Restaurant Review – Bette, Chelsea, NYC
New York’s Eater blog recently reported that Bette, the uber-hyped restaurant by New York social director, Amy Sacco, is now open for lunch. Lacking the fortitude for a multi-month wait for reservations but wanting to be in the restaurtant know, a lunch date seemed to be a great compromise.
Every review starts with praise for the beautiful interior of the hotspot. Bette feels both comfortable and fashionable. The room was reminiscent of well-appointed chic home, with a Worhal dominating the dining room and comfortable cherrywood booths.
The food and wine were good, but not worth the price or hype. For a starter, I had tomato bisque. It was rich and creamy, highlighted with a crouton and goat cheese. It was incredibly filling. My entrée was a thyme-grilled chicken with potatoes. The chicken was good, but the flavors were not exceptional. And potatoes were bland as well. Luckily, the 2004 Cotes du Rhone Domaine Richard Terre d’Aigues was a good compliment. It too offered little taste or depth. Black cherry was the dominant flavor, but it evaporated by midpalate. At $10 per glass (the cheapest on the list), it was a grave disappointment.
Overall, head to Bette if you want to join in New York restaurant critiques. It may be named for Sacco’s mother, but I don’t expect anyone will write home to their mother about their meal.