Alder
Flight of the Concords – Gin, Concord Grape, Maraschino
Whistlin Dixie – Bourbon, Peach, Malt
Giardiniera
Pub Cheese – pistachio-white fig, Martin’s “potato chips”
Foie Gras Terrine – Watermelon, Shiso, Ritz Cracker
New England clam chowder – Oyster Crackers
French Onion Soup Rings – Beef Gravy and Gruyere
Rye Pasta with Shaved Pastrami
Cinnamon Toast Custard – Cinnamon cereal, candied almonds, apple, coffee
Rootbeer Pudding – Smoked Cashews
Having already indulged in wd~50 alumnus Sam Mason’s esoteric ice creams on Monday at OddFellows a pre-dinner stop for cocktails and snacks at the newest creation from Wylie Dufresne was tabbed for Tuesday at the controversial “Alder.” A long restaurant much like Wylie’s Michelin starred space on the Lower East Side following the current trend of white brick and dark wood with largely perfunctory service it was at the restaurant’s opening hour that we arrived and with the place to ourselves at first but the room quickly filling it was no surprise that things got loud, though from a kitchen and cocktails standpoint everything arrived quickly, well prepared, and mostly delightful. Selecting widely with most items clearly meant to be shared and all featuring the chef’s playful ‘mg’ signatures it as not surprising that items such as the foie gras and clam chowder shined but taking the advice of others both myself and my sister were shocked at just how impressive the rye pasta and “soup rings” were; both heavily spiced and seasoned and the pasta truly tasting like the classic deli sandwich and the rings better than any French Onion soup I’ve ever had. Certainly not a ‘cheap’ spot for drinks or snacks but a fun visit none the less a final note should be given to desserts, traditionally a strong suit of Dufresne deciples from Mason to Stupak to Livingston III, the rootbeer pudding should not be missed.
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