EAT: AFFORDABLE FRENCH AT AMUSE BOUCHE

Harlem Bespoke: One of the best thing about Harlem Restaurant Week is discovering some of the newer eateries that have opened uptown in recent months.  Amuse Bouche took over the Hot Bread Kitchen space at La Marqueta on Park at 115th Street and we were surprised to see how affordable everything really was a la carte.  The enclosed food court setup within the train underpass is definitely on the modest side but the two owners have dressed everything up to be warm an cozy in a very limited space.  Everything is made to order and apparently is pretty much under $9 for the entire bistro menu.

We especially like the Escargot de Bourgogne that is this week's special and also on the restaurant week menu since the offering provides a bit of nostalgia.  This iconic French dish with butter, parsley, garlic and snails is mainly now served up without the shells at most spots but the classic way is to have a more whole presentation that also includes a very bespoke escargot tong.  Diners just grab one of the shells with the tong and use the tiny wooden fork on hand to pick out the tender delicacy within.  At the end, make sure to use the same aforementioned tong to pour out the melted butter from the shell to eat with the bread.

An order of the Brandade de Morue was a new experience for us which arrived with an exceptionally large portion that could easily serve two.  Seasoned whipped mash potatoes with just a touch of cod for flavor and baked with a golden crust is pretty much like a seafood version of Shepherd's Pie but a little bit more formal.  Another nice touch to point out is the sliced baguettes which are also complimentary alongside the requisite cornichons to snack on between bites.

Those interested in visiting should note that Amuse Bouche is open only during daytime hours and and is closed on Mondays.  Thursday through Saturday hours extend to 7:00PM for those who want to catch an early dinner.  Note also that there is a communal table right in front of the stall that seats six and about a dozen smaller table are available in the main area which is usually pretty quiet during the day.  Check out the HRW menu for more details on the Prix Fixe  available up until March 15th: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2020