Restaurant Eve

exemplary 10

ebeth
2006-09-04

And don’t forget about the incredible lunch bargain: the Lickity Split. $13.50 for any two items on the special menu (okay, it’s a fairly small list), in the bar only, Monday through Friday 11:30 to 4:00. If you’re on a budget, this is a great way to try some of the best cooking in the city.

February 20, 2006: Okay, so I made it to the tasting room. One word: go. I’m changing my rating to 10.

12/30/05: I’ve been back to Eve twice in the past year, both times in the bistro (have to get to the tasting room soon!), and to sum up: Cathal Armstrong is a treasure. A genius. A passionate man who treats seasonal foods with love and respect, then twists them into new things you never would have dreamed of. And the ever-changing cocktails are a wonder, too.

12/5/04:

Wow. This is my kinda place. A lovely, cozy interior, interesting menu, portions small enough that you can eat multiple courses without feeling like a pig. The hostess was able to squeeze us in at the last moment on a Saturday night, for which I am grateful. I started with a house cocktail of pomegranate, lime, and citrus vodka, a drink nicely balanced between tart and sweet. Autumn squash soup with pepitas was a lovely, understated dish, just creamy enough without being overly rich. Wild salmon was served with beans and cauliflower. A special of venison was prepared with huckleberry sauce and accompanied by leeks and spinach. The waiter recommended a wine that I wouldn’t have thought of, but it was an excellent match. For dessert we had crepes with apple compote and raspberry jam and apple fritters with caramel sauce. The coffee was excellent.

We were on a schedule, and told the waiter so. He got our three courses such that we were able to finish in an hour and fifteen minutes without feeling rushed. That’s good service (though I’m sure it helped that we started with soup). When I go again I will allow this food the time it deserves. And all this in the bistro, the less formal of two dining spaces in the same restaurant (the other being the chef’s tasting room).