cafe select: more, please!

cafe select has been on my hit list for quite some time, and when stephanie suggested we go there for dinner (she had been just one week ago and was still raving, so i knew it had to be good), i jumped at the chance. i studied the swiss/international menu during the day, and had already decided what i wanted for dinner. i knew, just knew, we need to have the highly recommended (and confirmed delicious from steph) ricotta fritters and butternut squash risotto. luckily, my dining companion was on board.

the restaurant is small, cute, somewhat dark, and incredibly charming (the staff? not so much). as plates breezed by as before we ordered, my list of “wants” expanded.  was i craving zurich veal? did i need roasted figs wrapped in speck and stuff with goat cheese? (yes, we did, but they were out of them.)

we went with our original plan and started with the ricotta fritters with speck, which were served with a drizzle of infused olive oil, tomato compote and some greens on top. they were surprisingly light and fluffy, and melted wonderfully in my mouth. i could have eaten these all night.

next came our entrees, one of which was the hanger steak “select” ($21), served with crispy fingerling potatoes, watercress salad, and beef jus. the steak was by far, one of the juciest i’ve ever tasted and definitely one of the most flavorful. the juiciness of our medium-well remained consistent throughout the entity of the steak; sometimes the outside of a steak is so jam-packed with flavor, and the inside is dry and bland. this was not the case.

our other entree, butternut squash risotto ($18), was the real show-stopper. dare i say it was the best risotto i’ve ever tasted? fragrant with sage and a hint of ginger and topped with toasted pumpkin seeds and some grated parmesan cheese, this risotto was so decadent and creamy, and almost too good to be true. it was perfect to split, as it was definitely not a light dish, but it was enough to warrant a second (or third, or fourth trip).

we ended the meal with the warm apple strudel and vanilla gelato with caramel sauce. the strudel pastry was flaky, buttery and nicely layered, but there seemed to be an absence of apples in this “only ok” dessert. next time, i think i’d try the toblerone mousse or chocolate bread pudding.

would i visit again? absolutely. and if i go at lunch, i know i would be able to resist that wonderful sounding croque monsieur or rosti swiss hash browns staring me down on my on-screen menu..

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cafe select:  212 Lafayette St, New York 10012

phone: (212) 925-9322