Under the rave column...

[wondersofwine]

I thought dinner at Gramercy Tavern lived up to its billing--even in a back room less lively than the front end. Two rather minor criticisms--to book online I had to accept dining at 5:30 PM or 10:00 PM--I opted for the earlier booking--and the rolls were served cold. Is this a NYC staple? The rolls were cold at Cafe Madeleine also. I like them warm enough to melt the butter.
Nice host, servers, well trained and attentive. I chose the 3-course fixe prix dinner which allows some selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts. With the asparagus soup (which I scooped up to the last drop) I had a 3-oz. pour of Prager Gruner Veltliner Smaragd. Nice match with the soup. My entree was sirloin of beef with morels, salsify (root vegetable) and potato gratin. With the beef I had a 3-oz. pour of 1999 Colin Deleger Santenay, Cotes du Beaune. It was a beautiful velvety Burgundy and a fine representative of a good vintage. Burgundy color, cherries transformed into a special elixir, long finish, medium body. Worth seeking out. (Wine-searcher.com shows from under $15 in France to prices under $30 in USA including Chambers Street in New York City.)
For dessert I had the lime sorbet with candied lime peel and a lime tart accompanied with coffee with cream (very good coffee by the way). I was offered other treats between courses or after dessert and given a round cupcake-sized piece of coffeecake (wrapped in plastic) to take back to the hotel with me. All this doesn't come free and it was $72 for the 3-course meal--no charge for coffee. The 3-oz. pour of Gruner Veltliner was $6.25 and I think the Santenay was $8.25.
In three evenings I dined at Wallse (Austrian cuisine), Gramercy Tavern and Triomphe and I would enjoy returning to any of them.

[winoweenie]

COFFEE!!???ww

[Thomas]

WOW, Gruner and asparagus--a normally wonderful pairing, and you confirm it.