THE STATELY PLATE

A Series Of Theories On Restaurants And Wine.
‘RUN THE DISH’ REVIEW: A Meeting At The Consulate NYC
So it probably sounds as if I turned up to a New York City Government building, complete with ID and security guards, and dressed in a suit fitting for a meeting at Mad Men's Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce office. Yes and no. I did arrive dressed for the setting; however, it was not a government building nor an ad agency.
The Stately Plate
February 6, 2023
Reviews The Restaurant Files


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So it probably sounds like I turned up to a New York City Government building, complete with ID, security guards and dressed in a suit fitting for a meeting at Mad Men's Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce office. Yes and no. 

I did arrive dressed for the setting, however it was not a government building, nor an ad agency. 

The Consulate NYC, nestled at the corner of 85th Street and Columbus Avenue in New York's Upper West Side is a semi-new, dual-location restaurant company that I heard about in October of 2022. It was by chance in a speakeasy on a Thursday night that I heard this, and I never forgot the name and looked it up. Due to their attractive social media, I called my girlfriend, who is a fellow Sommelier, and we went in to have a look at their Happy Hour from 3:30pm till 6pm in person. 


The cuisine is a global fusion of French-American, and the executive team at the helm has a host of accolades behind them. The wine and spirits program consists of two NYC professionals who bring Sommelier experience from acclaimed 3-Michelin star Le Bernardin and a background of competing in mixology championships, respectively. Executive Chef Alan Vargas hails from Masa, the 3- Michelin star Omakase icon in the Time Warner building in Columbus Circle.

 

The bar is beautiful, with high, ornate ceilings positioned right in front of the entrance. As you walk in, you are greeted by a smiling hostess. The female bartender was gracious and attentive, and the vibe was stylish and sophisticated, with a demographic of around 30 - 54. The cocktail list looked thoughtful and creative, including a base spirit, fresh, fruity ingredients, and a wine product splashed together.


I started with a cocktail named 'Your Love Is King,' a delightful concoction of Tequila, Dry Curacao, grapefruit juice, and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon for effect, complete with a dried lime slice. Served swiftly and completely instagrammable, it was tasty and executed perfectly. I began to think that presentation was most likely of utmost importance at the Consulate.

We ordered our first appetizer, which was the Chef Selection Daily Crudo. When it arrived, we just stared at it for a moment. It was served on a gorgeous plate shaped like a flower and was the most feminine Crudo I think I have ever seen. It was topped with a sprinkling of baby fuscia flowers. I blushed as if someone had given me a compliment.


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'Your Love Is King'
crudo
Chef Special Daily Crudo


While finishing the crudo, we experimented with another round of drinks. This time I opted for another interesting-sounding cocktail, the 'Oui Mademoiselle.'
This is served in a stemmed old-fashioned Champagne glass and blended blackberry puree, vodka, St. Germain, and sparkling wine, topped with rosemary. It was rich and sweet in flavor with a slight frizzante from the sparkling, and I also enjoyed this very much. My friend opted for a Rose, a certain Domaine Saint Pont tout Simplement Provence, a typical, well-constructed, light, and pleasant blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Carignan.


Oui Madamoiselle
'Oui Mademoiselle'
rose
Domaine Saint Pons tout Simplement
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Our second appetizer was a favorite for us both - Escargot. I feel compelled to get this historic and distinctive dish whenever it's on the menu. The answer to that could be the pockets of butter to dip bread in.
It was perfectly timed from ordering, despite a growing crowd at the bar and was fresh and hot to taste. Thoroughly enjoyable with our drinks. 


Around this time, there was a sudden drop of lighting in the room; the miniature lights on the bar and tables shone brighter and ambient, and the room took on an entirely different tone from the afternoon. The large potted plants and foliage strategically placed around the room created a comfortable separation and privacy between the tables.
And so, at 6:30pm, the venue was preparing for their Thursday evening dapper crowd.


Takeaway...

The Consulate is an excellent find, like discovering a precious jewel. Judging by the line of people coming in as we filed out, so did many of the locals. The service is impeccable, the cocktails are inspiring, and the dishes are lovely. The company has opened a second location in Midtown at 56th Street and 5th Avenue - a bold move in a post-pandemic corporate district but a much-needed one all the same.
I shall have the Consulate in mind when craving a New York cocktail and flavorsome dinner in the type of restaurant environment that Midtown was always known for. 
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