CDM #2 Aristocrat Pub

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).  

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.

Recess (everybody's favorite school subject)

Ahhh....The highly acclaimed recess. Courtney and Josh, some of my most trusted foodies, raved! I went on a whim, knowing my expectations were far too high and ready for a ho-hum experience.

Not so! The dining room is humorously appointed in what can only be called industrial chic meets cheeky cafeteria ("are these chairs from my high school? I really think they might be...").  The host and waitstaff are serious but surprisingly friendly and low-key. I instantly know we are in for a treat!  The menu, prix fixe every night, is $54 for tonight's selections.  A little steep, but that includes four courses.  You can also add a generously-poured wine or beer pairing for $16 or $10, respectively.

We start with a kobe beef, shitake mushroom and barley soup (they are out of the asparagus soup).  It was so good I tried to reverse engineer the recipe on my napkin (I'll let you know how my version turns out later). The broth was unctuous but light, and the beef had a perfect texture instead of the typical mushy/mealy beef stew quality. It had the slight bite of red pepper and cut by the surprising freshness of cilantro. Amazing!

Next is a fish course.  Scallops are slated for the menu, but they happen to be my one and only food allergy.  They gracefully--and without any innuendo of inconvenience--offer a substitution of Chilean sea bass (score!).  Wow... This may have been the most delicious piece of fish I have ever eaten (and I love me some fish).  Silky, marinated and basted in a light miso broth, served over wilted, dressed spinach.

Third course is beef.  Done is a surprisingly tailored (dare I say classic), French-inspired way.  Sliced against the grain and fanned over buttery pommes puree and finished with a delightful pan sauce au poivre. Hard to beat.

Dessert- often an after-thought after such a scruptious meal, is no such thing. Coconut-pear sorbet garnished with crunchy, buttery shortbread cookies that created a textural contrast that was satisfying. A delightful, palette-cleansing end to a fantastic meal.

My only point of disappointment was the beer pairing, though I give Recess and Executive Chef Greg Hardesty major kudos for including all microbrews. It was a little rough for me.  I realize beer pairing is difficult (and relatively new to the gourmet food scene), but it really didn't enhance my experience.  Next time I will opt for the wine (I just couldn't resist seeing how they would use beer). At least in my experience to date, wine still rules the high-end dining experience.

To summarize, Recess blew me away!  I give it 4.5/5 for its playfully chic atmosphere, attentive service, and top notch cuisine.  It is a splurge (our bill was $150 with tip, but only 1 beer pairing for 2 people) but one well worth your hard-earned money. This will certainly be on my special occasion date list, and I think it should be on yours too. Cheers!


Click here to go to the website.