Room 39
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Room 39 does a good job at making a cozy, romantic restaurant out of a space that has very little going for it. Both the service and food had its moments of brilliance and lapses (if only the food had been hot) but overall it was a lovely and satisfying experience. I would be happy to give it another try, perhaps for breakfast. And I'm still wondering about that Goat Cheese Cheesecake with cherries. Try the Goat Cheese Gnocchi and Seared Scallops.
Atmosphere
Although nothing more than a small boxy room squeezed in between shops on crowded 39th St, Room 39 does a good job at converting nothing into something, with an atmosphere of comfort and warmth reminiscent of a small French cafe. Bright colors of dusty rose, yellow, blue, and red don't quite mesh together but are somehow okay in the whole decorating scheme. A small bar sits off to the back right, and cozy tables sheathed in white linen are carefully placed in the small space. The floor is simple light colored wood, and there is no music playing, which gives the room an dense, echo-y quality. The lights were low and romantic.
Service
We walked in late on a Friday night, and the place was busy. Perhaps that's why the service started out so scattered. We were told a table would be cleared for us right away, and then we stood by and waited while everything else was done except the clearing of our table. When we were seated, they neglected to give us menus for a good 10 minutes, until we asked. Once into the meal, as things settled down, the service became more attentive and personable, a nice mix of friendly and professional.
Food
To begin the meal, a small ramekin of marinated olives and onions was brought to the table, along with warm, crusty bread swaddled tightly in a small basket, and soft, sweet butter. The olives were tart and tangy, and their spicy, garlicky crunch was perfect with the warm soft bread.
Because it was a busy night, the menu was a little sparse, with many of the items sold out. I guess this is to be expected form a restaurant that offers local and seasonal cuisine. Unfortunately, the broccoli cheese soup was no longer and option, so we started with house-made Goat Cheese Gnocchi ($11) with tomatoes, hazelnuts, ground cherries (similar to a gooseberry), and pecorino, in a basil cream. The light pillowy gnocchi tasted mostly of the goat cheese, as opposed to, say, potato, and melted slowly in the mouth as each bite was savored. The basil cream was decadent, yet light enough to not overpower the other ingredients. The hazelnuts added a welcome bit of crunch, and the ground cherries a bit of sweet-tart. My only complaint was that the dish was small, tiny actually, and provided, literally, two bites each. Darn. That sauce was excellent mopped up by the bread though.
For entrees, the substitution of green beans for brussels sprouts with bacon (they were out) made the Rib Eye unappealing, so we opted for some second choices. Roasted Duck Breast and Leg Confit ($24) came out a little cold, but cooked perfectly, accompanied by an uneventful rice and dal pilaf but the most delicious, sweet Amarena cherries that burst in the mouth like a bitefull of cherry pie. Similarly, Seared Sea Scallops ($26) were also cold, but their sweet, delicate flavor set nicely against a heavy and rich potato hash with chewy bits of spicy chorizo. Tempura-fried okra on top was a nice twist and had outstanding fried fatty flavor but was also, sadly, cold.
For dessert, a Goat Cheese Cheesecake with more of those delectable Amarena cherries caught my eye and tempted me to forget my ongoing effort to diet but, alas, they were out. It must be fate...
Room 39 also offers a 4-course tasting menu for $39.
Because it was a busy night, the menu was a little sparse, with many of the items sold out. I guess this is to be expected form a restaurant that offers local and seasonal cuisine. Unfortunately, the broccoli cheese soup was no longer and option, so we started with house-made Goat Cheese Gnocchi ($11) with tomatoes, hazelnuts, ground cherries (similar to a gooseberry), and pecorino, in a basil cream. The light pillowy gnocchi tasted mostly of the goat cheese, as opposed to, say, potato, and melted slowly in the mouth as each bite was savored. The basil cream was decadent, yet light enough to not overpower the other ingredients. The hazelnuts added a welcome bit of crunch, and the ground cherries a bit of sweet-tart. My only complaint was that the dish was small, tiny actually, and provided, literally, two bites each. Darn. That sauce was excellent mopped up by the bread though.
For entrees, the substitution of green beans for brussels sprouts with bacon (they were out) made the Rib Eye unappealing, so we opted for some second choices. Roasted Duck Breast and Leg Confit ($24) came out a little cold, but cooked perfectly, accompanied by an uneventful rice and dal pilaf but the most delicious, sweet Amarena cherries that burst in the mouth like a bitefull of cherry pie. Similarly, Seared Sea Scallops ($26) were also cold, but their sweet, delicate flavor set nicely against a heavy and rich potato hash with chewy bits of spicy chorizo. Tempura-fried okra on top was a nice twist and had outstanding fried fatty flavor but was also, sadly, cold.
For dessert, a Goat Cheese Cheesecake with more of those delectable Amarena cherries caught my eye and tempted me to forget my ongoing effort to diet but, alas, they were out. It must be fate...
Room 39 also offers a 4-course tasting menu for $39.
Cleanliness
It was a little too dark to tell, but the bathrooms were cute, and clean. Everything else looked fine.
Pros
Cozy atmosphere, friendly service, excellent food.
Cons
Service a little scattered when busy, many menu items sold out, some of the food was cold, no music.
