A Pork Belly Dinner at LE CIRQUE, NYC ***Restaurant of the Month***

Last week I had one of the best dining experiences of my life!  I was so excited to share this meal with you, I was waiting on the first of the month like a welfare recipient looking for a check!  I knew I had to hold out on sharing this for today to place LE CIRQUE as February’s Restaurant of the Month!

There’s always something special about fine-dining!  From the silverware and plates to the food and service, there’s an undeniable exquisiteness that makes the experience worth every penny!  Le Cirque, one of New York City’s premiere restaurant staples, surely doesn’t disappoint.

I rolled into Le Cirque last Thursday night.  I threw on some Bottega Veneta for the special occasion, as the restaurant requires men to wear blazers!  Well-coiffed women with fancy hand bags and old men in navy blazers were peppered throughout the restaurant.  It was packed but the service was as if my table was the only one in the restaurant.  The rich and luxurious decor made for titillating eye candy!  Sketch artwork, a silk-curtained rotunda, gold, velvet, white linen, mirrors and fresh flowers made for an opulent milieu.  It’s no wonder the media elite, royalty, politicians and celebrities abound frequent this french-inspired haven, now located in the Bloomberg Tower at One Beacon Court where Donatella Versace and Tina Knowles have residences.

I was disappointed when I first reached for the bread and it was not warm, but upon the first bite, the dismay was easily forgotten! Rich butter spread on a cranberry-like biscuit was simply scrumptious!  Upon inspecting the menu, can you imagine how surprised I was to find that the legendary Le Cirque was celebrating Restaurant Week?!

So we ended up with three courses each all for $35!  I started with the lobster risotto that was full of flavor and lumps of lobster meat!  We also indulged in the slow-cooked egg that was equally tasty and full of character in a marvelous presentation.

I had the pork belly as my main course and it was exactly what I wanted – a tender piece of pork atop fresh lentils!  The braised beef was just as tender and was glazed with a delicious and easy gravy!  Both meals were perfectly portioned, hearty, savory and sumptuous!

I thoroughly enjoy dining at Le Cirque!  It has a reputation for a reason and it lives up to it stupendously!  FYI, we may have ordered from the Restaurant Week menu, but with two cocktails each, the bill came in over $200.  Hey, but this is fine dining folks – you can’t mind paying for quality!

BJC.

Share