Dinner at DB Bistro

In a desert of corporate, national food chains known as the Times Square area, db Bisto Moderne stands out as an oasis of fantastic food and a minimal, yet sexy ambiance.  It's been a while since I have been here, but I ventured back recently.

db Bistro was super chef Daniel Boulud's foray into a more 'casual' dining experience.  Well known for his Upper East Side restaurant Daniel, db featured his take on the brasserie menu and more relaxed atmosphere.  The dining room is divided in two areas; the more casual front space and the back area which seems a little more upscale but in no way stuffy. The staff is attentive and warm while offering suggestions along the way for first-timers. 

Original db Burger

More importantly, this was high-end burgers began too as he introduced the Original db Burger made with sirloin, braised short ribs, foie gras and black truffle.  One bite into this and you never want another burger.  This is juicy to the hilt and the truffles give it a hint of earthiness.  This is the original $32 burger! If you really want to splurge you could go for the $75 db Burger Royale, layered with shaved black truffles.  That's right, a seventy five dollar burger!

Some of the other dishes I had follows:

Atlantic Salmon Tartare : This is your standard tartare and has to be on every brasserie menu these days.  The orange-soy reduction added a nice acid element and helped brighten up the fatty fish.

Legumes Du Marche: perfectly cooked young vegetables with ricotta cheese and lemon.  If all vegetables were cooked this way we would have a nation of children licking their plates

Black Sea Bass with a parsnip puree, roasted figs, trumpet mushrooms and a red wine butter.  Loved the figs in this dish!  The figs added a surprising sweetness to the whole dish.

Warm Pear Tart Bourdaloue with vanilla custard, frangipane, walnut ice cream and a port coulis.  I'm not a huge chocolate fane so I loved this dessert.  Perfect flakey crust, a poached pear.  Yes you can have fruit and dessert at the same time. 

These are but a few of the tasty dishes available.  They also do breakfast and lunch. 

 As I mentioned before, a great option in an area short of them. 

db Bistro Moderne - 55 West 44th Street