Peachy Picks Brasserie
If you love fine French cuisine, an engaging atmosphere, and service that has you at hello, you will love Brasserie! You will love love love it, as Eloise would say and we suspect she gets sick of room service at the Plaza and trots over for a bite to eat from time to time with Weenie and Skipperdee perhaps. For a place that has thrived since 1959 which is only four years after Eloise started, Brasserie is modern, sophisticated, and everything you'd ever want right down to the amazing Mediterranean Sea Bass, which it is known for. On her way over to Brasserie, Peachy was talking to her grandfather and wonders if he and her grandmother ate here ages ago when they stayed at The Roosevelt...
Brasserie was featured in Tasty Tidbits:
And Mademoiselle Peachy is proud to announce it has easily earned a spot in Peachy's Picks. To say we highly recommend Brasserie is an understatement.
The Lobster Bisque started the tremendous hit parade, which happened to occur for Whom You Know on Easter. This parade superseded the one on 5th avenue and we were continuously impressed with the cuisine right from the start with the best bread we've encountered recently: the baguette from Eli's. The lobster bisque was not too creamy; the lobster bisque was not too fishy. It was just right for Goldilocks Peachy.
The tuna tartare was not only mouthwateringly decadent, but it was also beautifully presented. As you know from our review history we are especially thrilled with fine fish and fruits of the sea (except for one panelist who was not present at this review!). The cocktail menu is one of the most outstanding we've seen, and of course will hopefully be improved upon by the addition of The Peachy Deegan someday...Peachy started with the Blood Orange Mimosa, which puts all other mimosas to shame. The blood orange juice, orange bitters and Champagne was a fabulous beginning to the evening. She also enjoyed some smashing Roses.
The Star Dish Mediterranean Sea Bass is signature Brasserie:
This was so flawless we wonder if they had any help from the Easter Bunny. It was cooked perfectly. The texture of the fish was light and substantial at the same time. The seasoning was to die for. This should be your dinner every night! Peachy personally loooooves green beans and these were perfectly crisp and the right diameter of thin.
The side of mushrooms were lovely as well! In addition to unrivaled french cuisine, Brasserie boasts one of the strongest levels of service and teamwork we've ever seen. Right from the start, Director David M. Pogrebin was wonderful to work with and we were also pleased to meet in person Assistant Director Andras Hamza, Markos Doyle and Chef Marcello de Andrade. Every single member of the staff was the utmost professional and cared about every level of detail we could detect; nothing went unnoticed. Additionally, each exuded a sincere interest in executing the best possible experience for not only our panel but also for the whole dining area that we observed. As we come announced, staff at restaurants are often attentive, but we really enjoy seeing them being attentive to every party we see. With 450 there for brunch at Brasserie on Easter Sunday as opposed to 250 on any given Sunday, the challenges of the traffic showed no mark on any level of service. By the way, they are all snappy dapper dressers too!
As if we were not impressed enough, then Peachy Deegan encountered the Chocolate Beignets:
If you also meet the chocolate beignets, they will become your friend too in about 0.5 seconds and the ganache and cashew brittle ice cream will friend you too. Peachy's thinking about starting a fan page on Facebook for the chocolate beignets alone; she does see the Brasserie fan page but thinks this dessert should have its own following. She also happily enjoyed the Rhubarb Sorbet which we think will be a huge hit in the summer months:
Peachy brought along with her an amazing panelist, who raves additionally:
It was such a delight to enjoy Easter Sunday at Brasserie. The ambience is modern yet the restaurant has been around for ages. We are told that the restaurant used to be open 24 hours a day and catered to the Studio 54 crowd. Yet you also know that for lunch they vie with Four Seasons, as a “power scene.”
We were welcomed with baguettes from Eli’s and phenomenal cocktails. My favorite was the Pimms Lemonade. The service at the Brasserie is impeccable.
We also enjoyed the Foie Gras au Torchon, above.
I started with the onion soup gratinee (Gruyere and Emmenthal Cheese). The main course Lobster Risotto (Aged Parmesan Reggiano). It was the perfect mix of lobster, rice, cheese and vegetables.
The creamed spinach and sautéed mushrooms were extremely fresh, an outstanding compliment to the main course and chef’s choice.
Dessert was divine. The petite chevre cheesecake, with rhubarb sorbet and strawberry fritter (fried strawberry) was absolutely divine. I have never had a fried strawberry before but it really complimented the flambé-encrusted cheesecake and it was a nice surprise. C’est Delicieux!
We enjoyed an after-dinner drink with the executive chef, café Petron for moi.. It was a delight being there and part of the energy unique to Brasserie; it is palpable.
Peachy Picks Brasserie!
Even the Mayor has endorsed it:
