Friday, November 24, 2006

do dine at DISTRICT in the Theater District (NYC)

Located in the Muse Hotel at 103 W. 46th Street, just yards from Times Square, DISTRICT is the Kimpton Hotel chain's newest New York feather in their long list of restaurant plumage. A long cozy room with comfy velour and leather banquettes lots of amber, warm woods, steel and rope renders still a warm autumn feel, which was just right for the day after Thanksgiving. Each evening the prix fix pre-theater option of three courses for $42 is pretty much a no-brainer. The portions are large, filling and while perhaps not excellent, at the level of VERY good.

We started with ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SOUP with SMOKED COD & CAPER RELISH that was perfect because it was not too creamy and rich and used the cod and caper flavors to perfectly embellish the soup. A large portion called SMALL HEADS of LETTUCE with WHITE ANCHOVY CAESAR offered up a delicious portion of baby greens and tangy dressing.

The wine list is not too large at can be a bit daunting when you see several hundred dollar Haut-Brions on the list of say twenty to thirty bottles. We chose a superb ROSENBLUM CABERNET FRANCE 2003 "Kenefick" Vineyard that was superbly strong and spicy at 15.5% alcohol, easily akin to a fine zin. The wine was also served in elegant Schott crystal for even better taste.

The entrees were all huge portions of HERB ROPASTED CHICKEN with WILD ORZO & Bacon Braised Collard Greens; APPLE CIDER BRAISED VEAL (this has a slight surcharge on the prix fixe) with creamy (cheezy rich) POLENTA, Savoy Cabbage and Red Currants and my OLD FASHIONED LAZY DUCK came with long tasty SPAEZTLE and Baby Carrot Saute. The only real thing we did not like was the SO intense richness of the polenta that overpowered everything.

Desserts are perfect sized and tasty from a modern take on a CHOCOLATE CUP CAKE to the excellent CARAMELIZED BREAD PUDDING with Cider Braised Apple & Fromage Blanc Ice Cream. This was a perfectly arranged dish of a rectangular piece of pudding with an extremely chewy caramel topping and the adorable apple on one side and the ice cream on the other.

We headed off to a wonderful performance of COMPANY (although we did not care for the modern staging) with a super cast and are happy to know the theatre district has a new dining destination in DISTRICT.