La Belle Aurore

Date
1/30/2014

Location
Downtown(?) Niantic
75 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic, CT

What I ate
Beet and orange parfait with whipped ricotta and pistachios
Sliced tenderloin with maple dijon sauce, greens, and roasted potatoes
Citrus olive oil cake

Who came
Jolene, Michael, Talina, Rempy, Helena, Zurita, Erin

Website
La Belle Aurore

Thoughts
Hat tip to CT Restaurant Weeks for identifying this place.  I'm still exploring this town and the surrounding areas, so having a guide like that is helpful.  This was one of the few prix fixe menus and the farm to table aspect appealed to me, so away we went.

My food was tasty throughout, though a few parts outshined the rest.  The appetizer was delicious.  The earthy beets mixed well with the not-too-tart oranges and the different textures - light but rich (weird, I know) cheese, a slight crunch to the beets, the slightly different kind of crunch to the pistachios - kept the whole thing interesting.  I would've gladly eaten another one.  My steak was pretty good and the potatoes were salty and fried in a very satisfying way, but the greens were the best part of the entree.  As deep as we were in winter, the freshness was a welcome change.  I'm going to find their supplier and see if I can get some directly.  The cake probably wouldn't be great on its own, but it was a pleasant way to end the meal, to tie everything together.  It had the "clean" taste that I associate with olive oil cookies and cakes and managed to stay light and mild.  Their beer list was small, but had a few great options.  As a group, we did a pretty good job with variety, getting at least one of almost everything, so I'll let my friends comment on the other offerings.

It's a cozy place, tucked away in a little strip mall.  We were easily the biggest group there, but they were able to seat us comfortably.  It felt very homey, like a little cafe; I'm sure it's lovely in warmer weather.  There were a few times it felt like the service was a little slow - big gaps between courses, some delay in getting everyone's dish out - but it really wasn't a problem.  In fact, it helped keep conversation going.  I don't know if this is the same for a couple or a smaller crowd, but it a net positive for our big group.  During the meal, I felt like the portions seemed small, but this is another aspect that looks fine in retrospect.  I was certainly full at the end of the meal, so I guess it'd be unfair to say portion size was an issue.  All told, it was a fun night out with plenty of good food.

Recap
Pros - Local, tasty, creative food, solid beer list
Cons - Small?  I'm nit-picking, there wasn't much wrong
Overall - See the last line of the review.  The food is good and they work extensively with local producers.  I'm excited to go back and see how the menu changes with the seasons.

Clydz

Date
11/30/2013

Location
Downtown New Brunswick, by the court house
55 Patterson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

What I ate
Antelope carpaccio
Braised python ravioli
Ostrich lorraine

What I drank
Tennesse Williams (Old Overholt, Carpano Antica, Scotch, maraschino, Benedictine, walnut bitters)

Who came
Mom, Dad, Dan, Julie

Website
Clydz

Thoughts
This is yet another long-overdue review, so I won't have much in the way of details.  Given the menu, Clydz is obviously not a place you go on a whim; it's a place for adventurous eating.  That said, there are plenty of less exotic proteins on the menu and, if my meal was any indication, they don't just sit back and let "Hey, python is cool!" carry the show.  Everything was delicious and the extensive drink menu was a great complement.

It's on the small side, space-wise, and is lit in a way that makes me think of a speakeasy (or at least my image of one).  The waitress was conversational and quite knowledgeable about both food and drink, something a little more difficult here than at most places.  Being in downtown New Brunswick can make the logistics tough, but it's worth making the trip.

Recap
Pros - Delicious, exotic food, great drink menu
Cons - Expensive, though not prohibitively so
Overall - It's a great place for a nice meal, especially for adventurous eaters.  If going in a group, I advise turning the hot and cold plates into a tapas-style meal.

Agricola

Date
7/16/2013

Location
Downtown Princeton
11 Witherspoon Street

What I ate
Pickled vegetable plate (cucumbers, zucchini, pearl onions, ramps, golden beets, green beans, rainbow chard stalks)
Braised beef short rib
Chocolate beet cake/peach pie/Meyer lemon cheesecake

Who came
Mom, Dad

Website
Agricola Eatery

Thoughts
I never got around to writing this full review and my memory is too foggy to do it justice now.  I'm eager to get back when I'm home; it feels like a good place to have a fancier-than-average meal.  The waitress was happy to answer my questions about their sources - I felt comfortable asking since they advertised it all over their menu.  The pickled plate is quickly becoming one of my favorite things at any restaurant and their's didn't disappoint.  At my asking, they sent me a copy of the recipe for the beets.  It didn't turn out nearly as well as what I had at the there, but it I'll try again sometime.  I didn't check out their bar, but it seemed quite well-stocked.

Recap
Pros - Tasty food with an emphasis on local sources
Cons - I can't remember anything that stands out
Overall - Go here for a nice night out in Princeton.  It'd probably be good for after drinks, though I may be looking for any excuse to have the pickled plate.