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“Monument Lane”

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

ite into the sandwich: the potato chip crunchiness of the ciabatta against the cool, luscious meat of the claws and tail. Fantastic. Add a cold beer (there are some nice ones on tap including a Stoudt’s Pils), and you’ll be ready to relocate from Maine to the West Village.

While I  might suggest that the place be called simply “EAT LOBSTSER ROLLS HERE,” its name has some historical significance. It’s revisits the stretch of Greenwich Avenue that was once called Monument Lane, and it feels like many of the good little taverns and locavore hangs you’ve probably been to of late. You’ll step on centuries-old floorboards, stroll past antique maps, and sit at tables made from reclaimed doors. The issue with all these nostalgic surfaces is that while they may look good, and make you feel as though you live some charmed colonial city, they don’t do much for the noise level of a buzzing post-industrial city. The restaurant is quite loud, as the hard floorboards, the big glass windows and the wood-beamed ceilings don’t give the space any sound cushion whatsoever. Voices just ricochet around the room and once it’s full you’ll have a hard time hearing your dining companions. Then again, when you can catch up with friends in 144 characters or less, who needs in-person dialogue? However, if you are one of those old timers (like me) that relishes a verbal exchange of ideas, well, come early, or at least before the tables of boys and girls arrive.

Kiri and I were unfortunate enough to be seated next to a table of about 15 very attractive girls, all of whom seemed unable to summon their inside voices. It became so unbearable that I was ready to call a Time Out for all, or to begin texting Kiri my thoughts rather than continue to shout. Since we are on the topic of noise, I should mention that Monument Lane seems positively Zen-like compared to the cacophony at The Dutch, which is a chamber of deafening noise. It should come with some sort of Surgeon General’s warning. I am a cranky old person now, aren’t I? I used to be a lot more fun, perhaps, but now I am 42. I like a nice conversation with my dinner.

Well, while I like a good conversation, I also like good food and there’s plenty to be had here. I don’t know the last time I had a mushroom and leek tart, but the one at Monument Lane makes me want to have one every day. (Bye-bye waist.) The tart ($12), served ... [more, click below]

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Posted: July 5, 2011

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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