Dovetail
After going to Pulino’s for lunch, I had dinner at Dovetail. Dovetail is a very contemporary yet quaint American restaurant on the Upper West Side. Jeff Fraser left his position as executive chef at Compass to open up an 80 seat restaurant with a similar menu. The restaurant is as formal as Le Cirque and Aureole but leaves the pretentious attitude outside. Waiters are still in tuxedos and you do get a sommelier at your table side, but the crowd is less stuffy and there is not jacket requirement. The menu hits several countries from Spain with Squid a La Plancha to Italy with Crab Ravioli though the menu is mostly American with a French twist. I ordered the Beef Tartare as an appetizer and the Baby Pig as an entree. The dishes are served with presentation and taste in mind. The chef uses very fresh ingredients possible and you notice it when you taste the food. The Beef Tartare was incredibly tender and tasty, I felt it had a hint of wasabi flavor to it as well. As for the Baby Pig, the dish was actually a small pork chop instead of a piece of baby pig. But none the less the pork wasn’t dry at all but actually very moist and flavorful. The rice pilaf (it was meant to be lentil pilaf but I had it substituted since I am allergic to lentils) was also very good as a side dish. Though the only main issue I found with Dovetail is that it is a bit too pricey for what it actually is. Yes the food is very good, but the prices are no different than Cafe Boulud, Le Cirque or the lounge at Daniel. Overall Dovetail is mainly a place for special occasions and for locals who live in the Upper West Side who appreciate and are willing to spend over $100 per person for a low key yet fabulous dinner!
Ambiance: 7
Food: 4
Service: 7
Overall: 6
Verdict: Mirage
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