A good farm-to-table style restaurant in Nyack that has the quality of food that can rival those found in Manhattan. It seems to be the gem of the locals because the vivacious host and order taker seems to be on friendly terms with everyone. However, it's difficult to tell if being a local has anything to do with it, as we were treated to the same warm and inviting reception as everyone else. This was our second visit to the restaurant, and like the first time, came here on the recommendation of a friend who lived in the area. The interior has a warm, cozy, and relaxed atmosphere, which is great for our cold-weather, post-hike, dinner. They seem to be big on improving or reinventing themselves, as some of the menu items changed from our last visit. I was impressed by how knowledgeable our order taker was on every single menu item. We barely needed our menus, as she went on to describe every single dish, from the ingredients to how it was cooked and dressed, from memory. After giving us a moment to decide on what we wanted, we ended up with the following dishes:
Chicken Liver Mousse with Port and Hibiscus Gelee - Although tasty and rich (in mouth-feel), I remembered this dish to have better flavor during my previous dining experience. It was slightly on the bland side this time around.
Spicy Pork Meatballs with Chorizo Tomato Gravy and Aged Provalone - These pork meatballs have great heat! I wouldn't try these if you can't take spice. The pork meatballs have a firm, smooth texture, which again, were different from the last time I tried them, and again, not as great.
Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Chili Caramel, Almonds, and Rice Puffs - Crispy, but still firm to the bite, they were well-prepared. However, I found them a tad on the sweet side from the chili caramel. (Some of the menu items were a play on sweet vs. savory)
Candied Bacon with Brandied Cherry Jam and Pecans - This was a thick cut strip of bacon that was roasted/baked dry with the brandied cherry jam, so it was sweet, but it was also hard to bite down on (think thick and dry beef jerky). This dish was a friend's choice, as he loved bacon and sweet things...
Orecchiette Carbonara with Wild Mushrooms, Pancetta, Asparagus, and Sundried Tomatoes - This was one of my favorite dishes. Just the right touch of cream, with the combination of ingredients I love, made for a very tasty dish!
Short Ribs braised in Red Wine, Spelt Pilaf, Roasted Carrots, and Black Garlic Sauce - The short ribs were extremely tender and separated from the pull of a fork. It had great, rich flavor that tasted of its time being braised in red wine. I enjoyed the spelt pilaf, which was an unusual, nutty take on the base grain. The roasted carrots were abundant and good - cooked, but still firm to the bite (I hate mushy vegetables).
CK Caesar Salad with Baby Kale, Shaved Brussel Sprouts, Focaccia Croutons, Parmesan, and White Anchovies - I love this spin on the Caesar salad. Fresh, crisp vegetables with just the right amount of dressing. A great counter balance to the heavier short ribs dish.
Overall, I thought most of the dishes were well-prepared, and the service was fabulous. However, my palate tends to prefer savory dishes, which is mostly why I'm giving my most recent experience four stars.
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