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Friday, June 8, 2012

Peachy Picks Langan's Pub and Restaurant Our Coverage Sponsored by Cosmopolitan Dental, Official Dentist of Whom You Know




Terri of Langan's



The Best Dentist in Manhattan 

&

Official Dentist of Whom You Know:

30 E. 40th Suite 1001

212 683 1960

Dr. Garo Nazarian is a Mover and Shaker:

Garo is proud to be half Irish! 

It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and we knew someone from County Mayo ages ago that was affiliated with Langan's, so it has been on our list of places to go and we're pleased to say we finally made it!  It was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
It is one of the best places to dine near Times Square, an area where classy, quality places serving amazing cuisine are few and far between (Langan's where were you when Peachy was a hungry student in Cork!), and better yet, it is Irish so we are pleased to announce it has joined the ranks of Peachy's Picks.  We hear the owner is from County Tipperary, but have not met or spoken to him.  Terri, above, was a shining star during the entirety of our Langan's experience and is the living embodiment of quintessential Irish hospitality.  Another thing you should know about Langan's is that it is clean, which we cannot say about every pub we have seen in New York.  Cheerful and bright, Terri brought us Magner's Cider to start our Langan's experience with.  Refreshing and crisp, Magner's is ideal to sip during summertime.
We always like to see what pubs of all kinds come up with in regards to produce and starting with Langan's Garden Salad, it is evident that this is no ordinary pub.  At Langan's, baby greens, grape tomatoes and red onion compose this, which is offered with Balsamic Vinaigrette:
They smartly put the dressing on the side.  The salad was refreshing and even more key: it was fresh.  We believe less can be more in regards to salad and as we know from the recent New York City news which inevitably has become national news, more people need to eat their vegetables!  So start here.  Peachy and Mayor Bloomberg say so! (Well we think he'd say that.  We have not talked to him recently...)
Oooooh you know who just LOVES anything crabby-that's Peachy!  As an appetizer, she tried the warm Crab and Spinach Dip served with a sea of toasted french baguettes. 

 It was a winning combination from first bite and we liked how the top was crisp but not overdone.  The crab was tasty and the spinach was added in an appropriate proportion.  The tomatoes added a nice touch of color and if Peachy was just going in for a pint, she absolutely would order this and eat the whole thing, since it was that good!  However, she needed to leave some room so she could write a proper review...
Terri was spot-on on every suggestion she made and we also were lucky to have the chance to sample their macaroni and cheese at her suggestion, which is absolutely to-die-for.  We tried the original version but hear it can be kicked up a notch with either broccoli or lobster or crab....
Every bite is rich and creamy and this is the ultimate in comfort food.  Mayor Bloomberg, notice we did not have the 16 ounce version!  Healthy is about portion size, not deprivation.

As you should know, like Manhattan, Ireland is an island.  So, with beaches galore there is fish to be found in quite a lot of places.  As an entree, Peachy Deegan opted for the Roasted Atlantic Salmon Fillet which was seared to perfection.  It was quite creative as well - we have never tried Sweet Pea Risotto before (nevermind the fact that we've never seen it anywhere else on a menu) and Peachy didn't love it just for the lovely hue but also for the commendable texture and taste.  Shredded carrots and other vegetables garnished the top casually adding style.  A lovely entree!


Executive Chef Jesse Pratea, a 2000 graduate of the CIA who spent time working in Seattle prior to the seven years he's been at Langan's, was a peach all evening, introducing each course to us.  He was not kidding when he said that the Braised Short Rib of Beef was a winner.  It was one of Peachy's most favorite components all night!  You know we are carnivorous people and every bite of this rib feel off the bone with graceful ease and better yet, every forkful was sweet and juicy!  This was even better than the salmon!  If there was any left over which there was not as we so adored it, Peachy would have eaten it for breakfast.

We are running this at lunchtime to torture you!  Although your lunch may not look THIS FANTASTIC, it is possible that your dinner will if you reserve a spot at Langan's.

A special of the night was the pan-roasted halibut with caperberries in a white wine reduction.  Just hearing the name of a dish like that you would not suppose you were in a pub.  With baby baked potatoes which were so cute and flavorful and sauteed spinach which gave the dish both nutrition and color, this halibut was fresh, flavorful and melted in our mouths.  We'd like to see it as a regular menu item.

Do not even think of leaving Langan's without experiencing some of their tremendous dessert options!  Peachy cannot tell you how many times she has looked for apple pie on dessert menus in 2012 and has not seen it - so she was excited.   Peachy is the kind of person that does not like flavored coffee at all (she definitely does not like flavored vodka) and hates when people put cinnamon in their coffee.  To that end, she also does not like when places over-cinnamon their apple pie.  Langan's does not!!!  The apple pie was over-the-top delicious as was the brownie sundae, which fulfilled Peachy's commitment to chocoholism.
The third dish was bread pudding, which is also something we rarely see but really like!  Bread pudding is a traditional Irish dish that we know our family made and loved-we will have to dig up Aunt Ronnie's recipe from Nana.  

An Irish coffee with Jameson completed a fantastic dinner!


This is the first review that has been composed of only Deegan family members.  Here's what the 4th generation American looks like!  Andy is on the left and Ryan is on the right.

Our esteemed cousins say:

Most of my ancestors come from Ireland, so I am always on the lookout for a great Irish Pub. There are so many to choose from in New York City, and it can be hard to find one that really stands out. Fortunately, now that I have tried Langan's, I know where I'll be headed when I want to satisfy my craving for good food, good drinks, and Irish hospitality. What struck me immediately about Langan's was the atmosphere. It is warm, welcoming and quite lively. The look and feel of the decor will transport you out of New York and straight into Ireland. The meal was probably the best I've ever had at an Irish pub. I started with the Panne Cotte.


 This unique appetizer is a baked casserole of escarole, white beans, pancetta and asiago. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I ordered it, but my taste buds were very pleasantly surprised. The combination of the fresh greens, salty pancetta, and cheese was the perfect way to start off my dinner! In addition to the Panne Cotte, I also sampled the baked Mac and Cheese with Tillamook cheddar -this dish was out of this world! The cheese was so creamy and flavorful! If you love mac and cheese, you will be in heaven when you try it at Langan's. For my main course, I chose to try the traditional Irish Shepherd's Pie. My Irish grandmother used to make shepherd's pie, and it was one of my favorite meals growing up. 


 Langan's makes theirs with savory ground beef, carrots, peas, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes. I really hate to say it, but I think Langan's shepherd's pie has my grandmother's beat! The meat was so full of flavor, and the mashed potatoes were fluffy and creamy. I was fortunate to also sample the braised short rib of beef with roasted potatoes. The meat was so tender and juicy. It seemed to melt in my mouth. Absolutely fantastic! Just when I thought the meal couldn't get any better, out came dessert! The selection of desserts included apple pie, a brownie sundae, and bread pudding. Each were served with a generous helping of creamy vanilla ice cream. My favorite of the three was probably the brownie sundae. 


The brownie was warm, chewy, and so chocolatey. It struck the perfect balance with the ice cream. This was a truly wonderful meal, and the quality of the food far exceeded my expectations of an Irish pub. Not to mention, the staff was so friendly and welcoming. We were made to feel right at home. Next time you are looking for an Irish pub in the city, look no further than Langan's! 


An Irish Pub, what a great location for a Deegan family reunion!  
Peachy introduced me to my long-lost cousin, Andy, in a setting that w

ould make our Irish ancestors proud. 
Langan's would also be a great place for those looking for a pre-
theater dinner and drink. They can please multiple tastes, with a 
lively bar up front to throw down a few pints, and a nice quiet dining
area in the back. 
To drink I started with a Magner's Cider from County Tipperary. It has
been a while since I've had Cider and this one was great.

For appetizer, I went with the Crispy Calamari, which were good, but I 
was quickly distracted by the delicious Baked Mac N Cheese that the 

chef wanted us to try. Normally, this would not be my kind of thing, 
but it was surprisingly VERY delicious. The Deegan cousins seemed to 
enjoy this dish too, so I made sure to quickly get a few spoonfuls in 
before it was all gone!

For my entree I choose the Pan Seared Sea Scallops. This plate was 
recommended, and I love scallops, so it was an easy decision for me. 

The scallops were cooked in a delicious, butter/citrus sauce. This 
plate is Langan's most popular for good reason.  
Langan's makes a great Irish-style apple pie, which I tried for 
desert. It was a great way to end the night.

Thank you Langan's Pub for an excellent dinner and for the great Irish 

atmosphere to reunite with my cousins.

Peachy Picks Langan's!
Langan's is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.


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