Good start, but then it gets ruined

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

I don't know why it is, but I have a not-so-secret appetite for movies where romance is served along-side the roulade and love is layered into the lasagna. "A Taste of Romance" is a pleasant little rom-com, somewhat pedestrian but served with heart and comfortingly familiar to the palate. The place-setting is overly formal, too clean (if such a thing is possible) and neat. The restaurants, the market, the apartments are all too obviously set-pieces. The required formulaic characters are all there, and you know exactly what's going to happen, but that is what comfort food is all about. Don't be mistaken; this movie is just that, comfort food, there are no exotic ingredients here, only familiar heart-warming fair served in the proper proportions,The casting follows the same recipe, charming and familiar. Well prepared, but nothing outstanding. Except possibly Bailee Madison who plays the daughter. At eighteen-years-old (twelve at the time this movie was shot) she has, in the dozen years of her career, racked up an impressive 50 acting credits, ten nominations, and five awards.

I knew this was a Hallmark film so needless to say my expectations were not very high. But to my surprise, I found myself not only entertained by A Taste of Romance, but actually liking it and being moved by it. The story is simple: two restaurants clash, but then the uptight owner of one and the down to earth owner of the other start growing fond of each other. There's romance in the air! It's really quite good how everything plays out, the performances all around are much better than expected for a TV movie, especially a Hallmark one. Teri Polo, Bailee Madison, and James Patrick Stuart work well together, their interactions work. The film is very obvious, lacks any subtleties, buts that's my only major complaint about it.It's not a good movie by Hollywood standards, but it's a good TV movie.

These past few days i have watched a lot of hallmark movies and i have to say this one is by far the best one yet.If you liked No Reservations and the like then you will definitely like this one! The storyline may not be all that original but its redone very well with its own unique spin. The performances are amazing, the characters very real and so are the stories they tell. Hats off to Bailee Madison. Of course as said before the main and other supporting actors did a good job as well. The entire movie seemed very realistic, not over the top and doesn't try too hard to create a romance or a situation that influences romance; thats why I recommend it. a good heartwarming, funny and light and realistic movie. The best in the series of Hallmark movies i have watched this week!

Finally, a movie that is heart-warming without over-the-top melodrama that dominates romantic movies today or the unnecessary crutch of sex! My husband and I watched it on "pixl" a movie channel (that I did not know about before) and we liked it so much that I actually watched it again with my 8 year old daughter because it dealt with aspects of love,and romance without the hysteria and showed how real- life situations can be full of emotional ups and downs.Sara and Gill own restaurants next door to each other and start off the wrong foot with each other; however through a series of situations, manage to set things right and eventually fall in love with each other. The director has dealt with these situations not only with a pace that it engaging and humorous but also without resorting to sex which unfortunately so many movies these days cannot seem to do without.What a breath of fresh air; Kudos to all the artists in the movie. A wonderful performance with excellent direction!