narrow counter) on-a-shoestring spot serves sophisticated fare like grilled quail salad, but no beverages other than coffee, tea or water.

At least its equal is the quail salad with those same greens including string beans topped with a moist, partially deboned bird with a sprinkle of cherries.

The menu offers grilled quail salad over field greens, Nepalese spring rolls, Rocky Mountain trout and sauteed elk tenderloin with a portobello mushroom sauce.

Starters include sauteed chanterelles with potato crisps and smoked quail salad.

Today, a grilled quail salad and a smoked duck breast salad with caramelized walnuts will be specials.

Some experiments have been truly terrible, like the smoked quail salad, now retired, and a sweet, watery consomme with gummy dumplings.

Warm quail salad, well-prepared veal chops and dessert souffles brought dinner for two to $175 with wine.