ok, so clink is expensive. but hey, you only go around once and money is just dirty paper, right?
i went here for dinner, not for the nightlife/lounge/bar aspect so i can't tell you anything about cougars or their male counterparts. i will say that you are in a pricey hotel so the people from out of town that are staying here are probably about that age.
we started with the salad of little gem lettuces which was . . . well . . . a little gem. definitely big enough to split with just enough of a creamy tangy dressing. the home made crouton was a nice touch and there was some kind of pickled vegetable (perhaps a radish?) that was surprisingly good as i am not fond of pickles or radishes. then again, i am not a fan of coffee, but i like coffee ice cream so . . . you know.
for dinner i asked for recommendations and, after declining the sea scallops as i'd had swordfish for lunch, i went with the waiter's #2, the berkshire pork loin which came with gnocci and some kind of fish or fish-tasting thing. three words. fan. tas. tic. seriously. each part of the meal occupied its own section of the large rectangular plate and sat in or near just a little bit of complimentary sauce. the sauces were very good, but the food itself was so tasty, it didn't need any sauce. still, to be fair, i ate about half with and half without sauce just to get the full experience.
the lady had the ricotta gnudi which, again, was just incredible. (i do note jenny e's bad review of it. not sure what happened there.) i'm not a big fan of ricotta but these were little lumps of cheesy love on a bed of fresh, ripe and sweet yellow tomato slices. i'm not sure how they made this but i could definitely taste parmesan and some kind of smoked cheese (maybe provolone or smoked mozz). somehow, these little balls stuck together while maintaining a soft creaminess from plate to tummy.
for dessert we had the chocolate tart, which featured a very nice semi-sweet chocolate, a crispy little pie shell and homemade whipped cream, and the gelatto of the day, which happened to be chocolate chip. neither was left unfinished.
small, but not minuscule, portions make for no leftovers which was a bit of a disappointment given the prices. at a restaurant where i'm dropping about $100 per person, i definitely expect the presentation to be special and clink did not disappoint. really, if you go here, before you dig in, take some time to just look at what you are being served because it is being done properly.
our waiter found a way to be present at exactly the right moment to bring something/take something away/pour some more champagne without being intrusive and was knowledgeable about the food. the rest of the staff was good, although i only really had one request other than my reservation time - champagne on the table when we got there and it was, in fact, there.
the atmosphere is as-described. the large open lobby and tiers going up to what appears to be the original vaulted ceiling definitely looks like it used to be a prison. if that doesn't do it for you, the cell doors throughout should tip you off.
so, after the effusive praise why only 4 stars? i have to say it's the price. 2 people, 1 bottle of champagne (their options are basically one $30 bottle and the rest are $70 and up and i didn't get the $30 bottle), 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 deserts was north of $150.00 without the tip. throw in a reasonable tip of 20 - 25% and you're over $100/pp.
your pocket might be what clinks on the way out 'cause all you've got left is change. but money's just dirty paper . . . right? read more