nice choices for a somewhat upscale lunch. our first time back here since the name change (so many places, so little time) was for lunch today, and it was very enjoyable. little has changed except the name - nicely decorated, solid menu, and very good service - thanks ethan.
we had a very simple lunch - the flounder ($7.59 with a side) grilled, and the tavernsaladwith sirloin ($12.58). the flounder (a small filet) was nicely & simply cooked, fresh tasting, flavorful. the gardensaladas a side was well sized, nice mixtures of greens and veggies, and topped with an excellent blue cheese dressing.
the tavernsaladis large, also full of greens and veggies, and the sirloin was perfectly cooked to order, and absolutely delicious - also chose blue cheese for the dressing. very nice lunch with great service. we'll be back.
-----25 jan, 2012-----
o'so bad. well, we finally tried this restaurant, and as they say in beligum about the national airline, sabena - such a bloody experience never again. this place is segmented, dimly lit (you needed a flashlite to read the menu), noisy (between the large tables and the mindless music piped in, loudley), with no warmth or character. it is located in one of the myriad of strip centers at the intersection of eastchester & wendover avenue. the place is busy, as are its neighbors, thus parking is a challenge - so it begins.
the place was busy early, with several large gatherings - who they were, and why they were gathering i could not tell. the menus are in place on the tables, so you can begin to study them right away - a good thing, because it was a few minutes before our assigned wait person made her appearence. we ordered a ketttle one on the rocks, a glass of merlot, a crab cake appetizer, prime rib (we were assued it was medium rare), and the jumbo shrimp, fried.
the drinks came quickly, and they pour a nice drink here for $7.25, the ice was definitely second by volume. the merlot was nice as well, 14 hands by name. the salads ( came with the entrees) came out very quickly - nice, largesaladwith very good blue cheese dressing.
before we were halfway through the salads, the entrees came out - not a ggod sign because in that short a time, these items are neither cooked or even plated to order - the are pre-assemlied, so to speak. the prime rib was overcooked, and simply was not a good cut of meat - the texture was way off, and with no flavor - the color was an off gray, the kind seen at visitations. the onion rigs with this entree were outstanding, by far the best part of the dish - which rang up at $21.95
the jumbo shrimp was moderately breaded, but also overcooked and chewy. the ff were thin and very nice, if rather sparse. the minute serving of slaw was not at all good, dry and with a strange undertaste - total cost, $16.09 - had to take an accountant to come up with this price.
mercifully, the entire experiece was quick - 40 mintues from start to finish, but it seemed much longer. at no time during the 40 minutes did our crab cake appetizer appear, which we felt obliged to point out to our sweet, but unfocused wait person. total cost was $65, about $1.50 a minute, seems overpriced.
this is a packaged, orchestrated setup with ordinary food, overpriced, served in a loud environment - think village tavern, but not nearly as good. a good drink and decent onions rings can be had for less, and in a better setting.