Cecchi's — Restaurant in New York

Went to Cecchi's today for the first time. Have wanted to for a while but been out of the country until now. To be clear, my wife and I have known and been friends with Michael for 25+ years so you could say we're biased but the following is a review I'd give irrespective of that friendship and I offer this up in the spirit of being honest about our opinion.

Room has a modern edge but not cold - the art deco theme and palette give it warmth and energy. Met by a staff that is friendly and well versed their duties (for example, a waitperson asked my wife if she was finished before taking away a drink that looked to be done - too many places wisk away drinks that have that last sip still to be consumed). Altogether, the room and staff complement each other well providing an engaging and energetic experience.

On to the food. We started with cocktails following it with shrimp and oysters accompanied by a dry rose Crémant. Oysters were perfectly fresh. With lemon, nutty reminiscent of whelks and with the excellent mignonette well balanced. Shrimp, good sized (I guess that seems an oxymoron) and very fresh - a meaty bite of seafood. An excellent start.

Upsetting our plans were two appetizers sent to our table by the house. The ribs (outstanding) accompanied by a vinegary cole slaw that balanced wonderfully against the deep sweetness of the sauce. The San Gennaro sausage in a blanket with a tomato sauce quite good. Thanks much to the house for sending them. The ribs will find there way to us again at the dinner table; the San Gennaro sausage more likely at the bar to buffer the effects of a cocktail (or two).

For the mains. My wife had the Chicken a la King. There are many versions of this basic concept but truly this is the royal version. The classic elements (chicken, pastry, mushrooms, carrots, gravy) but assembled with the best ingredients (not your run-of-the-mill funghi) and with precise balance. Comfort food executed at a notable level. For me, I ordered the pork chop (a cut of meat that is often underappreciated). This was perfectly cooked, pre-sliced with a mustard cream sauce that had a touch of vinegar to it. Accompanied by steamed broccolini and roasted potatoes it made for a hearty and satisfying entree. All of this was accompanied with a well-priced and excellent bottle of Gigondas.

To finish, we combined their vanilla gelato with some espresso for two not-on-the-menu impromptu affogati which were the perfect finish to our first (but not last) meal a Cecchi's.

Kudos to all. For a new restaurant of two months, the atmosphere, service and food were all on point and outstanding. Highly...

If I could give Cecchi's 10 stars, I would. From start to finish, everything about this restaurant was perfect. We started with the Tickle Me Prickly cocktail and it was incredible! The puree was the perfect cut to the spice of the habanero, and the drinks came expeditiously. For appetizers, we had the San Gennaro In A Blanket, the Not a Wedge salad, the Truffle Stuffed Mushrooms, and the Apricot Glazed Ribs. Everything was outrageously good! The san gennaro pigs in a blanket were decadent--they took an existing concept and enriched it with more flavor than I ever thought possible. The ribs were cooked perfectly and delicious. Even the cole slaw that accompanied them was fantastic. The wedge salad was a treat, and the russian dressing made it unique. The best, though, was the white truffle stuffed mushrooms. I have never had a stuffed mushroom so delicious--the truffle flavor was pronounced but not overpowering, and the sauce that accompanied them was lick-the-plate type good. For my entree, I had the Cecchi's burger and it did not disappoint. The meat was cooked perfectly and very flavorful, the bun was delicious, the pickles and cheese were the perfect compliments, and the fries were just how I like them--thin and crispy with just the right amount of salt. We ended the night with the NY Cheesecake and the chocolate cake. Both were to die for, especially the NY cheesecake. I'll be thinking about this cheesecake until the next time I eat it! Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and with recommendations, and personable and quick. Our waters were never less than half-full, thanks to the wonderful busboys. One of the highlights of the night was the owner, Mike, standing up to share a restaurant review from NY Magazine in true New York City fashion. It gave the restaurant a sense of community, and was the perfect touch on an already wonderful dining experience.

This in the top 3 restaurants I have ever tried--for the food, the service, the atmosphere, ownership, and NYC flare. I could not possibly recommend...

We were really excited about tonight's meal. Having received the recommendation while on holiday in Miami, we assumed this restaurant would be exceptional.

The waiter was a bit overwhelming, but he meant well. However, the maitre'd was some of Miranda Priestly, monitoring the clothes of each patron in the establishment with a subjective eye. Since the outside temperature was in the teens, our teenage daughter was sat wearing a winter hat and was asked to remove it after we ordered our meals. However, an older lady was wearing some sort of Harrison Ford Hat, circa Indiana Jones, and that was fine (I asked Mr. Prisestly why she could keep her hat on but our daughter couldn't).

Then, a family sat down at the table directly next to us. A gentleman was wearing a cowboy hat (larger than anything from Yellowstone), and a younger lady, a bit older than our daughter, was wearing the same winter-style hat...they were allowed to keep their headgear on even though Mr. Priestly saw them and asked them to take their hats off.

Now, as a Navy officer from the South, I understand the importance of customs and courtesies. However, there is a time and a place for everything. Subjectively enforcing a dress code posted online that isn't clearly defined can potentially ruin the experience. Oh, and patrons were wearing sweatpants, hoodies, and the like.

In the end, this city has thousands of places to eat; we won't be back. The food was solid, albeit the chicken a la king could have been more hardy; it was lovely—great old fashion. But anytime a dress code is enforced subjectly, it's not a good place to...