Gramercy Tavern: Seasonal, Farm to the Table Excellence

Gramercy Tavern was exceptional from the moment we walked in. The ambiance was very rustic, casual, and warm. It felt very inviting and the service was top notch. Our waiter was also extremely accommodating to our large group of different personalities and needs. We had two gluten-free women at our table, and also a 9 year old who was looking for less extreme dishes. The waiter was very willing to customize the tasting menus and the 3 course menus for the 9 year old so that he could enjoy the dinner experience as well and be just as much a part of the tasting experience. I thought it was very nice of the waiter to be so helpful and patient with our table. 

The cocktail menu was good and offered exceptional choices to choose from. Additionally, we brought a few bottles of wine to dinner since they do offer a corking fee for BYOB. 

The Goodfellow
Famous Grouse Scotch, Lustau Oloroso, walnut, orange bitters

I started with the Goodfellow cocktail. It was a nice blend of scotch, walnut, orange bitters, and sherry. It was smooth, sweet, and smoky all at once. I would have nice it to be a little larger, but I can't complain.

Softest, Creamiest Butter with Salt  - Didn't take photo of bread :(

When it came time for them to serve us the bread and the butter, I already knew I was in for a fabulous meal. Just the butter and bread were amazing to start. The bread was served with salt on the side to sprinkle onto the bread, which added a delicious salty flavor to the creamiest butter that probably exists. Phenomenal!

Gluten Free Bread

The restaurant also had gluten-free bread available, which was nice. When we ordered our meals, the waiter was advised of the gluten allergies at the table and the restaurant should have been prepared to deliver the gluten-free bread at the same time as everyone else's bread. Instead, the gluten-free bread was not ready and had to be requested at the time the bread was served to the table. Because of this late request, it did not come out until the bus boys were clearing away everyone else's bread plates and serving the next course. 

Amuse Bouche of Buckwheat Puff with Pimento Cheese

We were given an Amuse Bouche of a buckwheat puff over a sprinkling of pimento cheese. The puff was warm and airy. It melted in your mouth and was nice to pair with the cheese.

For our tastings, my fiancé and I split everything, so we got to try double of what everyone else did :)

Beef Tartare
Served with Chesnuts and Brussel Sprouts

The beef tartare was one of the best dishes we were served all night. It was super fresh, chilled to the perfect temperature, and had a little bit of spiciness to it. I loved the textural interest the chestnuts added and the savory flavor the brussel sprouts added. We both wanted to lick the plate when we were done.

Squid Ink Spaghetti
Served with kale, mussels, and chorizo

The squid ink spaghetti was unbelievable! It was served with mussels, calamari, kale, chorizo, and also chives. The sauce that it sat in, we both wanted to drink. We both loved the mixture of seafood, meat, and also vegetables all together over the spaghetti which made for a feast of flavors and gluttony.  This dish definitely had a nice kick to it, and we both think it was from the chorizo, which was exceptional. I want more! 

Ramp and Mushroom Broth

The ramp and mushroom broth I only tried a taste of, since I did not order this as my first course. I had to get a taste of the mushrooms since they are one of my favorite vegetables, and my fiancé is allergic :( The broth was extremely flavorful, and the ramp added a nice onion-like flavor. The broth was similar to that of a miso soup, but much much better! The dumplings also were unreal!

Pork Loin & Deckle
Apples, Pecans, and Parsnip

The pork loin & deckle was extremely tender and flavorful. It wasn't overly fatty like most pork dishes are, and was the perfect cut of the meat. It was seasoned with apples, pecans, and pureed parsnip. Dipping it into all the flavors and sauces on the plate added to each juicy bite of pork! The plate presentation was also extremely beautiful. 

Lamb Loin and Shoulder
Chickpeas, carrots, and pistachios

The lamb loin and shoulder was also an exceptional dish. It was served over pureed chickpeas, pureed carrots, and pureed pistachio sauce. The pureed vegetables made for a beautiful plate presentation and also a delicious sauce to dip each bite into. The lamb was cooked perfectly with a nice pink center, just like we wanted. Each bite was juicier than the last!
From the entree menu, my fiancé and I definitely chose the best two choices, especially from all the dishes at our table. We were very happy!

Amuse Bouche of Pomegranate Consommé

Before dessert, we were given a second amuse bouche of pomegranate consommé, which was sort of like a pomegranate pureed juice floating over champagne, prosecco, or some type of sparkling refreshment. It was extremely sweet and refreshing and a nice way to get our taste buds ready for dessert after our extremely savory dinner.

Chocolate - Peanut Butter Mousse, Banana Cake and Blood Orange Frozen Yogurt

For dessert, the menu choices were all so varied with fruity and also chocolatey choices. We of course chose the chocolate option for one of our desserts, which was a peanut butter mousse, banana cake, and blood orange frozen yogurt. All I can say is wow! This dessert was so chocolatey and peanut buttery. The banana flavor of the cake was a nice addition to the chocolate and peanut butter flavor and made this dessert just melt into your mouth.

Pecan - Clementine Marmalade, Cinnamon Cream, Chocolate and Bourbon

The pecan dessert was almost like eating an oversized and over-thick pancake. It was so soft and filled with pecans with a delicious cinnamon, chocolate, and bourbon flavor. Additionally, the clementine marmalade made for a nice citrusy contrasting flavor.

Chestnut - Puff Pastry, Creme Brûlée and Cranberry Sorbet

The chestnut dessert was the most tart dessert because of the cranberry sorbet, but it was very good. The puff pastry and creme brûlée were delicious, especially with the hard sugar top layer which is one of my favorite things! The sugar layer and the puff pastry were a nice combination of soft and crunchy. Also, the plate presentation was exceptional.

Free Chocolates and Caramels 

At the end of dessert, we were also given a plate of chocolates and caramels on the house. These weren't anything special, but definitely a nice touch to the end of the evening. Additionally, as we were paying our bill we were given beautiful cinnamon flavored muffins to take home with us. The muffins were definitely enjoyed the next day for breakfast :)
I definitely would return to this restaurant, especially because it appears that they change their menu often. Almost at any time, you will have a different meal here than the last because of the constant updating, which seems pretty exciting. Although, they better keep the squid ink pasta on the menu forever!
Enjoy!