A trip to Allium is kind of like visiting a good friend - a rich good friend.
I say that because the dining room feels exactly like a dining room in a nice townhouse with a nice distance between the tables (so that you don't keep knocking elbows or catching the glance of a neighboring table), lighting that is neither bright nor dim, and an atmosphere that feels less like a restaurant and more like a home. The only difference, is that the food is clearly much more sophisticated. From the fresh house-baked bread served with candied bacon butter to the parsnip parfait. Even the sides are jazzed up, peas with bacon & caramelized onion, green salad with thin slices of dilled radish.
Definitely on par with a number of top notch city restaurants, and infinitely more personal, with a slightly slower in tempo, which is perfect when you just want a relaxed lingering meal.