College graduation. One of the pinnacle moments of one’s life that calls for celebration. I consider my dinner at Le Cirque last week to be one of the last hurrahs I could push off financially onto my parents. Proof? I’m writing this as I nibble on a large side of 85 cent rice cooked with spinach from the work cafeteria. The lovely financial perks I enjoyed as an overpaid undergrad intern must now be allocated towards the more mundane obligations in life – rent, health care, travel expenses, food, savings. And if I was to ever “go out,” I had better spend more wisely in other areas.
I chose Le Cirque not only because of its good reviews, but also for its claimed NYC fame. My parents rarely dine out, preferring the simpler home cooked meals. I wanted their trip to NYC to include dining at a well-known, high class (albeit expensive) restaurant, and Le Cirque had a $35 anniversary pre-fixe dinner menu I wanted to try. While the cafe area was closed off due to a party, we were still offered the anniversary menu in the dining room. Jackets were provided for my dad and brother, since the more formal dining area required the guys to suit up.
The entire table actually ordered the Lobster Risotto as an appetizer; I think there was something about the word “lobster” that screamed “Eat me, I’m an expensive seafood creature!” The risotto was actually my favorite part of the meal, filled with many meaty pieces of lobster mixed in with creamy, flavorful risotto.
We also ordered Smoked Salmon with warm toast and condiment and Crispy Calamari with sweet and sour dipping sauce for the table. Smoked salmon? Not worth the $23 paid, especially since it was salmon I could have bought from Trader Joe’s for $8.99 and the warm toast was well, warm triangular slices of toasted bread. The calamari’s presentation in the dim sum bamboo container surprised us, but the ample rings of fried squid actually paired quite nicely with the sauce (which did not taste like traditional calamari dipping sauce).
My Pavé of Veal Breast with pear, pecorino, and coffee-cardamom scented jus was extremely tender as promised, with the meat falling apart quite readily with a little urging from my fork. The bed of vegetables on top of my veal provided an interesting bitter (but oversalted) taste to the dish, and it was best eaten with a bite of meat and pecorino cheese. The pear did nothing for me, and seemed an odd addition to the dish.
I should have warned my mother before she ordered the Diver Sea Scallops with shiitake, turnip, hot & sour broth, because the waiter brought out exactly what I expected – three small scallops topped with thin slices of mushroom and turnip. My mom’s first reaction was laughter; it was fortunate that I had taken my family out for Korean food two hours prior. While small in size, the scallops were quite tasty.
Wai also enjoyed his Chicken with peppers Basquaise, broccoli rabe, and panisse, the entree with the biggest portion of food.
My second favorite part of the meal? Dessert! It certainly failed to disappoint, and dessert portions were actually quite large. I ordered the Crème Brûlée “Le Cirque”. The top was perfectly caramelized, and I eagerly dug through the dessert to unveil a crème brûlée recipe printed on the bottom of the dish.
I also tried the Chocolate Soufflé and the Floating Island “Le Cirque”, both also recommended. (The Floating Island was better than the one I had in Paris!).
The soufflé was paired with a dollop of vanilla gelato on the side and reminded me of molten chocolate cake. The waiter also presented us with a plate of complimentary small treats to pair with our desserts.
Will I return? Not in the near future, since I can find delicious, comparable food elsewhere for lower prices and less stuffy atmospheres. While I can no longer claim to be a college student, Le Cirque’s dining experience made me age an additional 30 years that evening. One day I will be back for the full menu, as a refined, wealthy old lady who no longer finds pleasure in $1 slices of St Marks pizza and $7.99 Japanese lunch box specials.
Le Cirque
151 E 58th St
New York 10022
(212) 644-0202
On a side note, thank you for the continued support for my food blog! Your readership is much appreciated, and my earlier hiatus can be attributed to graduation and pre/post graduation festivities. Har har. With summer in full swing soon, please look forward to more frequent postings!
I've been told that a certain smile breaks across my face whenever the subject of food is brought up, a smile that radiates the purest forms of delight and happiness. Food transcends beyond the smell and taste of what's presented in front of me; it's an experience to be enjoyed, indulged, shared with those I love. Working and living in NYC continually opens culinary doors, from hole-in-the-walls to upscale (even stuffy) dining. I never take any morsel of food for granted, and I'm often THAT girl at the table found licking her plate at the end of the meal.
