Thursday, February 20, 2014

M. Wells Steakhouse

Inside an old garage lies the latest M. Wells incarnation. A lush, lavish spot with wallpapered ceilings and chandaliers. An open kitchen and otherwise nicely spaced seating await those with reservations, otherwise a spot at the bar is available. On tap beers from Rockaway Brewery are available for $6 and mine was lovely- love the local brew. Service starts with a pretzel roll and plain rolls from TomCat Bakery. Good rolls, but I thought they would do their own bread. A ceasar salad was laden with parmesan and a hint of anchovy. I wasn't wild about the ceasar. Better was the East Coast oysters chock full of flavor. The main courses though did not disappoint- Beef butter for $25 with a side of Bernaise and aligot for $10. The beef butter is a fatty piece of Kobe beef cooked perfectly medium rare. It is a small, but loud piece of steak, not gluttonous- just the right amount. Cheesy French style mashed potatoes were the perfect accompaniment. Also, rocking here was dessert, housemade chocolate and caramel were the perfect finish to an exciting meal. GO!

Sunday, February 16, 2014

The Clam NYC

The Clam is far from a clam shack like so many that have sprouted around town. It is a corner spot in the scenic West Village with a local, sustainable mission and food that speaks. Hot, Parker House rolls baked in house are dreamy. A clam dip with zesty chips- the dip is good, could have been more lemony or peppery for me, but the chips were crispy, crunchy perfection. Also, well conceived was a butter lettuce salad, aged cheddar, apples and crispy pumpernickel with buttermilk dressing- fab. The spaghetti with clam sauce sprinkled with arugula was $22. Loved the arugula- I would have liked a richer, spicier sauce, but a good dish nonetheless. The star of the meal was dessert. All desserts are nine dollars. My chocolate, banana pie over chocolate ganache was spectacular. Nods to the pastry chef. GO!