Cole's Greenwich Village opened up in the West Village at the end of January. A new project from the people who brought you Jimmy at the James Hotel and chef Daniel Eardley, formerly of Chestnut in Brooklyn, the new bistro offers classy American fare in what was once home to the francophile-friendly Lyon. Most of the early chit-chat on Cole's is positive, while some is not so forgiving. Here's what the people are saying:
The Good News: One Yelper is pleased with his experience, and supplied this piece of advice: "I had the Atlantic salmon, the spinach and leeks, and the brussel sprouts and bacon. Every one of those dishes was fantastic. The ambiance was very nice and the service was great. This is a perfect restaurant to start your night, especially if you are going out in the Meatpacking District or West Village." [Yelp]
The Loyal News: Another Eater commenter is satisfied?as long as there will be rewards for steady patronage: "It's a much nicer atmosphere especially the bar area than it used to be when it was Lyon. Went the other night and liked it. They better still award air miles through the Rewards Network program though. That's why we keep coming back!" [Eater Comments]
The Forlorn News: Left wistful and unimpressed, this OpenTable commenter had mixed words for the new bistro: "I miss Cafe Bruxelles. This place is nice, quite a lot fancier, and pricier. It was very busy, maybe because it is still new. The food was great and the service was just ok, together though not good enough to justify the high prices in my opinion. I kind of got the impression the staff were rushed off their feet and a bit fed up." [OpenTable]
The Outstanding News: In a review of his friends-and-family meal NYC Foodie raves about the food: "My Chick Pea Panisse, with artichokes, lemon, arugula, and basil, was outstanding. The last time I had a chick pea panisse could have been never. But, I devoured this dish in moments. Order it. For dessert, my chocolate budino, with peanut butter mousse, cocoa nibs, and sea salt, was truly awesome. Heavenly. It made my diet disappear." [NYC Foodie]
The Sexy News:This commenter over on Mouthfuls finds the food acceptable but loves the vibe: "What a pleasure to walk into a dining room in a fairly casual restaurant and see the tables pre-set with wine glasses. Bringing sexy back. The room is great, the service was also very good. As is becoming the norm, the apps were more interesting than the entrees. The hot flash squid was very well-received. I really liked the chick pea panisse, which was like a large, delicate hush puppy. The kale and escarole caesar salad was fine, but nothing special. The cod, pork chop, burger and chicken were all good, strong dishes -- although smallish portions. Nothing blew us away, but it was good neighborhood food." [MF]
? Elizabeth Chadwick and Anne Goldberg
· All Coverage of Cole's Greenwich Village [~ENY~]