Taste fancies itself a gourmet bistro with an eclectic menu of dishes that sound good on paper but can be mediocre in reality. In the past, the food’s been a bit more exciting. More recently, it seems to need a healthy boost of creativity and flavor.

Ingredients aren’t as fresh as they should be, and food takes a long time to arrive even when the restaurant isn’t busy. Price points are reasonable; however, the overall quality is disappointing. A chicken piccata ($15) advertised capers, tomatoes and olives in a lemon butter sauce, but the rubbery overcooked chicken and chewy noodles rendered it nearly inedible. The grilled vegetable pizzette ($10) fared somewhat better. Small appetizer plates start at $6; the most expensive entree is seared sea scallops for $20.

Unfortunately, the best part of dining at Taste is reading the menu.