Haute Review: Marc Forgione

Consistently Great Food!

Rating: 8.5 (Great)

This is my second time here and I love it even more! As always, the hot bread brushed with clarified butter was an appetizer teaser. The waiter bought out an amuse bouche, which we were pleasantly surprised with. It was a refreshing spoon of shrimp ceviche and a creamy foam starter. We ordered the oxtail mac and cheese yet again because it was so good it didn’t even taste like m+c!! Our fish entrees were outstanding. Even though the waiter recommended the sea bass over the salmon, I thought the latter won over the crispy sea bass, which was equally delicious. The salmon was enveloped in a tasty soft polenta while the sea bass was delightful and perfectly balanced by the sauce. The highly anticipated Banana Souffle in Peanut Butter Sauce dessert (15-min wait) was a little disappointing though; I could still taste the crystallized sugar although I liked that the souffle was light and fluffy. It could have been way better though. Overall, it was a memorable experience and I would highly recommend it for any occasion!

• Pros: Atmosphere, Delicious Hot Buns & Fish Entrees
• Cons: Service can be spotty, Banana Souffle

Amuse Bouche

Sea Bass Entree

Salmon Entree

Banana Souffle in Peanut Butter Sauce

Haute Review: Gotham Bar and Grill

An Exquisite Dining Experience

Rating: 9.0 (Excellent)

Gotham won me over with the $25 Prix Fixe restaurant week lunch in February (note that the 3-course lunch deal is now running at $31, which is still a steal!). The food was exquisite, the service impeccable and the atmosphere elegant (although with a tad corporate air feel).

I loved the refreshing chilled melon salad to start. Then the delightful miso-marinated cod with spring vegetables and foamy purée tasted light and healthy. But the winner was the grilled hanger steak with baby carrots and crispy fingerling potatoes bordelaise sauce; so perfectly cooked, tender and well-seasoned. And to top it off, the Gotham warm chocolate cake left an indelible impression on my mind as the best chocolate dessert I can remember to date.

Tip: Every Monday, Gotham invite diners to bring their own bottle of wine from the featured region of the $75 prix fixe uncorked menu, without the customary corkage fee. In March, the theme is Spain.

• Pros: Warm Chocolate Cake, Meat Entrees, Solid Service

Miso-marinated Cod

Grilled Hangar Steak

Gotham Chocolate Cake