Pros and Cons

I have found that no matter where we eat out, there are pros and cons to the adventure. It is possible, although, I have no actual memory of this, that there have been occasions when there were only pros. Only cons, I am aware of, unfortunately. Maybe I am overly particular...scrutinize details...OCD...whatever!

Last night Michael and I went to Pomme Cafe (www.pommecafeny.com) in Astoria. We discovered it while walking after dinner last weekend at Cronin & Phelan, an Irish Pub nearby. Aesthetically speaking the restaurant is very pleasing. Prior reviews I've come across state that the service leaves much to be desired. We did not necessarily find this to be true. The hostess was lovely and accommodating. Our table had a reserved sign on it (I made the reservation through www.opentable.com). She also checked on us, and, I noticed, other diners, throughout the evening. The waitress was fine as well. I DO NOT like that the bus boys (men) who clear your dirty dishes, ALSO pour water and ALSO deliver your dinner (presumably on clean dishes) with the same un-washed hands.

About the food: We shared onion soup (totally fine) and a cheese board with Parmesan (WAY too salty), smoked Gouda (just like you get at the supermarket) and goat cheese (same supermarket). It also came with toast points (fine), seedless grapes (also fine), sliced green apple (same), a few slices of rolled up soppresatta and get this: grape jelly (maybe Welch's, maybe Smucker's).

Moving on to dinner: I had their homemade goat cheese ravioli with sun dried tomatoes in a Parmesan cream sauce and Michael ordered their steak au poivre-sans peppercorns, sans brandy, sans heavy cream...Odd, no? Why do they bother calling it au poivre, when there's no evidence they even know what that means? So we asked? The answer: We used to serve it that way, but no one liked it, so now the steak is plain and there is a peppercorn sauce on the side. Peppercorn sauce on the side? Try weak, thin brown water with very little pepper.

Did we stay for dessert? No. Are you surprised?

Here's the funny thing-I wouldn't be adverse to going back. The soup was good.