Peachy Dines Al Fresco at Battery Gardens, A Peachy's Pick! Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Owner Paul Nicaj and Executive Chef Ari Nieminen
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Your ship has come in, Manhattan, and it's named Battery Gardens. Where else can you have dinner by the sunset with the Statue of Liberty with majestic schooners, sailboats and the best breeze the city has to offer to relieve the heat? Nowhere else.
Your dining companion, above
This is the one and only, and if you are going to dine outside, why on earth would you want to sit on a sidewalk laced with fumes when instead you can go see our friends Paul and Ari and sit by the seaside! And, most importantly, dine on their fabulous creations.
Sidewalk or Boardwalk? There should not be any hesitation when you answer waterfront.
If you have not been to Battery Gardens, you are in for a tremendous treat and are selling yourself short if you are dining anywhere else outside in Manhattan this summer, because Battery Gardens simply cannot be beat. Owner Paul Nicaj has a gem of a place and he has overcome the adversity named Sandy and you should celebrate his victory by taking a trip to this modern classic.
When you arrive, you will immediately notice how clean and sparkling it all is, which is high on our list. They got hammered by Sandy last fall, and everything has been refurbished and is in tip top shape. When you sit down you'll feel like you must be dreaming because it is so contrary to Manhattan in one big positive way.
Globe lights hang by the trees which will illuminate your meal when the sun goes down. Every last detail is attended to at Battery Gardens, and note that in our previous review you can see what we thought about the inside (fantastic!) but we are concentrating on the outside today.
Later, they light up:
We began with a glass of wine to toast the Al Fresco experience.
Peachy Deegan chose this Bordeaux-style Merlot:
It was bold without being too heavy for the heat, and the red currant notes were the highlight for her. We were absolutely ravenous when we arrived because we had been to Battery Gardens before, and knew we were in for a top night of dining.
When you hear the words truffle and pizza independent of each other, you are probably driven crazy with tastebud frenzy, however, when Battery Gardens intelligently puts them together, the result cannot be beat. The Taleggio and Portobello Mushroom Pizza with Black Truffle Carpaccio was in a word, incredible. The crust was perfectly crisp, the cheese was in the right proportion and the Black Truffle Carpaccio just divine.
Peachy was so tempted by the clam chowder which was superlative last time, however, it would almost be a sin to not order the Prince Edward Island Mussels, and when they arrive and their fragrant aroma greets you, you will be transported into immediate heaven (as if you weren't already there with the top view.) Allagash White Beer, Wheat Berries, Scotch Bonnet Chiles, Coriander Leaves and Grilled Rustic Bread is the perfect small plate for the summer, and to be truthful it was so great we'd eat it with equal enthusiasm in the winter. Best mussels Peachy has had all season!
They taste even better as you watch the boats go by and the sun go down.
Then, an angel might come to your table from the other heaven called a kitchen, and if you behave he might bring you the most decadent dish on the menu-Lobster!
We were delighted to sample the lobster, which is served split and claws cracked open, grilled or steamed as an entree in total.
The lobster was succulent to the highest power and the parmesean risotto was definitely imported from heaven. With asparagus and drawn butter, this lobster will quite simply rock your world.
Pinot Grigio came to the lobster party!
Also at Ari's suggestion, we tried a sampling of the roasted rack of lamb.
The piece de resistance here for Peachy was the purple peruvian potato, which she has continued to dream about. Paul's wife is Irish and we can't wait to meet her. Ari did a phenomenal job on each and every course, and as this is our second visit to Battery Gardens, we are even further convinced of his triumphant expertise in the culinary field.
Yes, dinner tastes better when you bask in beauty.
Finally, as an entree Peachy decided upon the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass, which was absolutely exquisite. Served with Jasmine Rice, Shiitake Mushrooms, Haricot Vert and Miso, it was both fresh and refreshing on a hot night.
And when it is this hot, there is one place to go with a breeze this cool and that's Battery Gardens.
If you went any further south, you'd be in the water!
Pictures should be speaking louder to you than our words in this review.
Port and a warm apple tart tartin with the best whipped creme fraiche and dulche de leche caramel sauce you've ever had, and you won't want to wake up from this dream.
Yes, Perfect for a night out in the summer is an understatement when it comes to Battery Gardens. You'll love it so much you'll return again and again, and it will be like your home!
Our esteemed panelist adds:
I have a new love and its name is Battery Gardens. As we dined, gazing upon the sunset over the Hudson River, I thought to myself, "There is nowhere else in the world that I'd rather be right now." Although the day had been very hot, a cooler breeze was coming in off of the water as the sun sank lower in the sky, and it turned into a simply gorgeous evening. The big globe lights hanging from the large sycamore tree in the outdoor dining area looked magical, and set the tone for a truly remarkable meal. Situated on the very southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Gardens has one of the most incredible views you will ever witness in Manhattan. With Governor's Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the Hudson River all visible, at times, I didn't know in which direction to look! I was already having a simply wonderful time, and that was before I'd tasted a bite of Chef Ari Nieminen's amazing culinary creations!
To begin the evening, Peachy and I nibbled on a delicious Teleggio and Portobello Mushroom Pizza, which was topped with a black truffle carpaccio.
I accompanied this with a crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, which was just the thing for the warm summer evening. Next, I tried the Prosciutto Di Parma from the "Small Plates" menu.
Accompanied by a fig and arugula salad, and topped with a slice of "drunken pecorino," this dish was a remarkably tasty treat. The combination of flavors was outstanding, and the thinly shaved prosciutto was perfection! For this course, our friendly and helpful waiter, Tarek, suggested a rose wine, and his recommendation was outstanding. Next, we were delighted to try a few of Chef Ari's recommendations. The first was one of the seasonal specials on the menu, which is lobster served over Parmesan risotto, and accompanied by asparagus. If I could only only eat one meal for the remainder of the summer, this would be it! The lobster was extremely fresh, with a wonderfully sweet, buttery flavor, and the risotto was simply out of this world! Tarek brought us Pinot Grigio to accompany the lobster, which was, once again, a spot-on recommendation.
The lobster was followed by the Roasted Rack of Lamb, which was accompanied by purple Peruvian potato, fava beans, fennel, lamb natural jus, and lavender. A delight to look at, as well as taste, this dish was yet another winner! Beautifully presented, expertly prepared...and who know purple Peruvian potatoes could be so delicious?
For my entree, I had selected the Grilled Beef Rib Eye Steak, which was topped with Sicilian herb pesto and Parmesan, and served with lemon thyme potato croquettes and asparagus. As with all of the other dishes, the presentation was beautiful...and it tasted even better than it looked! Crispy on the outside, and juicy and tender on the inside, this was, hands down, the tastiest steak I've had in recent memory. After dinner, we each sipped a port while perusing the dessert menu - we were definitely stuffed, but not so much that we'd pass up the opportunity to sample one of Chef Ari's delectable desserts! I opted for the Warm Banana Crepe, which was filled with warm bananas and passion fruit, and topped with chocolate caramel sauce, with a large dollop of whipped cream on the side.
Truly one of the most spectacular desserts I've ever had, the crepe was everything I hoped it would be and more. The fruit flavors blended together beautifully, the crepe was light as air, and the chocolate caramel sauce was to die for! I capped of my glorious meal with a nice strong espresso, as I gazed over the water and bade the Statue of Liberty goodnight. All in all, a truly fantastic dining experience. From the view to the food, to the ambiance, everything was absolutely stellar. Highly, highly recommended!
Peachy Dines Al Fresco at Battery Gardens.
Battery Gardens is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know!
Peachy already picked it this past February:
There is nowhere more idyllic and delicious for the summer in the city!
