The Delta: Perfect restaurant on a cold night
Written: Dec 07 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Delicious food, friendly service, fireplace
Cons: Not a lot of low cal choices
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| Profilewriter's Full Review: New York City |
Comfort food doesn't get any better than that served at The Delta, an informal restaurant on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan.
The spouse and I had passed this Cajun-style restaurant a number of times, and the spouse, a big fan of New Orleans cooking had made a note to stop by sometime.
Close to Times Square
Last night, with a cold wind blowing across town from the Hudson, we decided to head downtown to Greenwich Village to inhale the pine scent that fills those streets when Christmas tree stands set up on every other corner. We thought we would stroll along the quiet streets west of Sixth Avenue and find a little Italian restaurant.
But there were no cabs to be had, and we were getting colder by the minute. So we decided to head for Ninth Avenue, a street where ethnic restaurants stand shoulder to shoulder.
Picking 46th Street for no reason at all, we walked over two avenues, turned the corner of Ninth Avenue and ran right into The Delta.
Both of us are supposed to be dieting, and there were not many low cal items listed on the menu outside, but, what the heck, we had been dining on roast chicken and green beans for weeks and decided to give the place a try.
Inviting room
The Delta is small, but not cramped. There is a bar along one side of the room. Paneled in dark wood, it sits under a string of ceiling fans powered by a pulley. There were maybe 10 people at the bar, and a most pleasant group they were. There are also a half dozen tables in the bar area, and that would be a fine place to sit.
We asked for a table early in the evening, maybe 6 p.m., which is very early indeed in Manhattan. There was only one other couple in the dining room and we had our choice of tables. We chose to sit right next to the fireplace which sits against one wall.
It was a perfect cold night spot.
Heavenly macaroni and cheese
The spouse had serious difficulties with the menu; it was full of his favorites. Gumbo, crawfish etouffe, fried green tomatoes, cheese grits, fried catfish, jambalaya; he loves it all.
Appetizers, including crab cakes, shrimp remoulade and the fried green tomatoes are priced from $5 to $7. Salads, most served with blackened fish or chicken, are just $8 to $10. Entres start at about $14 for fried chicken and go up to $20 for cajun specialties. There are also Po' Boy sandwiches for less than $10.
I debated, but what caught my eye were the side dishes. Green and red cole slaw, red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese; they all looked good. My only hesitation was that each side dish was only $3, and I wondered if there was a dinner minimum, as there is in many restaurants.
No problem, the very pleasant waiter said when I ordered macaroni and cheese and cole slaw.
The spouse chose crawfish etouffe.
Everything was beyond outstanding. The etouffe was so good that I've decided that's what I will order next time. The cole slaw was laced with horseradish, and was by far the best I have ever tasted. And oh that macaroni and cheese! Really, it was comfort food incarnate.
Left without Bananas Foster
Portions were ample. Even with a lot of help from the spouse, I left more than half of my dinner. He did eat every bite of his. We looked at the dessert menu, and I was sorely tempted by the bananas foster, but we decided to pass. Desserts run from $5 to $7 and one was richer than the next. I recall pecan pie, bread pudding and various sinful sounding chocolate concoctions. No sorbet here.
Worth a visit
We could not have had a better experience. We enjoyed the zydeco music. Our waiter was attentive. The fireplace was enchanting. And the check came to $29. This restaurant is close to the theater district and to the Times Square area, and I heartily recommend it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Profilewriter
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Location: Trenton, New Jersey
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