I was looking for a nice place with good food and a quiet/ intimate ambiance to celebrate my first month anniversary with my husband since our wedding. Luckily, I was able to snag at 10:15pm reservation on a Saturday night at Chez Fifi! The restaurant is in a quiet residential street of the UES, and it's inside a townhouse. The dim lights, white tablecloths, mahogany paneling, velvet banquettes, and uniformed staff really elevate the ambiance and make it feel like the perfect spot for a special occasion. There are splashes of color here (wall art, patterned curtains) which give it a bit of personality without feeling over-the-top. Our waiter was great, he was very attentive to our table and able to anticipate our needs. We got some complimentary bread while we waited for our food with the best butter I've had in a while-- it was so salty and smooth and creamy--as well as two French 75s which were not on the menu but were excellent. For food we shared:
- Bluefin tuna: I was expecting to be disappointed by this appetizer but I actually really enjoyed it. The price is steep but the quality of the ingredients and culinary experience made it worth it for me! The lean and fresh tuna was perfectly cubed, and paired with a creamy and tangy Hollandaise sauce which was perfection. Small bits of chives and finely diced red onion added an extra punch. The Osetra caviar was high quality and the portion was generous-- it added a very smooth and rich saltiness that really tied the dish together. Would get again!
- Txangurro: or Basque deviled crab-- this was also amazing. It really reminded me of the flavor profile of a Cioppino with the acidity of tomato and tanginess of the wine. The crab meat was sweet and abundant, perfectly pairing with the very subtle flavors of the sauce. It came with perfectly crispy and thin crostini. Another hit, would order again! Perfect balance of flavors and textures.
- Steelhead trout: fresh, bright, and a nice seafood spring dish. It was a perfect transition before our next dish. It came with fava beans, artichokes, trout roe, and this delicious citrusy but buttery sauce. The fillets were perfectly cut and so tender. Very delicious and surprisingly complex. A very good option if you are craving a lighter fish dish, especially if you order it with another side.
- Filet mignon au poivre: now to the star of the show-- I will say I'm not a huge connoisseur of steak frites and only really seek them out when I am in a celebratory mood, but these were amazing! The filet mignon was so tender, easy to cut, and cooked perfectly medium rare. The pepper sauce was creamy, and had the right amount of pepper in it to highlight the umami of the meat without being overpowering. The fries were very good. They had a nice crisp and weren't overdone inside. The bite of steak+fries+ sauce was heavenly! Would add to my death row meal.
- Chocolate mousse: beautiful presentation, very rich and not super sweet. This is definitely a dessert you want to share. The chantilly was light and creamy which balanced out the decadent mousse. The consistency was runnier, more like a pudding which, for me, did not personally feel thick enough to be a mousse. Would probably not order again and try another dessert like the creme brulee or baba rum.
- Fromage blanc ice cream: now this was amazing. Probably quite underrated but the flavors were perfect: a bit sweet but not overpowering. The ice cream is generously sized, tastes very subtly of fresh white cheese and it's paired with a sweet and a bit acidic blueberry compote.... Divine! Highly recommend. It's light, refreshing, interesting, and very pleasant on the palate.
Overall, we had a very lovely dinner here. The food and ambiance were really nice and certainly allow for that "special occasion" feel. I was mildly disappointed though since I explicitly said in my reservation we were celebrating an anniversary but there was no acknowledgment of the occasion whatsoever (no candle with dessert, no congratulations) which I would have expected from a place that is so highly regarded. Food is also definitely on the pricier side. However, we still had a good time. Would come back again! read more