The food was a terrible disappointment! Absolutely no attention to detail of what you would expect in a better restaurant and the waiter actually picked our butter.
The Larchmont location exudes a passion for food, dedication, and finesse and for that I think they deserve applause. I see this as proof of a small business owner’s hard work paying off. I can only suppose the reason being was that she was busy working on her second location which is set to open in Rye mid April. It seems quite fitting as I sit here to write this review that on today of all days the owner was not present to serve us. These days many people open restaurants because they have money to invest and they don’t actually work in the restaurant. Often the trusted Grandma sat at the hostess station and counted the money. Traditionally that’s how the family restaurant business was back in the day – the man worked the kitchen and his wife worked the floor. Paying homage to the old school restaurant man approach the owner almost always serves us when we dine at Encore. All are reasonably priced between $8-$10. Knowing the importance of matching the wine by the glass offerings to the cuisine Encore offers: Rose from the Rhone region, Chardonnay from Languedoc, a Bordeaux, and Champagne by the glass. Although I did not order wine I did take a look at the list and can report the wine program hits all the right notes. For dessert we shared these delicious perfectly fluffy chocolate covered profiteroles stuffed with vanilla ice cream. Under appetizers what really caught my eye as the Chef flexing is culinary skills was the “Os a Moëlle” an oven roasted marrow bone with an onion marmalade. French cuisine staples such as a Croque-Monsieur sandwich, Escargot Bourguignon, and Mussels Frites are menu highlights. The luncheon menu features six appetizers, six entrée portion salads, nine entrees, and the prix fixe menu that changes daily. Others at my table ordered the French Onion soup served appropriately in a clay pot with oven browned cheese on top and the Tuna Salad Nicoise. A single glazed carrot, haricot verts sautéed in butter and herbs, and an oven roasted panko dusted tomato accompanied my luncheon entrée. Julia Child would have demanded pats and pats of butter be added but personally I prefer not to have my fish doused in sauce and instead taste the actual fish itself.
Pan seared in brown butter and crusted with thinly sliced almonds the preparation was light and delicate. On almost every occasion prior I have ordered the prix fixe menu but today I opted for a one course meal trout amandine. For a short time you feel as is you may have been swept away to a chic bistro in Paris as you slather duck pate on crisp country toast while nibbling cornichons and sipping a bone dry Chablis. But the clammering of plates, hustle of the black bistro apron clad servers, and background of chatty women are part of what makes it all so picturesque. Between the black and white tiled floor and the antique tin ceilings the noise level is actually quite loud so be warned it is challenging to have an intimate conversation. Part of the restaurants popularity can be attributed to the three course prix fixe luncheon menu offered at $14.50 but the real allure of this charming, quaint, Larchmont staple is much more than a value seekers dream. Step into Encore at around noon on any day of the week and you will no doubt find the place bustling with energy.
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