My most expensive meal in New York took place at Butter, a Fine American cuisine restaurant in East Village. The one most noticeable thing about this restaurant is its bright and unique dining area that is inspired by forest nature. This is perhaps the most interesting modern artistic dining space that I’ve seen in my life, and I really enjoyed the calm and romantic the atmosphere it gave off.
A good bread basket can always start off a meal on a positive note, and Butter seems to know that fact well. Butter’s bread basket was small with just four pieces of bread, but it was definitely quality over quantity. The cheese tea biscuit was absolutely amazing though, it was very soft and cheesy, and what’s best is that it was still warm when I got it. The white bread was less exciting as the tea biscuit, but it was still substantially better than most breads I’ve been given in the past.
Bread Basket (complimentary)
Drinks are vital in a New Yorker meal, so I got myself the Butter Martini here. This posh drink had all sorts of fruity flavours in it, the most noticeable being lemon, pineapple, and pomegranate. Although a bit too much on the sweet side for me, I liked how it at least wasn’t too sour (a common problem I find in fruity martinis).
Butter Martini ($15)
For my appetizer I got the Maine Crab Cakes. These crab cakes are dipped in tartar sauce and topped with red jalapenos. Being the most expensive crab cakes I’ve ever had, they did meet my high expectations. Crunchy on the outside and soft like ice cream on the inside, it was clear that the cakes incorporated only top-of-the-line ingredients.
Crab Cakes ($22)
My friend got a rather basic appetizer, the Romaine salad. Flavoured with pesto and caesar dressing, this salad was tasty and fresh. But being merely a plain salad, it was nothing too stunning and pretty pricey for such a simple side.
Romaine Salad ($15)
I don’t eat duck too often, so I jumped at the opportunity to try out Butter’s Hudson Valley Duck Breast. Like all duck breasts I’ve had, this one is flavoured with cherry jam and is accompanied with some greens on top. This duck had a very soft texture and its natural flavor went very well against the sweet and sour cherry jam. The portion size I got was also fair as well, making this a very satisfying entree.
Hudson Valley Duck Breast ($34)
My friend got the Creekstone Farms Prime New York Strip Steak, perhaps the longest name for a menu item I’ve ever seen. It is flavoured with tartar sauce and served with some sauteed spinach. Like my duck breast, this steak came in a relatively large portion that was very filling. This steak was very juicy and was evidently a high grade. It was neat to have steak with tartar sauce, since the flavours complement each other nicely. I also liked how they came with cooked vegetables instead of raw ones.
Creekstone Farms Prime New York Strip Steak ($42)
For dessert, we shared the Raspberry Beignets recommended to us by our waitress. These beignets are sugar-dipped pastry puffs with raspberry jam filling, served with a vanilla dipping sauce for extra flavor. I thought that this was too much like the Raspberry filling donut from Tim Horton’s in Canada, so I was honestly a little underwhlmed. The jam filling in these beignets was already too sweet for my liking, so I didn’t even use the vanilla sauce. Not the best dessert I’ve had in New York, but it was worth a try.
Raspberry Beignets ($14)
Butter was more or less what I expected from a high end Manhattan restaurant: fancy decor, tasty martinis, and decadent steaks. So for a luxurious night out or an impressive date, Butter is not a bad choice. The main downside to this restaurant is their unimpressive dessert menu, but otherwise I would say that my experience here was quite pleasant. It’s arguable whether or not their food is overpriced, but I have had better meals for less before. I do honestly believe that dining is an overall package experience though, and Butter was strong with their service and ambience. So for those seeking a real New Yorker evening, this is a restaurant you may consider!
- Unique and impressive dining area
- Generally good food
- Unimpressive dessert menu
- Expensive
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