Peachy Picks Ze Cafe
Ze Cafe was simply outstanding in Terrific Takeout:
So it easily graduated to Tasty Tidbits:
And it has been overwhelmingly voted into a spot in Peachy's Picks.
The understated classy atmosphere and the top-notch cuisine by Chef Jonathan Romans, above, make dining at Ze Cafe a truly exquisite experience.
We were immediately greeted by Jonathan and both he and staff members David Thornton and David C. were the pinnacle of professionalism all night. Every detail was attended to and they even asked us if we had food allergies which was an excellent question as one of our panelists does have issues with nuts. The atmosphere is well-manicured with what Peachy believes are bonsai trees (although you know she had her picture in the MPS garden club for mainly social reasons...she does not know a lot about plants!), but that should not surprise you one bit as the owners (we did not meet them) own a flower business as well and that was their first enterprise, though you would not know it. It seems as if Ze Cafe is an established bastion of dining excellence. Many of the ingredients come from their farm upstate to this Nouveau American hotspot. We hear Zeze is from Brazil. You know we love people from Brazil including Mover and Shaker Pilar Rossi! Zeze's wife is Irish (applause!) and Russian and they put their talents together to put together a winner of an American menu.
We began with some delightfully crusty bread that was well-presented with premium olive oil.
Peachy Deegan began with the beef carpaccio which was blissfully thin and perfect.
Among the best beef carpaccios she's ever had, this will not disappoint you. The perfect amount of capers danced atop the beef with shaved bra duro and violet mustard.
Though it was difficult to not reorder what she had in takeout for dinner-especially since she loves those smashed bliss potatoes- Peachy Deegan opted for the Fruits de Mer for her entree and every bite was a symphony of under the sea excellence. Mussels, manila clams, mayan shrimp, chorizo (which gives it a bit of a kick!), jumbo lump crab, tomato, asparagus and toasted garlic extended the summer feeling from her plate to her stomach! Every component was cooked perfectly and presented with class. This is the perfect dish to order this fall - and remember, they serve wonderful edible flowers that make for an amazing garnish.
And the apple pie simply hit the spot! You must order it a la mode. Peachy sipped a 20 year port that was quite nice and a great complement to the pie. Check out that Z monogram that we love too.
But don't listen to only Peachy. The esteemed panel says:
These were made with English pea and corn hash, corn puree, and lemon preserves. I always enjoy crab cakes, but these were simply out of this world! They were by far the best crab cakes I have ever tasted. Eating them actually made me feel happier inside because they tasted so wonderful! As I ate them I hoped I could just continue on eating them without end! They were that good! Fortunately, when I did finish them, I had a great dessert to follow up afterwards.
I had the Affogato al Cafe, which is a vanilla bean gelato with whipped cream served in a glass filled with espresso. The gelato was so light and creamy, and it contrasted perfectly with the espresso. It made for just the right ending to such a wonderful meal. And the glass Royal Tokaji I had to go with my dessert was the perfect complement! Even though Ze Cafe might be slightly off the beaten path, it should certainly not be missed! The fantastic food, service, and atmosphere are a cut above the rest!
Ze Cafe is a true hidden gem located on 52nd Street and 1st Avenue. The food is fantastic, the service is impeccable, and the decor is beautiful! When we walked in the door, we were greeted by the friendly staff. I was amazed as I looked around at the wonderful floral arrangements and sophisticated yet inviting interior design. We were seated next to one of the enormous windows at the front of the restaurant. It was a lovely place to enjoy our dinner, although there was not a bad seat in the restaurant! I started off my meal by ordering a refreshing Caipirinha, made with Cachaca Rum, freshly muddled lime and sugar. It was the perfect blend of sweet and sour that really hit the spot! For an appetizer, I tried a special that could have also been enjoyed as a main course. I will be dreaming about the Jumbo Lump Crab Risotto with asparagus and artichokes, topped with Castelrosso Cheese for days to come! The flavors all blended together in perfect harmony to create a dish that was truly amazing!
My main course was the Long Island Duck Breast with carrot coulis, cauliflower, caramelized shallots, and ramp gastrique. The duck was so tender and juicy, I've never tasted anything like it before. It was cooked to absolute perfection! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Finally, for dessert, I tried the Key Lime Pie, made with key limes flown in directly from Florida. This dessert was heaven! The crust was buttery and crumbly, and the filling was sweet and tangy. It was the perfect Key Lime Pie, and the perfect way to end my wonderful meal! If you haven't yet been to Ze Cafe, get there as soon as possible. You will love it!
Hidden on 52nd Street and 1st Avenue is a charming little restaurant that relies on word of mouth from its patrons rather than traditional advertisement to ensure their success. After tasting Ze Cafe's delicious and sophisticated cuisine, I can certainly see why every seat in the establishment was filled! I was immediately impressed with the chic, yet comfy atmosphere of Ze Cafe. Between the gorgeous brick walls, innovative lighting and little Bonsai trees, this place immediately won me over. All though every seat in the restaurant is very comfortable and has a great view, we were lucky enough to be seated at a table near the gigantic window facing the street, providing a gorgeous nighttime view.
The ribeye was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth! The incredibly fresh green beans were cooked to perfection and I will be dreaming about the smashed bliss potatoes for a long time. All together, the different flavors on this plate complimented each other incredibly well and I would do nearly anything for the chance to eat it over again!For dessert I could not resist ordering the homemade Macoon apple pie ala mode. The golden crust was so buttery and flakey while the apples were nice and sweet. And you can never go wrong with some vanilla bean ice-cream on top! A perfect ending to a perfect meal!All in all I was incredibly pleased with the entire experience at Ze Cafe! Between having such engaging and friendly staff, an incredibly talented chef and a space to die for, I hope to be back at Cafe Ze very soon! Everyone needs to have the opportunity to experience this hidden gem of a restaurant!
Peachy Picks Ze Cafe!
Ze Cafe is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
Ze Cafe is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
Now we will have to check out their flowers:
