It was fun to remember everything just as it was with the floral Austrian China, white linoleum ceilings with wood beams, the crisp linens and even the old cabbage ceramic salt and pepper shakers.
Staff here is attentive and the food is still excellent and many people were dressed up to celebrate special occasions, though there really was not a need for that. Flaky puff pastry cheese sticks and a variety of warm rolls were served... and they made a mean dirty Grey Goose martini that was very large as well.
A simple amuse bouche of beet salad and goat cheese arrived that wouldn't have bowled anybody over but it was nice nonetheless.
The appetizers were all excellent and went from cream of butternut squash soup with ricotta quenelles to an artesian field green salad with pesto vinaigrette and burrata as well as my amazing young grilled romaine lettuce and shaved parmesan with romaine balsamic wine dressing with crunchy fried scallions on top.
Our wine was a delicious Chorey Les Beaune Vieilles Vignes 2015 from Dominique Lavert that could only have been improved if they used a little bit classier stemware.
Main courses were all exceptional with my Seared Long island breast of duck with ras-el-hanout seasoning that had a nice kick as well as Moroccan couscous with almonds, chickpeas and and eggplant-zucchini gratin. The meat was rare to medium rare and cooked to perfection and another big hit was the Dover sole dressed with artichoke barigoule, braised young artichokes, carrots, onions and a white wine emulsion.
Samuel went for the ridiculously priced Tagliatelle with perigord black truffles in parmesan at $90, but said it was spectacular.
I ordered a cheese plate for desert and the accompanying raisin rolls were warm and spectacular and the for cheeses were simply wonderful:
Chevron, Hudson valley camembert, roquefort and my favorite the rich creamy Brillat Savarin!
It was a most enjoyable family evening and a real trip going back in time to this wonderful restaurant.
