Aislinn L.
Google
We had a great experience at Lafayette Tavern - party of 3, lucky to get a reservation on a Saturday as they just recently opened and are quite busy. Atmosphere was moody and cool, dining volume and music were both fairly loud. We had the following for dinner:
Appetizers: leeks, slab bacon, hamachi with crispy rice, potato skins
Entrees: New York strip, spicy vodka shells, pork chop, shoe string fries
Dessert: chocolate mousse
Drinks: Manhattan, daiquiri, federal punch, espresso martini, Pinot Noir
The bacon was thick, tender, and delicious. The potato skins came in a generous portion with tasty chive sour cream and horseradish-cream toppings which you can apply to taste; they also offer a caviar topping option which we did not try. The hamachi was good, however based on other “crispy rice” dishes I have had I was expecting a firmer and more crispy rice base; the rice in this dish was more akin to a pillowy and mochi-esque texture. The leeks were tasty as well, but weren’t a must-have.
Two of us shared the NY strip and spicy vodka shells. The strip was well prepared. We got the accompanying horseradish cream which elevated the experience, and I enjoyed the side of roasted garlic. The shells had a surprisingly light creamy sauce which was delicious. The fries were fine - I was expecting a thinner, crispier fry based on the description, however, we could have just had an off batch. The pork chop was well balanced, juicy, and a stand out for pork chops in my opinion.
The chocolate mousse was more than enough for 3 people to share - rich, creamy, and not too sweet.
The drinks were good - the espresso martini was my favorite, very coffee forward and tasted fresh.
Overall, Lafayette Tavern provided a very enjoyable dining experience. Their execution is impressive considering they have only been open for a few weeks. We plan on going back, and will be looking forward to trying a salad (they were large and good looking), the tartare appetizer, and onion rings.