There is
nothing more exciting for a foodie than scoring a reservation to a new, hot
restaurant. You scour the menu days in advance plotting what you think you are
going to order, you skim the latest reviews and pick out the right 'I-may-just-be-so-cool
–that-I-eat-here-2x-a-week' outfit.Anticipating our last FoodiesInNYC trip to Lafayette made me feel giddy. It had been a while since the ladies got together, and going to Andrew Carmellini's (of The Dutch and Locanda Verde) new hot spot was the cherry on my sundae.
The
evening started with a reasonably priced, crisp and delicious bottle of rosé (reminiscent of the wine I drink on my recent honeymoon in St.
Tropez) and a celebrity sighting - Serena Altschul of MTV
and CBS Sunday Morning fame.
Now,
while Lafayette is French and NYC is having a French restaurant resurgence,
this is no bistro. Ladies and gents, if you want escargots and steak frites, go
somewhere else (like Les Halles). Lafayette is more subtle.
We
started with the charcuterie which including homemade duck mousse, pate, and
other cured meat delights. For $30, it was an unbelievable value and since we
devoured it with thick, rustic bread, we were pretty full.
Post-meat,
we did the frisee salad with bacon maison and poached egg. I was in salty
paradise. The bitterness of the frisee combined with the warm salty
accompaniments was addicting. This was a
highlight for me, but I was alone in my opinion. Anne and Christa weren't
wowed.
We then
shared two spectacular pasta dishes - the evening’s special, which was a short
rib and black truffle ravioli and Fleur de Soliel pasta which had a light cream
sauce with peas. The pastas were done right. The ravioli was paper thin, but
somehow still stood up to the short rib and the generous portion of truffles (which
made us worried that we should have asked the dish's price before ordering! But
don't fret, it was reasonably priced).
While we
all claimed we were too full for dessert (and quite upset about it as the
dessert menu is outrageous), we stopped by the bakery in the front of the
restaurant and picked up some macaroons for a late night snack. Try the
pistachio with cherry filing – tre magnifique!
FYI - Read Foodies' post on the The Dutch
380 Lafayette Street (between 3rd and 4th
Street)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 533 3000
@Lafayette380
Duck mousse, I think I love you.
ReplyDeleteWhether you're a brunch lover, lunch connoisseur or dinner enthusiast, this restaurant ensures that every meal is a symphony of flavors that will leave a lasting impression. Serving a wide range of dishes for vegetarians, vegans and sweet tooths, lower east side restaurants invite guests to embark on a gastronomic journey like no other, where every bite is a moment to savor.
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