We made reservations for a Saturday night in mid-November, which turned out to be a smart move, as by 8 pm, every table ( only 14 total) was taken. Three older gentlemen were at the entrance as we walked down a few steps to enter the restaurant. We were seated immediately: the experience began! my wife and I had escargot, which you could actually smell the garlic and butter cooking in the kitchen as the chef prepared our meal just about 17 feet from where were seated. The escargot was tender and delicious! We ordered a bottle of the Boujallias Nouveau, which just came to the US this week. My wife had the seafood casserole and I had the duck in a cherry sauce reduction. Let me tell you... the duck was fabulous but the casserole, OH MY GOD! What a perfect dish. The mussles, scallops and shrimp were served over white rice covered with a white wine/butter/garlic/paprika and something else out of this world sauce that sent me into my own orbit!!! WOW!!! I actually couldn't speak after I had a forkfull. I finished my delicious duck, then happily finished my wife's remaining portion ( thank God she was full!) After I voraciously finished every grain of rice and seafood, we shared a peach melba that was T H E perfect ending to a true dining experience. The staff were professional waiters, meaning they knew their stuff. The young man doing the bringing-out and taking-of the dishes was great. A Parisian in training! YOU MUST EAT HERE!!! The patrons were older New Yorkers, probably right from this East Side neighborhood. My wife and I are in our mid 40's and were the youngest people there. I have dined in no less than 3 countries, 19 states, and in over 500 restaurants, and this was amoung the top 3 meals I have ever had. The best could have been the Chilean sea bass at the Bear and B ull at the Waldorf, then the lobster souffle at Chez Le Mer Michelle in Montreal.
Pros: Everything you would want in a romantic French restaurant-great food, easy access.
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