Garden Cafe

ABSOULTELY, seeing this thread reminding me that Garden Cafe has not been discussed much on this site, but I definitely had one of the best meals of MY LIFE there. Highly recommended.

And, speaking of neighborhood restaurants, I noticed today that Aliseo is "closed for renovations". I'm hoping it's not a City Lighting situation.

Subject: crust

Well, I must beg to differ. The crust at the new pizza place was truely the worst I've even eaten in my life, dry, just like cardboard. They're baking it in a oven that is not hot enough, so the crust dries out before it's done.

Surprsing, because I hear their place across the street is good.

Subject: Re: Garden Cafe

Carnivore wrote: I know I've spoken well of this place on other threads, but my wife and I went to the Garden Cafe for our anniversary last night and it was truly excellent. Nice atmosphere, delicious food, and friendly service. The place is more expensive than most in the neighborhood, but on Tuesdays and Wednesdays they have a $26 two-course Prix Fixe or $30 for three courses, including dessert. For food of this level, this would only cover the cost of the entree in almost any other neighborhood. I strongly urge everyone to give the place a try for your next special occasion.

I think that Garden Cafe is great. I don't think it is at all expensive for what you get. Why do you have to support a place on Prix fixe night? Frankly, I think people are cheap. I stronly urge people to try this restaurant, period. If you're in Manhattan you don't mind spending $100 on dinner. Oh, but not Brooklyn! Why not stay home.

i appreciate your mention of the prix fixe night because I wasn't aware of it, and not everyone I like to have dinner with can afford to spend $100 or more, so now I can invite more people to Garden Cafe and not have to worry about feeling guilty about it!

And, yes, I have tried the pizza place across from Aliseo. I liked it.

By City Lighting situation, I meant that before it closed they had a sign, "Closed for renovations" up, although that was clearly just a smokescreen ....

I know the same guy who owns the pizza place owns Aliseo, and he seems pretty up and up, so I doubt he would put up a sign like that if it wasn't true, but I still worry about these things.

I respectfully disagree and urge you to try it anyway. The owners frequently travel to Europe and parts of the US to find new types of cuisine, and the menu changes completely every season. When I was there I had a fantastic Duck Confit and the best dessert -- truly the best dessert -- i have ever had. I am trying to remember what my boyfriend had ... I can't, but I know he enjoyed it very much.

I can honestly say that I have never dined anywhere where there was so much attention to detail. The owners are a married couple. The husband is the chef and the wife often serves as the hostess or waitstaff. It's really a special experience to dine there.

I think one of the great things about this place is that they can turn an "ordinary" dish into something extraordinary.

I had the most amazing lamb chops there.