Raoul’s Restaurant, New York City, 5/5/18

exterior
exterior

Raoul’s is a medium sized place that is filled with interesting things and closely packed tables.  In the back room there are some booth seats and the walls are filled with photos and paintings.  In the front room there is a good sized bar with stools as well as some small tables that take advantage of bench seating.  The lighting is pretty dark, the ceiling is tin, jazzy music is in the background and the tables are covered in white clothes.  There are windows to the street but it doesn’t add much natural light.  It has the cozy look and feel of a place that’s been there a long time.  Service was relaxed, helpful and friendly.  They made you feel really welcome to be there.  It is a fairly small menu with some specials posted on a blackboard way in the back.  

exterior
exterior
bar area and some tables
bar area and some tables
staircase to bathroom and upstairs rooms
staircase to bathroom and upstairs rooms
Frankie enjoye the art
Frankie enjoyed the art
interior
interior
interior
interior
bar area
bar area
Frankie thought they made a good martini
Frankie thought they made a good martini
menu cover
menu cover
menu
menu
Waitress and Frankie
Friendly waitress Patricia and Frankie

 

We started with a bunch of their smaller plates for the table to share.  Chilled green asparagus was served with a watermelon radish and Meyer lemon mousseline.  The asparagus were perfectly cooked, the stems were nicely peeled and the toppings added a nice flavor contrast.  The dipping sauce was nice but they were wonderful just by themselves too.

Chilled green asparagus with watermelon radish and Meyer lemon mousseline
Chilled green asparagus with watermelon radish and Meyer lemon mousseline
Frankie enjoyed the art
Frankie posed with more art

 

Jumbo lump crab beignets with Fresno chili remoulade were tasty with just the right amount of spice.  They came out crisp and hot with an adequate amount of sauce to go around.

Jumbo lump crab beignets with Fresno chili rémoulade
Jumbo lump crab beignets with Fresno chili rémoulade
inside
inside
Frankie found a tiny booth upstairs
Frankie found a tiny booth upstairs

 

Tarte Flambée with smoked bacon, onion, fromage blanc and Gruyere was a small pizza like option.  The crust was chewy and slightly puffed on the edge and the sauce tasty.  There was a nice amount of sauce and cheese.  It was really, really good.

Tarte Flambée with smoked bacon, onion, fromage blanc and Gruyere
Tarte Flambée with smoked bacon, onion, fromage blanc and Gruyere
Frankie and some art
Frankie and some art

 

 

For a main course we all had Steak Au Poivre with hand cut pommes frites, which is their signature dish.  It was divine.  All steaks were cooked perfectly to order and the heaping pile of fries were hot and crisp with plenty of potato taste.  The sauce was a real standout, filled with black peppercorns, it perfectly enhanced the good tasting and tender beef.  A dish offered in many places, this is a standout version.  It came with a salad of spinach and arugula.  Lightly dressed, it was a good accompaniment for the rich beef and buttery sauce.

Steak au Poivre with hand cut pommes frites
Steak au Poivre with hand cut pommes frites
salad
salad
Frankie thought it looked good
Frankie thought it looked good

 

For dessert Creme Brulee was smooth and rich.  On top of the crispy sugar crust was a lovely butter cookie that went really well with the wonderful custard.

creme brulee
creme brulee
Frankie found an old fashioned coin operated telephone
Frankie found an old fashioned coin operated telephone

 

Banana Coconut Bread Pudding came with salty toffee sauce and whipped creme faiche.  It was sticky, gooey and a totally luscious sweet fix.  The cream on the top added a perfect amount of richness as the sticky, sweet, wonderful sauce did.  It was a yum x2 for sure.  Save room for this one.

pineapple bread pudding
banana coconut bread pudding
closer
closer
interior
some art
Frankie met a fish by the Statue of Liberty
Frankie met a fish by the Statue of Liberty

 

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