Cafe des Artistes-great food
Written: Dec 05 '00 (Updated Feb 09 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fine food, good service, great decor, convenient to Lincoln Center
Cons: pricey menu, a little expensive to park in the garages-but less than mid-town
The Bottom Line: For a very romantic dinner, excellent service and good food this restaurant can't be beat. Great location near Lincoln Center. Prices are a bit high.
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| glomarrone's Full Review: Cafe des Artistes |
One weekday in early December, 2000, my husband & I needed to find a restaurant near Lincoln Center. We decided to try Café des Artistes. We found VERY mixed reviews on e-pinions. We decided to try it for ourselves.
The restaurant is located at 1 W. 67th St. between Central Park West & Columbus Avenue in the Hotel des Artistes. It is four blocks from Lincoln Center. Just one block away are three parking garages. Sometimes you can get a parking spot on the street especially if you arrive early. The stately building which is an apartment building and not actually a hotel was built in 1918 with extra high ceilings to accommodate artists' studios. "My Dinner with Andre" was filmed in the restaurant. The whole street is sometimes referred to as "Studio Row".
Several hours before our departure for Manhattan, we called the famed restaurant & were pleasantly surprised that they were able to accommodate us on such short notice. When we arrived at the restaurant we were cordially greeted and relieved of our packages & coats. There was no waiting at all to be seated & we were immediately shown to our table in the rear section of the restaurant. Our table was along side the bar area & seemed, on first glance, to be an unpopular spot. The bar crowd, however, was very subdued & after revisiting the front of the restaurant between courses we were glad we were not seated there. The front area was very noisy & crowded & we liked that we were able to people watch where we were seated.
Food:
Our seasoned waiter greeted us promptly & took our drink order: two glasses of a nice Merlot for $9 each. Our drinks were served quickly.
The menu has more than ample selections to chose from among the offerings. We noticed that there were several listings for vegetarians. Our waiter returned to ask if we had any questions about the menu. I was disappointed that there were no specials of the day to choose from nor were the entrees from the prix fixe menu given until we inquired (they didn't sound very exciting which is probably why the waiter didn't volunteer them).
We decided to choose from the regular menu. Our waiter pointed out several items that he said were excellent.
The appetizers on the menu ran about $9-16. There was Soup of the Day($9), Black Bean Soup ($12), or a Seafood Gazpachio($10). Among the seafood appetizers were Oysters($14), Snails($12), or a combination of Shrimp, Scallops & Snails for $12. Another appetizer that sounded unusual was a combination of Spears of Asparagus, Smoked Salmon, Prosciutto & Pork Loin($14). Although the terrine of Fois Gras($16), & the Country Pate with Walnuts ($12) also looked inviting, we decided on an appetizer of Salmon Four Ways: Smoked, Poached, Dill-Marinated & Tartare ($32 for two). It arrived at our table in a timely manner attractively arranged on a large block of wood with two delicious sauces. The salmon was terrific & we were quite pleased with our choice.
The entrees ranged in price from $25-33. The waiter recommended the Rack of Lamb with potatoes & Ratatouille ($32), the 12 oz. Steak with Garlic Herb Butter($32) or Veal Chop Grand-Mere with potatoes($32). Among the other offerings were: Calf's Liver with Bacon & Onions($29), Osso Bucco of Veal with Saffron Rissoto($29), Steak Tartare ($27)& Beef Goulash ($28). We decided to go with the Rack of Lamb recommended by our waiter. He was right. We each had a tasty green salad with our choice of dressing. The lamb itself was succulent & tender. However, we had requested it medium & it arrived rare. It was none the less extremely delicious. A small basket of rye & pumpernickel bread slices & a tiny crock of soft butter rounded out the meal. The breads were fresh & delicious although they could have been warmer. We were quite please with both the quality & presentation of our meal.
Due to the large portions of our appetizer & entrée, we were unable to try any of the delicious desserts described on the menu. The chocolate desserts looked especially tempting. Each of these costs $10. Next time we'll choose from the chocolate: Torte, Creme Brulee, Caramel Praline, Mousse Raspberry Cake, Bourbon Pecan Pie, the Mousse Cake or what really tempted me, the Peanut Butter Candy-Bar-Mousse Cake. Yummy! Other desserts are a Cheesecake Sorbet with Fresh Berries & Strawberry Coulis ($10), Apple Strudel ($12), Bread Pudding with Apples, Apricot & warm vanilla sauce ($10), Ice Cream Palette ($10) or Chocolattissimo For Two ($25).
Our fellow diners, who, for the most part, were all repeaters as they seemed quite familiar with the menu and the waiter had no complaints about the food or drinks. Since the tables are close together we overheard diners on either side of us rave about their selections which were all different from ours. These diners gave rather detailed descriptions of exactly how they wanted their food & drinks prepared & they were quite satisfied with the results.
Service:
The service was prompt, courteous and efficient. The waiter was quite knowledgeable about the items on the menu & his recommendations were right on the mark. Requests for water were filled promptly as were requests for more butter. The waiter returned several times to our table to see if we needed anything. Our napkins were re-folded several times. A bill was presented promptly. The waiter did not make us feel we should leave after our meal was finished even though the restaurant was full. He wished us a "good night, please come back again" as we departed.
Decor:
This a lovely restaurant beautifully decorated with murals, framed wall hangings & white table clothed tables. Since it was the holidays, the restaurant was aglow with twinkling lights. The back part of the restaurant has a more intimate, less crowded setting. The restaurant has extravagant soft toned murals designed by Howard Chandler Christy. Christy, an illustrator, at one time resided in the building along with many other famous musicians and artists of the post World War I era. The restaurant is known for its romantic atmosphere. The interior with its lush surroundings is a perfect spot for marriage proposals or other special celebrations.
Special Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations:
Our overall experience at the Café des Artistes was quite favorable. All the food was seasoned nicely without being overbearing. The service was professional & efficient. Cafe des Artistes is an upscale restaurant serving an upscale clientele. Our only complaint was the prices on the menu (but this is Manhattan, after all) & the very limited choices for the prix fixe menu. On your way out, pick up a free post card depicting one of the murals by Christy done in 1934 & and send it to someone who you think might enjoy coming here to eat. If you dine after a Lincoln Center performance you may just see some of the city's celebrities dining here. Please note that a jacket is required at dinner time. Everything but the prices was up to our expectations. I would not want to make it my regular dining spot because of the high prices. If you were there previously when the food was not up to par, perhaps a return visit is in order.
If you have an extra special friend who likes to dine in fine restaurants in NY, consider picking up a gift certificate. You will be a friend forever! Bon Appetit!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
glomarrone
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 - Top 200 |
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Location: Cocoa Beach, FL
Reviews written: 167
Trusted by: 287 members
About Me:
It's been fun for 2-1/2yrs. Now it's time to say goodbye. I'll miss you all!
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