New Haven is holding a Restaurant Week from April 19th to April 24th and, like Hartford’s Restaurant Week, I’m all over it. Although the price tag’s significantly higher than Hartford’s at $16.38 for a three-course lunch or $29 for a three-course dinner, the list of 25 participating restaurants is an extremely enticing one. Each restaurant’s prix fixe menu can be found posted at infonewhaven.com.
Included among the participating restaurants are New Haven’s “Big Three” of Ibiza, Bespoke and Union League Café, which most food experts rate among Connecticut’s Top 10. Indeed, the list is a veritable “who’s who” of Elm City restaurants, including 116 Crown, Barcelona, Basta Trattoria, Bentara, Carmen Anthony, Caseus, Central Steakhouse, Consiglio’s, Downtown @ the Taft, Foster’s, Heirloom, John Davenport’s, Kudeta, L’Orcio, Miso, Miya’s, Pacifico, Scoozi Trattoria, Soul de Cuba Café, Thali, Tre Scalini, and Zinc. I practically live at Ibiza and Bespoke, but I hadn’t dined at Union League in a couple of years, so I figured it was time I paid it a visit.
My companion and I were careful to order different items, so we could experience as much of the prix fixe menu as possible. My companion began with the baby arugula salad with fennel shavings and a black olive dressing.
For his main course, he selected the duck leg confit with a ragoût of lentils du Pays and watercress salad.
Our neighbor’s spring vegetable risotto with asparagus, peas, broccolini, snow peas and spring garlic also looked (and smelled) stunning.
He finished with a vanilla crème caramel, as light and lovely a flan as either of us had ever tasted.
I couldn’t resist having my meal served with matching wines at an additional $20 cost. My first glass of wine was a 2006 Michel Cheveau “Naissance,” Beaujolais Villages. It escorted a housemade pâté de campagne, the country-style terrine slice served with a pile of grainy mustard.
A glass of 2007 Domaine de l’Arfentière, Macon-Uchizy presaged my entrée. The Chardonnay married well with pan-roasted Great Lakes pike with crushed potatoes, a leek fondue and a ginger emulsion.
Finally, I received a glass of 1993 Château Chatard Banyuls “Grand Cru” with a lovely trio of chocolate mousses parfait. It was the perfect finish to a delightful dining experience.
Union League Café, 1032 Chapel Street, New Haven, 203-562-4299