Gail B.
Yelp
This gourmet restaurant is easy to find, and it is also in a shopping center that is plentiful with parking spaces.
Around 7p, I sat at the bar, which had no TV, but I am not complaining because I liked the lively, talkative crowd seated there. We had good conversation.
The hospitable bartender, Orlinda, handed me a creative, yet affordable menu that includes appetizers such as duck empanadas, stuffed oven-roasted mini pumpkin (quail-pumpkin-mushroom-cheese risotto), tuna ceviche, burrata (crispy eggplant, pepper jam and balsamic reduction), and Hudson Valley Foie Gras.
Prices range from $10 to $21.
The real bargain is the $40 price-fix menu that includes any appetizer, entree and dessert.
Entree choices are many items that are pan-seared. Examples: pan-seared yellowfin tuna, pan-seared duck breast, pan-seared shrimp, pan-seared scallops, and pan-seared Spanish octopus. Prices range from $23 to $40.
I did the price-fix option and ordered the mini pumpkin appetizer and the duck entree.
The pumpkin was outstanding in every way especially the surprisingly large, meaty pan-seared piece of quail inside. Most quails that I have tasted in other restau are usually bony.
The duck was delicious, but I had to salt it because it was bland; however, I find that duck usually comes out bland no matter how long it is seasoned in advance.
Dessert was fabulous. I had the hot rice pudding, made from raisins, cinnamon and condensed milk. Usually I do not order rice pudding when I dine out because I can get that anywhere. I wanted to order the pumpkin bread pudding that comes with pumpkin ice cream and creme anglaise sauce, but bar regulars convinced me to order the pudding, and I have no regrets because it was divine
To drink, I had a club soda with Angostura's Bitters. The charge was a pricey $3.95.
The bill came out to $47.74 including tax.
Not bad for a gourmet meal after work on a weekday at the bar.