Location: 29 E 61st St, New York, NY 10065
Cuisine: French
Cost: $$$
Overall: An cozy dining experience, featuring delicious French specialties and vintage vibes. Though there isn’t a strict dress code, be neat and fashionable, you never know whom you may be dining with.
La Goulue offers a taste of Europe to midtown east. The original incarnation of this restaurant opened over 40 years ago on Madison Avenue and closed in 2010. After eight long years, the French bistro reopened on 61st street and has since regained its position as a favorite amongst socialites and New York’s most elite diners. The menu is comprised of traditional French staples including escargot, roasted duck and fresh seafood.
Colossal Crab Salad
As seafood lovers, we couldn’t resist the siren call of fresh lump crab. The salad is served with a dollop of fresh avocado, blood orange, and a sweet passionfruit remoulade. The crab is salad is fresh and creamy with a rich buttery flavor that is enhanced by the acidity of the citrusy blood orange slices.
Escargot
Snails are a staple at many French establishments, and they are delicious. These small mollusks have been enjoyed since prehistoric times and prepared in a number of ways. La Goulue serves theirs in the traditional French preparation, with the snails cooked in shell with a mixture of herbs garlic and butter. The texture is similar to most mollusks such as mussels with a mild sweetness.
Pan Seared Scallops
The scallops were cooked perfectly, with a melt in your mouth texture, and tasty seasoning. They were unfortunately paired with a celeriac puree and port demi-glace that left us with an odd after taste. The celeriac is a root vegetable with a very distinct flavor that we didn’t enjoy with the equally overpowering demi-glace, it was all too much for the delicate scallops. To be clear, these little morsels are simply delicious on their own.
Prime Rib Special
On our visit, the special was the Prime Rib, carved tableside and served medium with a side of asparagus. As carnivores, this was the highlight of our meal. The rib was excellently prepared and tender. Our potion was enough for two to enjoy, and the meat was thick and juicy.
Profiteroles
These sweet little puffs are generally served with a sweet creamy filling. La Goulue serves theirs with scoops of vanilla ice cream and a generous drizzle of dark chocolate syrup. The syrup is the star of this dish. It was warm, smooth, and rich with an intense dark chocolate flavor.
Despite its upper echelon clientele, the vibe is modest and easy going. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive as they provide service with a smile. The dining room is compact and fills up rather quickly. No matter where you sit you can be sure to be served a delicious meal. A meal at La Goulue is a glimpse into the good life with the potential to literally rub elbows with socialites, tycoons, and foodies all in search of the perfect bite.
La Goulue HOURS
Monday – Saturday Lunch
12:00pm-3:00pm
Sunday Brunch
12:00pm-4:00pm
Monday – Saturday Cafe
3:00pm – 6:00pm
Sunday Cafe
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Monday – Saturday Dinner
6:00pm-11:00pm
Sunday Dinner
6:00pm-10:30pm
For more information, please visit lagouluerestaurant.com.
[gmap-embed id=”64751″]Interior Photos: Elaine Fredrick