Restaurant Evaluation: The French Gazebo
Tiffany blue has been an iconic coloration lengthy earlier than millennial pink ever had its second. So, once I stepped into the newly renovated French Gazebo, the shade immediately evoked the restaurant’s elegant sophistication. Previously Kathy’s Gazebo, this house has been a staple in our group for 40 years, however late final 12 months new house owners Anthony Crupi, a Boca resident, and Steve Botta, a Northeast restaurateur, bought it and up to date its design whereas preserving the identical French classics on the menu. The crimson chairs and tufted cubicles have been changed with Tiffany blue successors, the carpet is gone, dated wooden accents have been swapped out for clear, trendy traces, and luminous chandeliers add a touch of glamour.
Tuxedoed employees warmly welcomed us in and helped us into our sales space. Right here, the desk swivels back and forth, permitting us to effortlessly sit with out having to awkwardly bounce across the banquette to seek out our tableware. An aperitif or glass of Champagne is obtainable earlier than the nice and cozy baguette hits the desk. We began with a traditional French appetizer, the escargot Bourguignone ($18.95). The dish’s presentation tends to vary from restaurant to restaurant; right here the delicacy is served in all its splendor: six spiraling shells, every tucked right into a dimple oozing with garlic butter. Professional tip: Ensure that to take in all of the saucy goodness with the baguette earlier than your plate is whisked away.
The second starter, equally as French, had been the crèpes royale. The paper-thin crepes had been full of tender crab, shrimp, scallops and mushrooms, and in true French trend, the whole dish was completed in an unimaginable cream sauce. It was a large portion for an appetizer, but it wasn’t too filling. My solely observe was that whereas the plate itself was piping sizzling, I wanted the crepes had been a bit hotter.
To honor its historical past, we ordered the well-known Dover sole ($58.95), which has been a staple for many years right here and one other traditional French dish. It’s elegantly rolled out on a gueridon, the place the waiter intricately fillets it. There’s an choice to benefit from the fish with both a brown butter meunière or frothy amandine sauce. We selected the amandine, which was equal components buttery and delicate, with a slight crunch from the sliced almonds. It’s served with silky mashed potatoes, every chew extra indulgent than the subsequent (neglect your fat-free eating regimen right here). We additionally ordered the duckling ($38.95), which is served with the sauce of the day—this night it was a candy, fragrant orange sauce with wisps of orange liqueur. The crispy pores and skin led into tender, moist meat that I hoped can be simpler to slice into. There appeared to be extra bone than meat, sadly. Desserts ranged from quintessential treats like crème brulée and profiteroles to Key lime pie and the housemade bread pudding—and had been an ideal ending to the dinner.
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