Our third ChowDownMidtown meal was at the Aristocrat Pub. They had a 2/$30 menu, but we went with three people so my borhter had a regular menu experience while Jeff and I split the CDM menu. Service was great! Vincent showed up to a lovely table on the patio. The Aristocrat is pleasantly surprising. Though it is right on College Avenue (just North of 52nd), it is so well landscaped that you feel as though you are in a lovely courtyard (with some random traffic noise, but still).
Our server, Will, was knowledgeable about the local craft beer on tap (Flat 12 Hlaf Cycle IPA for Jeff) and the CDM menu. We started with the beer cheese crock with Granny Smith apples and pretzel bread, which was delicious. It didn't bowl me over, but it was tasty, and we were very hungry and happy with the satisfying starter. Jeff ordered a Cajun Greens Salad as his entree, a hearty composed bowl of corn, black beans, cajun grilled chicken, tomatoes, feta and mixed greens. This is a man salad (and Jeff thoroughly enjoyed it).
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| Cajun Greens Salad-Aristocrat |
Ryne ordered a burger with grilled onions and cheddar, and it was definitely enjoyable (and looked amazing). I was disappointed in my Portabella Ravioli. The pomodoro sauce was poorly seasoned (too much pepper for the delicacy of the sauce, and the wine wasn't cooked out of it so it had a bitter, hot flavor) or a good match for the ravioli, which was undercooked. This was a failure, but certainly not the worst thing I've eaten.
Dessert was a dense Guinness Chocolate Cake with a fudge-like ganache frosting and raspberry sauce. It was satisfying, if a little on the dry side). All in all, 3/5. We will be back, but we won't hurry. The Aristocrat's service and atmosphere was very nice and the prices were fair. The inconsistent food left something to be desired.
