The Best Birthday at Butter

We had a wonderful time at Butter in NYC on Saturday night celebrating my birthday. Executive Chef and star of Food Network's The Cooking Loft Alex Guarnaschelli personally welcomed us and helped make the night extra special.


I started off with the romaine salad, which had a basil pesto and light caesar dressing. The romaine had been left mostly unchopped, so there was some pretty spectacular height to this salad. And the freshly shaved parmesan wasn't that bad, either.

Jared had a butternut squash soup that had a cute little side of freshly popped popcorn. "Elegant and earthy" as Ina would say.

For the main course, I had the olive oil poached striped bass. It was really good, but, to be honest, I could barely finish it! I was so full from the other courses Chef Alex had sent out to us. I remember a croquette of some kind, a creamy lemon pasta, and another involving some sweetbreads. (This is why I'm not an official restaurant blogger. I don't write things down!)

I am in love with the restaurant's design. A giant, sweeping arch of light wood and soft lighting encircles you above and really puts you in a different place (perhaps it's the forest photo [backlit to look like it's glowing] that does that too) and helps to set the mood.

We tried both red and white wines, plus the Butter martini which were all very good... and reasonable, for NYC.

A birthday isn't a birthday without cake, and even though we were stuffed to the max, we toughed it out and tried two different desserts (which I don't think are on the menu online). I even got a candle with, thankfully, no embarrassing song and dance.

We were really treated well by Chef Alex and the entire staff. I can't wait to return.

If you're in New York, definitely try to get to Butter. It has the fanciness you look for in a special night out and none of the pretense. We came straight from SNL in our jeans and Converses. Love those kind of places!

(PS- I'm still full. Need to do the 10-day detox or something now.)