The centerpiece of this café is a curved mahogany bar and a vibrantly colored chandelier. Walls surrounding the antique wood furnishings, giving a cozy, grand feeling—a sense that you are somewhere in Europe … Tuscany shall we say? Perfect for small gatherings, meetings, or wine tastings and cocktail receptions.
The ingredients? Well, “From Earth to Table” is what the owners believe. It is your chance to savor locally grown, organic varieties. In fact most ingredients come from local farms and suppliers within 100 miles from New York City as well as from owners of Mae Mae, Great Performances’ Katchkie Farm in Kinderhook, New York.
One can tell by the look of the freshness of the food and its taste. The menu has a wide selection, from salads to steaks.
We went there for lunch and, I must say, there is creativity to their menu. I had the grilled salmon on mache with basil mashed potatoes. It was out of this world, especially the basil mashed potatoes—who would have thought? My friend had the turkey cob salad with bacon, avocado, blue cheese, and roasted pepper vinaigrette—a nice complement to the salty bacon and the avocado. The salad looked so appealing and so fresh—the greens crispy while the tomatoes … well, you get the idea. With that, of course, a glass of light wine of either Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay or a lighter red, a Merlot or Pinot Noir.
Even the coffee was wonderful.
Although the place was packed, the service was fabulous with attention to your comfort and needs with a smile.
There is live music in the evening. Music is original with solo guitarists in general or soft jazz. No cover charge.
Verdict: A place you would want to escape to either alone, with a friend, or your soul mate.
Average price for lunch is $15. Dinner, $25 without wine.
Mae Mae Café, 68 Vandam Street, New York, NY 10013.
