Following a winter season spent primarily in Montana I was more than ready to return to the East Coast for spring and immerse myself in some big city culture and dining experiences. Rather than trying some of the new restaurants opening in New York, I turned my attention to revisiting some old standbys that I had been craving over the last few months.
In chronological order here are three of the noteworthy spots I revisited in the last month. First off was Jean George’s ABC Kitchen, which showcases American cuisine and is a reliably delicious destination to sample some early spring dishes. We opted to go following a matinee (more on that later) and showed up a bit early for our 5:30 reservation, hence the numerous empty tables pictured below though the restaurant quickly filled up after we were seated.
The service was informal yet attentive and professional, and the food was bursting with freshness and bright flavors. ABC is not necessarily exciting or ground-breaking but you can depend on it for a satisfying and tasty meal time and again.
While the apps and mains were pleasing (chiefly the fresh pea soup), if you know me you know I can’t resist dessert, especially a hot fudge sundae (in this case a pretty epic caramel popcorn sundae) so this is where I focused my attention while my dinner partners enjoyed the sticky toffee date pudding as well as ABC’s signature classic chocolate layer cake (consensus was it was a bit dry).
The second and most anticipated meal was at Le Veau d’Or, an UES classic dating back to 1937 that has been on my list to revisit since it’s reincarnation a couple of years ago. Le Veau d’Or had faded into obscurity and mediocrity before Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson took over and breathed new life into the classic spot while keeping all of the best features intact. The tiny restaurant is perfect in so many ways, if you had frequented it in years past it still seems familiar (thankfully the iconic red and black floor remains), while at the same time much improved.
The vibe is terrific, mostly because everyone who is dining there is genuinely happy to be doing so. The menu (offered only as a $125 prix fixe option) features an array of classic dishes which forces you to sit back and enjoy an indulgent meal.
There is something for everyone on the menu, even for those who are not big fans of French cuisine (specifically my husband). The first order of business once we were seated was to study the menu and sip a picturesque Marie Antoinette cocktail (made with tequila, Orgeat syrup and lemon). Cows feature prominently all throughout the restaurant and they add an adorable sense of whimsy, even the butter is protected with a cute bovine portrait.
After some consultation with our server we finally decided on our dinner order, and thankfully he seemed delighted with our choices. One side note, we opted to bring along a bottle of wine even though they charge a hefty $100 corkage which may seem excessive, but the one negative about Le Veau d’Or is their weak wine list, and we wanted our full experience to be exemplary.
We enjoyed every dish we ordered though as a gluten free vegetarian my options were somewhat limited. I settled on the Escargots Provençale (sans the toasted brioche caps) as well as the Homard Macédoine (lobster salad) while my husband dug into a Salade Lyonnaise (frisée with lardons) and Hanger Steak Au Poivre with Frites (self explanatory).
We both shared a perfectly dressed Salade Verte before we continued on to the Île Flottante (perfect), some complimentary cookies and an espresso.
I loved our dinner experience at Le Veau d’Or, not so much for the food though it all was very good, but more for the experience of stepping back in time to a true UES institution. If you are feeling nostalgic for a very specific slice of NY, book a reservation asap.
We kept it classic for our third restaurant, revisiting Harry Cipriani at the Sherry Netherland on 59th and Fifth for some Italian favorites and great people watching. Having recently stayed at The Casa Cipriani Milano (which you can read about here) we found the food not nearly as good as it was in Italy (obviously, how could it be??) but in truth the food is kind of secondary to the whole experience.
We arrived at the peak of the dinner service at 9 pm on a Saturday evening and were seated at a primo table with a view of all the action. The service was professional if not initially a bit brusque, but they lightened up as the evening went on.
A surprising issue with wine service at Cipriani; the list is fine but the fact that they serve it in such basic glasses is a little surprising. I am not one of those people that bring their own stemware to restaurants (they exist!) but if I were, this is a spot I would be sure to pack the proper glasses.
The cuisine at Cipriani is fine with the highlights including the fritto misto (in my husband’s opinion) and the vanilla meringue cake (in my opinion). Once again, the dessert was a highlight, I ate all of the meringue while my husband focused on the cake. If you pay Cipriani a visit, and you should, be aware that you are mostly there to soak up the atmosphere. Put on your best Italian outfits and enjoy.
It may seem as though our main activity in NY is eating, but we managed to do a whole lot more during our recent visits to the city. We saw two Broadway shows, the first one being Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) which although it has a silly name is absolutely worth seeing; it is a lighthearted, upbeat and just totally fun original musical with two terrific young stars.
We also saw Every Brilliant Thing with Daniel Radcliffe (his run is about to end and Mariska Hargitay will be taking over). While the subject matter is a bit heavy it turns out to be completely joyful and life affirming, a perfect way to spend an afternoon. If you happen to have Broadway averse spouses this show is a winner because not only is it a feel good experience it is also very short, less than 90 minutes with no intermission.
A few other highlights: when wandering around the UES a great place to stop and refuel is The Mark. The restaurant bar is perfect for meeting friends and enjoying some spring pea guacamole (delicious) and strong coffee, which is exactly what we did.
Viewing the Matisse show at Acquavella Gallery on East 79th was a true highlight, but sadly the exhibit only runs until May 22. The works displayed were stunning as was the setting, if you had an opportunity to view it you were lucky.
Marcel, the new restaurant at Sotheby’s at the Breur is at the very top of my list to secure a reservation at. We popped in to get a glimpse of it’s utter fabulousness and pick up a pastry (a massive Palmier) at La Mercerie Pâtisserie which is located within the restaurant and open to the public without a reservation. Even though Marcel is new it oozes old NY glamour and I absolutely cannot wait to go.
We also managed to experience two meals at neighborhood spots which were both packed and buzzy: Miriam on the UWS and Spiga on Lexington Avenue , they were fun and local but not sure I would make a special trip for either.
I have lots more NY adventures coming up, as well as loads of international travel so please subscribe if you want to stay in the loop.