Peachy Picks Fireside
If your summer hasn't heated up yet, we suggest you take a walk to 21 East 52nd Street at Madison Avenue where you will find Fireside, and Executive Chef Myron Ulczak, right and Sous Chef Nigel Hinckson's (left) and their fabulous creations with flare. And we do mean the flare literally, when we are talking about dessert, but more about that later. There is the dynamic duo at the top and our starters immediately follow them.
Fireside was first featured in Terrific Takeout:
It was beyond Terrific, so it graduated to Tasty Tidbits:
It has graduated to Peachy's Picks. Executive Chef Myron is super creative and you should open your mind to his innovations-Peachy did. She wasn't sure what she was going to think about the Philly Cheese Steak Dumpling, above, as she has never had one, but it was deilcious! Very spicy with kick, we suggest this with a smashing cocktail.
Below are the Fireside Lobster Rolls which are a summer classic. The whole section of the menu titled "Conversation Pieces" are absolutely perfect for nibbling on while you sip your drink even if you are not sitting down to a full-fledged dinner. We also sampled the Drunken Duck Quesadillas which are another prime example of the imagination of Chef Myron. Of course Peachy surmised that perhaps Donald and Daisy would emerge drinking The Peachy Deegan, or five, but instead they were the appetizer and a very sweet one, at that!
As this is dinner review #74 you know Peachy becomes increasingly concerned about zipping her cocktail dresses, so what she picked was the roasted garlic caesar salad. Panini croutons, white anchovies, chicken a la brick and chilled shrimp danced in the lovely lettuce and it was a party at fireside from the start even down to the salad.
At the suggestion of the entire crew, (and at Fireside we must say everyone from the aforementioned chefs to General Manager Tom Simone, Manager Natalie Jones, Assistant Manager Theresa Kelly and Waitstaff Thomas Lou operated as a complete team that Omni should be proud of), Peachy had to try the 10 oz Grilled Kobe Sirloin with morel and corn ragout.
If you are starving locked up in your Manhattan office this afternoon, and overworked to a degree that you skipped lunch, you know where to go when it is quitting time. Every morsel was tender and juicy and the ragout was a lovely compliment.
Angelic Peachy also had some spinach to balance her diet! Sauteed to perfection, it was just as good as it is good for you.
However, the angel on her shoulder was short-lived.
Fireside has hands-down the most fun dessert we have EVER seen in Manhattan. Look:
Yes, it is even possible to have a CAMPFIRE, your own PERSONAL ONE, at Fireside.
They are called Fireside, after all.
You can be a girlscout in the woods of Fifth and Madison avenue!
When was the last time you had a s'more?
Not only was every element of the cuisine outstanding, but we were really impressed with the wine list and let us assure you that does not always happen.
Peachy Deegan began with the Starry Night Zinfandel from Sonoma, a 2007, but what she was most blown away by was the Atticus John Napa Valley 2007. Simply superb.
Our esteemed panelist adds:
Nestled inside the Omni Berkshire Hotel on 52nd and Madison lies a true treasure amid the hustle bustle of midtown Manhattan: Fireside. This cozy yet spacious restaurant features a unique menu filled with traditional entrees and starters, as well as some more creative “conversation pieces,” which are terrific dishes meant to be shared and enjoyed. At the suggestion of the chef, we were happy to nibble on a few of Fireside’s most popular “Conversation Pieces”, including the Philly Cheese Steak Dumplings, the Fireside Lobster Rolls, and the Drunken Duck Quesadilla.
Served with a spicy, crisp Kimchi slaw and Sriracha ketchup, it’s easy to see why the Philly Cheese Steak Dumplings are such a hit! Two classic comfort foods fused into an easy to eat, tasty morsel - a fantastic idea, and something you definitely won’t find anywhere else. The lobster rolls are enjoyable as well, and nearly bite-sized, as a small helping of fresh lobster salad is stuffed neatly into a petite potato roll. The Drunken Duck Quesadilla was outstanding: the tequila chipotle duck confit and tomatillo salsa were bursting with savory deliciousness, and the sweet citrus crème with which the quesadilla was topped was a pleasant departure from a traditional sour cream topping.
After the “Conversation Pieces,” we moved on to salads – I opted for the Wild Arugula and Local Goat Cheese Salad, which was fresh and flavorful – and although I loved both the arugula and the goat cheese, my favorite part was the “beet carpaccio,” which was a sweet, delicious addition.
For my entrée, I chose the Chicken a la Brick, which was outstanding. Expertly cooked, and served in a delectable sauce, the chicken was perfectly tender and full of flavor. It was served with an arugula salad (I love my arugula!) cleverly served in a crispy (and yummy!) parmesan basket. For dessert, we ordered S’mores, which were not only scrumptious, but also incredibly fun! In fact, they may have been the biggest “Conversation Piece” of the night at our table! A campfire tradition, this seemed like the perfect way to end the evening at a restaurant called “Fireside.” A small, contained “campfire” is brought to the table, as well as all of the fixings for classic s’mores – graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate, and marshmallows (along with skewers for toasting them)! We had a blast toasting marshmallows and putting the tasty treats together!! What a fabulous idea!
In addition to the s’mores, the chef also sent out a sampler of four of their other dessert favorites: Red & Black Devil Cake, Cheesecake, Crème Brulee, and Molten Chocolate Cake. All of them were excellent and come very highly recommended! Excellent service was provided through the entire evening, from our lovely hostess, to the chef and the sous chef, to our outstanding waiter, who has been at this restaurant and its predecessor in the same location for a combined total of nearly 13 years. Overall, it was an outstanding experience and one I’d highly recommend – whether it’s for a business lunch or an after-theatre cocktail, Fireside is a great spot for great food, a comfortable atmosphere, and great service.
Peachy Picks Fireside!
Whom You Know Highly Recommends Fireside
21 East 52nd Street at Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Phone: (212) 754-5011
New York, New York 10022
Phone: (212) 754-5011
