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“Red Rooster, by Rachel Barbarotta”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Night Out	New American	Upper West Side	Moderate	Great

ing to sample the rest of the menu.

Since we had overestimated on travel time, we arrived 45 minutes early for our reservation and decided to have a drink at the bar while we waited for our table. We were excited to see a wide variety of cocktails on the menu, including several house-infused bourbons. I chose the Savoy ($10), a mix of Vodka, Lemon, Muddled Grapes and Agave, and my boyfriend chose the Brownstoner ($11), which was a Nutmeg-infused Bourbon mixed with Cherry Heering and St. Germain.

The bartender carefully mixed our drinks. They were both delicious; the Savoy was bright, crisp and refreshing while the Brownstoner was warm, deep and smooth, although the bartender was a little light on the pour. However, in keeping with Red Rooster's hospitable style, the bartender soon caught my boyfriend's eye, signaling that he was aware that the glass hadn't been completely full when poured, and offered the next drink on the house. This was a small detail that set a positive tone for the entire meal. By the time we had finished our drinks the table was ready.

We walked into the dining room and were shown to a cozy table for two facing the open kitchen. What a treat to dine while watching the chefs cook my food. The menu at Red Rooster is a collection of classic American dishes with a touch of Samuelsson's creative flair. He aims to celebrate the rich heritage of our national cuisine with his inventive style.

After much debate over what to order, we chose three dishes to start. First up, the Dirty Rice & Shrimp with Aged Basmati and Curry Leaves ($10), which was a rather small portion, but it certainly packed a lot of flavor. The shrimp were plump and well seasoned with just a touch of heat, and the rice was fragrant with savory and sweet spices.

The Chicken & Egg with Spicy Sauce & Seared Liver ($15) was like someting from a comfort food playbook:  a warm, hearty chicken stew, with seared chicken livers, topped off with a perfectly cooked egg that ran to every corner of the plate when broken.

The Pulled Pork with Rainbow Slaw & Lemon Aioli ($8) sandwich tasted strongly of vinegar, but it was a welcome spin on a classic dish.

Pleased with all three selections, we began to contemplate our main course options. Several friends who had dined at Red Rooster before us said we absolutely had to order the Fried Yard Bird with White Mace Gravy, Hot Sauce & Shake ($18) as ... [more, click below]

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Posted: February 25, 2011

Other restaurants in Upper West Side :
+ 'Cesca   + Asiate   + Blue Hill Stone Barns   + Per Se   + The Neptune Room   + Spigolo   + Telepan   + Aix Brasserie   + 'Cesca   + Bar Boulud   + Dovetail   + BarBao   + Dinosaur Bar-be-Que   + Kefi   + Bar Luna   + Ed's Chowder House   + Red Rooster, by Rachel Barbarotta   + Loi by Dara Pollak   

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