Middletown - Restaurant Nicholas

[Rail Paul]

We had dinner at RN recently, and continue to be impressed with the place. Polished service, relatively nicely spaced tables, focused menu, good wine list. I took a few notes on what we had.

Party of four, seated immediately, a table change was accepted with minimal staff grumbling. They pushed the bottled water ("Would you care for sparking water, or is the tap water OK?") immediately on seating. We took the tap, but I noticed another table had to ask them not to pour a second, unrequested, bottle later in the evening.

Spotted prawn amuse was very small, with a concentrated briny taste. Field greens with shaved reggiano with pine nuts and almonds. I liked it. Asparagus with a thin, intense field mushroom sauce.Very dark sauce, set off nicely on the bright green asparagus. The sauce was dressed at the table. Softshell crab was very crispy, a little dry in the thin center, but OK. A rabbit ravioli, which was very tasty, three or four 1.5 inch squares.

Entrees included tautog (blackfish) with a concentrated banyuls sauce. The sweetness of the sauce made a nice set off for the grilled fish. Dee had the rack of lamb, which was nicely pink. Carved at the table with flourish. I had a roast suckling pig with quince and creamed parnsips. Pig was a three inch diameter piece of meat with the crisped skin on top. it was good, and moist, but I had better in North Carolina last week for $35 less.

We had a bottle of the Shea Vineyards Willamette Pinot Noir 2001 ($85, IIRC), which was fine (two of us were on the wagon). A few wines were priced below $40, many between 40 and 100, many more above $100. The list had a number of Oregon vinters (Chehalem, etc) not often seen in NJ.

A rhubarb and lemon foam soup was served as a palate cleanser. Soup was good, very brisk and different. We opted not to take the cheese.

Desserts included a banana tart, warm valhrona chocolate cake (molten center variety), a milk chocolate souffle, which was superb. Pastry is made on site, and the pastry chef was named. This place which could probably build a late evening dessert, drinks, and coffee trade, I think.

All in, with tip was about $385. RN offers a three course menu at $55, a four course (cheese plus a few new items) and a vegetarian option.

This was my second trip to RN. I was impressed with the place. The reservations policy is designed, it sems to pace the kitchen well. People entered about every 15 minutes. As tables cleared, it would be 10 -15 minutes before new folks were seated. They also notified a table a few minutes before the entrees arrived, which was thoughtful.

Edited to add: RN has instituted a policy of requiring credit card deposits. They require cancellation by 3 pm the same day. When I asked about it, the hostess said it enables them to deliver tables when promised and accomodate folks who want to dine there. Most people, she said, are good about cancelling under the new policy. I didn't ask about the penalties

Edited May 19, 2003 by Rail Paul (log)

[Kim WB]

Thanks Paul for your review.

I have also been to RN twice. I agree that the service was excellent. I am not crazy about the room..its just so under decorated, and bland. However, I don't have food comments.

During my first visit, I was ill and should have cancelled. Therefore, the details are fuzzy... I had waited a while to go, and convinced myself that I was NOT sick. ...Suffice to say I was in bed the next day with a terrible flu, and 102 degree fever...

During my second visit, we were with a couple that got into a huge fight in the car on the ride there...the tears, recriminations...looking back, it's almost comical that I've never actually "taken in" a meal there that I sat through and enjoyed.

Thanks again for your report, I am reminded that I need to visit before the summer traffic is unbearable.

[chopjwu12]

Hello hello,

Thanks for the review and i am so sorry i didn't get a chance to get out there and say hello. I was kind of busy at the time and didn't really have a chance to head on out there. The salad you were talking about had candied hazlenuts on it not pine nuts and almonds though. But im glad you head a preety good time and i am really sorry about not being able to get out there.

On a side note the zagat came out yesterday and we scored well. So im preety happy about that.

Thanks

[coquille]

Anyone else been recently? And has anyone had the vegetarian option? We're planning on going this Sunday for my birthday, but my mother is a vegetarian so I like to make sure that her meal will be on par with those of the rest of the family.

[Rosie]

More info here

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=ST...487&hl=nicholas

Nicholas is an outstanding restaurant. You don't have to worry about a vegetarian not having the same quality of food that you have. Just be sure to tell them when you make a reservation that you will need a vegetarian dinner.

[chopjwu12]

We have a vegetarian menu at the restaurant. Its a three course menu plus dessert i think. Your mother should enjoy it.

[coquille]

Thanks guys - sounds good. Looking forward to checking it out!