Greenwich Village | 253 W 11th St (@W 4th St) | NYC, NY | 212-229-2611
Subway 1 (Christopher Street)
Menu check out menupages.com. It will give you a good idea, but it doesn't list everything.
It's summer Fridays at work and I left early today to wander around in the city. I also had my mind set on having a meatloaf dinner at Elephant and Castle. After wandering without cause for a few hours I walked past Tartine on West 4th street and there was barely anyone there. I thought I would take advantage of an early seating since it's usually impossible to get a spot without waiting later in the evening.
I know it's a bit early for dinner but I am hungry anyway so I inquired about a table. Maybe I was a bit too early and was informed that they were serving coffee only and don't start dinner service until 5:30. I decided to walk around and come back. I was almost sidetracked by the Corner Bistro but I still can't imagine why people get so excited about their hamburgers. I don't really like hamburgers for dinner. Sooner or later I will try The Corner Bistro's famous hamburger, but maybe for lunch.
I arrived back at Tartine at 5:30 sharp and got one of the last tables on the sidewalk. It's hot but not humid outside and although I would prefer to sit inside where it's cooler, I don't want to be mushed into a cramped corner. When Tartine get busy the seating is very cramped.
This is my second visit to Tartine, I hope it's as good as my first. Check out my first visit here.
I am surprised to see that the specials menu isn't too much different from when I was here a few weeks ago. Today I am ordering my starter from the standard menu and my main course from the specials. Call me crazy but it in the upper 80's outside and I am ordering onion soup gratinee. Why not? Maybe it will heat up my body temperature so I cool down. The soup is served classically in a stoneware bowl and is topped with melted cheese (of unknown origin). The cheese is nicely browned but not too crusty. The onion broth is tasty and has a good amount of onion and french bread but lacks that sweet caramelized and brown sugar depth of flavor, although it did taste sweet. Unfortunately, it didn't help to cool me down.
I can't remember the exact name but for my main course I ordered a pork cutlet dish. I generally don't order pork in a restaurants because it is often overcooked and dry. Tonight was no exception. I'm not sure if it was pan friend or broiled, but the dish was beautifully presented. That was about it as good as it gets. The pork was pounded flat and cooked with what seemed to be finely chopped scallion and garlic. On the side was a potato galette and an arugula salad. The potato galette was salty and greasy and the arugula salad was "very arugula". I say "thumbs down".
[in my opinion...]
This wasn't as god as my last visit here but it wasn't horrible. I am skipping dessert because last time I was here with friends I thought they were all bland.
Total Bill $23.30 (excluding tips).
I wouldn't let this one dish stop me from returning, but next time I will be more cautious. Truthfully, I really wish I would have went to Elephant and Castle for the meatloaf.
[a sweet finish]
After I left Tartine I walked around the corner and treated myself to some choclate at Lilac. If you haven't been to Lilac you should try it. Their chocolate is really homemade and has a very rich flavor without being over-sweet. I think it's one of my favorite chocolates (after See's Chocolates, of course).
Lilac Chocolates | 40 8th Avenue | NYC | (212) 924-2280
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