Tree Restaurant – Don’t Miss the Cookies and Cream Panna Cotta
Tree Restaurant and Garden, East Village NYC
If you happen to be wandering the East Village, stop into Tree Restaurant and Garden (190 First Avenue between 11 and 12th Streets); truly a delight and a hidden gem on a rather non-descript street. The pro of living in New York City is that there are hundreds of great restaurants and the con is that because there are so many restaurants that you have a tendency to walk by most of them that don’t have the name or the fancy bling bling or the cool interior space. Tree Restaurant is one of those restaurants that you walk by without giving a second thought
Luckily for me, at a recent event to learn about Peapod online grocery delivery expanding to Manhattan I had the chance to enjoy a three course meal that was understated but sure to please.
The first course was an Arugula salad, paired with a pear balsamic dressing, crumbled gorgonzola and candied walnuts. Doesn’t that sound like a perfect combination. Ordinarily, arugula bores me but the the ingredients melded together to create a mouth- watering mixture.
The second course was Chicken Florentine filled with spinach, ricotta and pinenut stuffing served with roasted fingerling potatoes and garden pea puree. The Chicken Florentine was quite flavorful, not dry and instantly made me happy. If there had been another piece on my plate, I would have chowed it down that’s how delicious it was. Now to the Garden Pea Purée was the side dish. When I saw it on the plate, I thought “eew” but once I tasted it, OMG, I could have ate an entire bowl that is how exquisite it was. Even if you hate peas, this will convert you.
Spiced Honey Fried Oreo and Cookies and Cream Panna Cotta
Now to the dessert which was Cookies and Cream Panna Cotta and Spiced Honey and Spiced Honey Fried Oreo.
Admittedly, dessert is not my favorite part of a meal. I just don’t get the same satisfaction as others to at the thought of dessert.
I bet you think I am going rave about the Spiced Honey and Fried Oreo which yes, I loved. Who doesn’t love Oreos in any form but the Cookies and Cream Panna Cotta was out of this world, “yummy” and I don’t even like panna cotta. There was something about the consistency and the flavor combination that was all in synch. Note that the both desserts are sold separately.
As far as the ambiance, when you walk into the front of the restaursnt it’s a tad too woody and dark for my taste, but don’t be dissuaded. If its possible sit in the back garden cafe as it makes the meal much more enjoyable.
Tree Restaurant and Garden
190 First Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets
212/358-7171
Click here to book a table.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was not compensated for this post. Click here for NYC Single Mom’s disclosure policy.
Category: Dining, Events/Travel/Performances/Dining
