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“Cafe Cluny”


  Occasion: Cuisine: Area: Cost: Rating:
  Night Out New American West Village Moderate Good

ash;fork tender, but not overly so. They had some heft and muscle that I liked. The grilled squid “paella style” risotto ($13/$24) was a bit disappointing. The rice was silky yet chewy and was cooked in a seafood stock that was thrown into carnivore’s territory with the addition of rich smoky bacon. But the grilled squid piled up on top of the rice was charred on the outside but somehow the interior was quite slimy. The cod, however was terrific—pan-roasted so it had a crispy skin, it was topped with a sweet piperade and set on creamy polenta ($24).

And our sides were mighty fine—roasted brussel sprouts tossed with double smoked bacon and apple butter, and bright snappy haricots vert, generously salted and sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts ($8). I love good sides. There are nights I think I could just eat sides and be happy. (With a bottle of wine, of course.)

The restaurant was in full fabulous mode by the time our dessert—a Concord grape tart with peanut butter ice cream—arrived. Every early Winter fashion trend was on display—skinny jeans, opaque tights, long knit tunics, vintage boots galore. Sadly, I was in none of these. I felt like the new (pre-makeover) girl at Conde Nast. But Kiri and I were quite enjoying the people watching. And we hoped to get some more in before dessert arrived, but it flew out of the kitchen arriving just minutes after we ordered it. The tart was beautiful, and quite dainty. It was tiny actually, and resembled a mini linzer torte, with a dark delicious jelly center and butter cookie crust. While the pastry crust was too dry, that peanut butter ice cream was damn good.

As we lapped up the last of our ice cream, a manager who was setting the table next to us leaned down and asked if we had enjoyed our dinner. We told her that we had, but we did also tell her that we did feel rushed, that the food was coming out too quickly. She was genuinely apologetic and assured us that it was a mistake and that they were not trying to turn tables quickly. She invited us to linger as long as we liked. And I felt like she really meant it. (With breakfast and lunch on the way next week, she needs to because there will be ample opportunity to linger over coffee and croissant and the morning paper as well.)

And so I had a coffee (dark, hot and great), and Kiri ordered a glass of dessert wine, and we lingered. Why not? We had lots more to discuss—I ... [more, click below]

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Other restaurants in West Village :
+ Jefferson-- Closed   + La Palapa Rockola   + Sumile   + Babbo   + Tasca   + AOC Bedford   + Home   + The Spotted Pig   + Barbuto   + Numero 26   + Mas   + August   + Alta   + Cru   + Blue Mill Tavern-- Closed   + Employees Only   + Lassi   + Metropol--Closed   + Turks and Frogs   + Bellavitae   + Yumcha-- CLOSED   + Gusto: SEE EARLIER REVIEW; THIS CHEF HAS LEFT GUSTO   + Perry Street   + Home   + Ditch Plains   + The Little Owl   + Cafe Condesa   + Cafe Cluny   + Gusto   + The Waverly Inn   + Morandi   + P*ONG   + Perilla   + Soto   + Market Table   + Centro Vinoteca   + Barfry   + Dell'Anima   + Bar Blanc   + Smith's   + Commerce   + Elettaria   + Bar Q   + Cabrito   + 10 Downing   + Minetta Tavern   + Braeburn   + Scuderia, by guest reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Bar Blanc Bistro by Guest Reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Joseph Leonard   + Bar Henry, by Guest Reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Kin Shop   + Monument Lane   + Wong   + Bin on Bleecker, by Dara Pollak   + Ristorante Rafele   + Cole's Greenwich Village by Guest Reviewer Claire Jaffe   


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