Jim G.
Yelp
In a word, unimpressed...
The good:
Beautiful property, inside and out. Tuscan style building architecture, which is pretty cozy considering the large dining room. Beautiful view of the Palisades as you're right there on the Hudson River.
The waitstaff were excellent. Attentive, personable, polite with attention to detail.
The not so good:
The food was ok overall, not great. Some dishes better than others. Nothing spectacular, save for one dish. The one bright spot for me was the fried calamari. It's obvious the chef knows what he's doing (which is one reason for my disappointment as I know the talent is there), and I'm sure the calamari was marinated in buttermilk (or some other acidic marinade), which is the trick for tender calamari. One of the best I've ever had.
But, unfortunately, that's where it ends for me. The Rabbit Scarpariello was bland and a bit dry--unacceptable for a proper scarpariello, whether chicken or other protein. Only a scant few cherry peppers and a few fingerling potatoes.
The porterhouse for two was overcooked (medium well). This should NEVER happen. No discernible description of the grade of meat anywhere on the menu. If I'm paying $155 for a Porterhouse for two, I would hope it's prime aged. The fact that it isn't indicated on the menu tells you all you need to know as this is a huge selling point. (BTW, I didn't order it. Someone else did and I tried it). The cut was barely enough for two.
I could go on nitpicking, but you get the picture.
Next is price. Totally out of line, in my view. I am certainly not averse to high price dining. But I expect top quality food commensurate with the price. I have spent a pretty penny on fantastic meals and was more than happy to fork it over, along with a very generous tip. What bothers me is this beautiful place deserves a cuisine that matches its elegance.
The approach here seems to be a call back to the French Nouvelle style, which had fallen by the wayside not long after its inception. Portioning is larger, however, but not by much.
The beauty of the property seems to be the justification for the exorbitant prices. But I go to restaurants for the food first, ambiance second. Not the other way around.
You can have a much better steak (like worlds apart) at Keen's, Old Homestead, Delmonico, etc. for two thirds, or even half the price (considering weight). And we're talking about prime, dry aged.
If the prices were "normal" and commensurate with the fare, I'd give it four stars.