Prandial

I found Prandial on a recent neighborhood stroll.  Prandial's menu made me stop but the living room bar area had me sold.  The comfy leather couches looked like the perfect escape to a rainy afternoon. 

After perusing Prandial's wine menu, we settled on a bottle of Domaine Andre Neveu's Sancerre.   Unfortunately, the bottle had not been chilled so we had to wait 20 minutes for our wine. Luckily, the satisfying crisp white wine was worth the wait.

The menu at Prandial applies French culinary techniques to American ingredients, resulting in a familiar yet distinctly different dining experience. Because Prandial's menu focuses on American ingredients, there is something for everyone here (picky eaters, try to prove me wrong).  But make no mistake, not all dishes are created equally.  We had a fantastic experience at Prandial: great food, great wine, great service and cool decor.  I hope this restaurant finds a way to bring in patrons (we went on a Monday night and it was rather empty).

What to Eat:

Start with the Seasonal Soup, which was a dairy free, root vegetable blend finished with a pesto drizzle.  I don't know how it is possible this rich soup was dairy free because it was very creamy.  I tend to shy away from soup at dinner but Prandial's root vegetable soup was the standout appetizer of the night.  I plan on returning to Prandial for the root vegetable soup to warm me up on a cold, rainy NYC afternoon.








For an entree, go with the Duck Two Ways (the name is a bit of a misnomer because there is nothing "two ways" about it).  The tender slices of duck lay on a bed of bokchoy and are surrounded by a decadent pomegranate jus (don't forget to dunk your French bread in the pomegranate jus).  The plate also includes broccoli puree (delish) and a potato tower (tasteless and boring).  The duck is not a large portion but when combined with the hearty root vegetable soup, you will find yourself just shy of full. 









Which is perfect because you need to save room for dessert.  While the server recommended a few options, I went with my gut, the Chocolate Caramel Torte. The old adage never fails, trust your gut.  The chocolate shell is piled high with homemade gooey caramel and is accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a raspberry sauce.

Looking to impress your dinner date?  Prandial is still under the radar so it's easy to grab a reservation,

Your foodie friend

Insider tip: skip the sides, they were lackluster and unnecessary because the entrees include similar sides.