Themes. I like themes. Even more than that, I like when my friends come up with themes as reasons to have dinner together… like ‘sparkling & escargots’ – which brought Hungry, Sarah and I together recently at Almond. I’d enjoyed myself at the Dolce Gusto event the month previous, so it was a no-brainer when we needed a place for sparkling & escargots.
First order of business: sparkling. I wanted a sparkling rose, and there was only one on the list, so we got this one. I enjoyed it even though Sarah didn’t seem to 😉 as I found it bright, bubbly and fun! I like bubbly a lot though and am hard pressed to find one I don’t like (except when they’re bone dry, then I tend to not appreciate them as much).
And then for the main attraction: escargots! Garlicky, buttery, morsels of snail drowning in butter with herbs and topped with crusty toast bits. I like escargots but these had something… that I didn’t like all that much. One of the herbs in there just didn’t sit well with my tongue, but that’s a personal preference… Sarah enjoyed them a lot. They were cooked properly, just that one herb… ah well.
Hungry ordered a salad as well – but I’ll let her chime in with her thoughts.
Sarah also ordered a salad – her thoughts can be found here.
Yvo says: Where perhaps I didn’t enjoy the escargots as much as I could have, I’d still totally like to go back for some more duck prosciutto and some of their other wonderful dishes! You could do far worse for a cute French bistro – I think this would be the perfect place for a first date as well! Yum.
recommended, though I personally would not order the escargots again
TT says
funny, we went here on Saturday night. I had high expectations since the Dolce Gusto food looked so good.
The brussels sprouts 2 ways in caesar salad form was great. everything else not so much.
the house made cavatelli with veal & pork sausage was probably the blandest dish i have ever had in at least 5 years. it’s one thing not to cook the pasta in salted water, but I have no idea how sausage could be flavorless
the Morrocan lamb ragout was marginally better, but still tasteless.
btw, Ty-Lor on this season’s Top Chef is the chef at the Long Island location, not Manhattan.
Feisty Foodie says
So sorry your experience was not that good. I wonder if I return for that duck prosciutto and some of the other dishes if I’ll fare the same as you?
/blank stare/ I don’t watch Top Chef, haha. Didn’t even know someone related to Almond was on it this season.
TT says
yea the Top Chef mention was for other readers, not you. hahaha
Feisty Foodie says
Thanks! 🙂 You are definitely my pulse in the food world.
Hungry says
I had the duck confit salad. I thought it was okay. Though I got annoyed that the waiter thought he had to inform me about the poached egg and it should serve as the binder for the salad. Duh! I was just saving it while I broke down the salad. Anyway, the salad was light (even with the rich duck) and it was a nice complement to the richer escargots.
Feisty Foodie says
I don’t even remember him doing that, but I could see that bugging me too. Oh well- I guess Almond is hit/miss type of place with the dishes!
T.C. says
Cool. Snails, duck salad and octopus salad.
Still not eaten at Almond. Maybe some other time.
Feisty Foodie says
TT just went there on Saturday. Hold off till you see his review.
TT says
no review forthcoming. summed up above.
we were in a bad location and the table was incredibly tiny so picture taking would have been difficult.
i would pass on going. nothing really special there.
Sarah says
Hahahah I’m hiiiigh maintenance! We still need a make-up pizza night!
Feisty Foodie says
That’s why we’re perfect together – I just need bubbles and I can give you the world 😉