New Haven Restaurant Week, Day 4A—Geronimo

I have vague recollections from the 1980s of shopping for Szechwan peppers and other exotic ingredients in a Chinese market that once occupied 271 Crown Street in New Haven. Time marches on, and a friendly Chinese couple with a lovely daughter and cute grandson fade in memory.

That distinctive space on Crown Street now houses Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill.

A huge porch offers attractive dining, and the presence of heat lamps suggests the porch may be in use for at least three seasons.

The restaurant looks down (literally, not figuratively) on famous Louis’ Lunch, believed by many to be the birthplace of the hamburger sandwich.

I had a lunch date with Sharon Sudusky of RestaurantsCT.com, a sharp cookie who’s pretty attuned to the New Haven food scene.

I might have waited at the bar

or stood in front of the handsome adobe fireplace,

but Sharon was right on time. We were spotted chips

and dip

as we perused Geronimo’s Restaurant Week menu.

For our appetizers, Sharon partook of a bowl of meaty bison chili,

while I made short work of a bowl of watermelon gazpacho.

Although a red chili-bacon burger sounded tempting, ordering a hamburger next to Louis’ Lunch would have been sacrilegious. I was intrigued by penne pasta with pulled chicken, jalapeños, applewood smoked bacon, roasted corn and sweet cream, kind of a Southwestern take on pasta,

while Sharon was drawn to a crab quesadilla with lump crab, corn, scallion and Chihuahua cheese. A sweet tomato reduction, sour cream, and pico de gallo made entertaining dips for the quesadilla.

Desserts included a nice pistachio gelato

and a Southwestern rice pudding flavored with chocolate, cinnamon, golden raisins and a hint of pepper.

Our cheerful server, Aiden, took good care of us throughout our meal.

After dessert, I wandered around the establishment, including downstairs

where antler lights added southwestern atmosphere

and where a special party room lay idle.

Back upstairs, I recorded photographic evidence of people enjoying themselves for posterity.

Geronimo, 271 Crown Street, New Haven, 203-777-7700