As my birthday present from K whilst in NYC, we went to the River Café, underneath Brooklyn Bridge looking out across the water to the New York skyline.  The food and company were really great, but what I loved about it was the atmosphere and how accommodating they were.

Given that this is fine dining (they require gentlemen to wear suit jackets in the dining room – I’m not sure if that’s an aspect of US fine dining or just the River Café), it had the potential to be a little stuffy – but straight away our server put us at ease with his easy-going manner, taking us through the menu.  Given it is a high-end (Michelin star) venue, they had no problem at with us taking photos (the view and the food warranted it), taking photos of us, and letting me be lets say a little flexible with the menu…

The food was great – notably I have to say that the lamb rack was pretty much the best I’ve had anywhere (and that is saying something as I’ve eaten lamb in many ways in many places  – rare lamb is rarely this tender) and the Wagyu steak tartare was divine.  But for me, it was their accommodation to my requests that made it a real birthday treat.  I really liked the sound of several different starters/appetisers from the menu, so when it came to desert, I asked if I could possibly have another appetiser instead of a desert  – the Taylor Bay Scallop Ceviche (“chilled on the half shell with sea beans, tomato and coriander) – our server went to check with the kitchen, and the photo below shows you what came out (yes, that is a chocolate birthday message and a candle) – such a nice gesture!  (The dish itself was excellent.)  But it didn’t stop there – I asked if I could thank the chef, so our server arranged for me to pop in to the kitchen to thank executive chef Brad Steelman – and for me to get a peak at the orchestra that is a fine-dining Michelin star kitchen with all the activity going on around, it was a lovely way for a foodie to end a foodie birthday.

Thanks to All at the River Café!