MIGHTY EATS: HAPPY HOUR AT THE CECIL

The Cecil opened back in fall 2013 and was named this year as the Best New Restaurant by Esquire magazine who had their ceremony announcing the publication's top awards at the Harlem eatery.  We invited our guest food critic Kay Excell of Mighty Edibles to write another column for Bespoke to go over some of the signature small plates during a less hectic time of the day to see what the buzz was all about.

Visiting The Cecil for dinner is now on everyones list of things to do in NYC thanks to being named Best New Restaurant in America so we wanted to see how it fared during happy hour. The happy hour priced drinks are minimal; a good red, a white and a beer at a discounted price. The draw here is one of their well crafted cocktails will also be at a special price. Having indulged in their libations many times without disappointment, this is the route to go.

While there isn't a separate happy hour food menu The Cecil does have several small plates on their regular menu that will do for those seeking nourishment. Their fry technique is some of the best in the city, always light, crisp, flavorful and devoid of oiliness which makes ordering the fried okra a must. The ginger squid is another tasty option for those seeking traditional but well executed bar food. The confit pork belly which had spots of dryness along with the unctuous fat comes with a perfectly poached egg as well as pinto beans which were lukewarm.

Head on prawns is always a welcome sight as that is where the most flavor is and one must put aside elegance for a moment of culinary delight. The accompanying slaw was light and refreshing but as evidenced in the photo the sauce was quite cold and therefore not enjoyable. For a heartier protein option the tender braised lamb ribs are recommended. One of the dishes touted nationwide since their opening has been the oxtail dumplings which arrive swathed and sitting atop a lovely green apple curry sauce that would have been better received had it not arrived room temperature.

An early evening excursion for drinks at The Cecil is pleasurable as one will not have to worry about crowds and can imbibe with an excellent cocktail at a moderate price. There is enough variety in the menu that a nosh suitable for every palette can be found but the lacking warmth of the food was a recurrent issue with most of our dishes that diminished the overall experience.