The Best Thing We Ate Last Night: Dinner at Gramercy Tavern

By Jacqueline Wasilczyk

Gramercy Tavern has long been on our list of restaurants to try, and yesterday's dinner did not disappoint. Chef Michael Anthony's thoughtful menu captures the flavors of the season, making it difficult to choose a favorite dish. The pasture-raised chicken was tender and well complemented by apples, squash, chestnuts and sausage, and a taste of our friend's grilled swordfish was bright and expertly cooked as well.

Though seemingly simple, two unanimous favorites were the butternut squash soup and the spinach spaghetti. The silky butternut squash base was punctuated by bites of buttery lobster, fresh Brussels sprouts, crunchy toasted pumpkin seeds and slightly sweet chestnuts, creating a delicate yet hearty soup that managed to separately highlight ingredients without overwhelming. When it comes to the second dish, the spinach spaghetti impressed with its al dente noodles, ripe tomatoes and pleasant crunch from panko bread crumbs. Vegetarians are not missing out here.

Also, we can't fail to mention Nancy Olson's stellar desserts. Not a single bite on our plates remained, and this morning our coworkers were clamoring for a bite of the pastry we were given on our way out of the restaurant. A dinner that ends with breakfast? That's our kind of meal.