Stage Left, New Brunswick

[kimwb1]

I have to say, I am wondering why this place always makes the Top Ten lists... It's pretty but not wonderfully designed. The service WAS much better than in other places, but I  was with a Senator that the owner knew...

I loved the concept of the chef's twists on old favorites...Lobster Thermidor, Duck Wellington, Bananas Foster..if fact, I chose the above because of curiosity of just how he tweaked them... The lobster Thermidor was Lobster Raviolis..overcooked meat in undercooked pasta.  Thd Duck Wellington was partially great., with a confit that was fantastic, but a breast wrapped in pastry dough that had little flavor.  The Bananas Foster was inedible, soaked in a syruppy HEAVY alcohol sauce...this dessert needed a much lighter touch.  you would need to know me to understand how bab a dessert needs to be for me to leave it uneaten..LOL.

I was with a party of 6, and to be honest, no one was raving about the  food. Bob's tuna was nothing special, and while on the rare side, not " as rare as possible" as he requested..there was some pink in the meat. There were some salads that sounded great, and two of the folks did mention how good they were.   We had three bottles of a great Seavey Cab, but I wonder what the objective is, presenting a wine list as thick as the bible...it certainly excludes the person selecting the wine from any conversation for a 1/2 hour while he reads the thing....I prefer a rest. that pars down the selections...quantity is not a replacement for quality...but Bob said it was the most comprehensive list he has ever seen..but agreed it was too overwhelming. Maybe a reserve list is in order?  

All in all, I did not think that this restaurant was any more special than many NY bistros,  and while the wine list  and service was special, the food does not, in my opinion, merrit the accolades it routinely receives.

[Rosie]

Haven't eaten here in a long time.Was Yves cooking? I did taste something that he made at a charity event and thought it was delicious. Sorry--that's all I can remember. Did the owner ask how everything was? If you didn't tell him perhaps he will read it here. Thanks for report.

[Helena Robinson]

Hi Kim...

Sorry to see you didn't have the best of experiences at Stage Left.  We've been going there since it first opened 9 years ago, and it's one of our favorites in the area.  And the decor, believe it or not, is actually quite improved in the past few years, since they expanded next door.

Maybe I've seen wine lists that ARE as big as the average family Bible, so I don't find Stage Left's nearly as thick.  (Try the Kingston 1876 House in New Hampshire, a Wine Spectator Grand Award winner, where it REALLY took over a 1/2-hr to get thru the wine list!)  Last I looked, it also has an index by regionvarietal; so if you know you're not going to be interested in a certain type of wine, you don't need to go there.  (BTW, they did have a separate reserve-type list at one time, but I have a feeling that having the two lists bound separately may have gotten a bit unwieldy.)

Another alternative is to ask the server for a recommendation if you find yourself getting overwhelmed.  We've done this at Stage Left, and haven't been steered wrong yet.  (If the server pleads ignorance - which isn't often - he/she will often send someone more knowledgeable over to assist.)

And, speaking of wine, if you find you REALLY like the wine you had and want to get some for yourself...  Mention this to the server, and he/she will give you a card with the info - that's also good for a discount on it the Old Vines wine shop next door (yes, related to Stage Left).  Of course, the night we made this discovery, it turned out we must've had their last bottle with dinner.  :-)

Then again, there's always sending e-mail to Francis...

[kimwb1]

Quote: from Rosie on 10:31 am on Dec. 10, 2001

Did the owner ask how everything was? If you didn't tell him perhaps he will read it here. Thanks for report.

It's not that there was anything WRONG...it was fine, But  the question I has was why all the fuss...I just don't think this place belongs on anyone's top ten list, yet it consistently is.  

[Rosie]

Kim--whose top ten list is Stage Left on?

[kimwb1]

Rosie...you are bieing so LITERAL today, LOL!  I guess I mean that I have heard on this board, the old board, and other forums, RAVES about the place...and I don't get why. I think Soho on George is  better. Also, it has been in NJ Monthly a few times, has gotten good review s in the NYT and Star Ledger in the past..and "foodie" types tend to consider it an above average meal.

[Rosie]

Kim. I was being serious cause I don't remember seeing Stage Left on magazine etc. lists. Maybe you were thinking of Stage House Inn. I'll check this out when I get a chance.