Chanterelle

New York is a city with a rich tradition of fabulous restaurants. When you want to taste cuisine from around the world, you need to look no further than the vibrant streets of Manhattan. Great dining awaits in the Big Apple and even a lunch out can transport you to another locale.

Take for instance the elegant dining of Chanterelle. This restaurant is located in the heart of NYC's TriBeCa neighborhood. A perennial favorite, Chanterelle offers innovative French cuisine with impeccable service. With just 14 tables, the restaurant fills quickly and is a popular draw. But, lunch here cannot be beat and is best to plan ahead very early for reservations.

As far as menu, I took advantage of the prix-fixe menu during lunch which lasts weekdays from noon until 2:30pm. The selection changes monthly and reflects the tastes and sensory delights of each season. Usually, an appetizer starts out with your choice of a light soup or freshly prepared--and meticulously designed--salad. The ingredients are rich, bursting with flavor and have subtle qualities that strike a chord with your taste buds in the most humble of ways. I enjoyed a zesty Portobello mushroom salad with vinaigrette infusion.

Succulent, and surprisingly plentiful offerings, accompany an average main course. The meat and seafood entrées are undeniable. Dishes such as rabbit and seared Cobia with le puy lentils and red wine beg to be licked off the plate. In addition, the desserts are phenomenal and come with a choice of an assortment of sorbets or cakes. Each lunch is topped off with chocolate truffles and coffee or tea.

The staff are aware of how enticing one's enjoyment of a meal can be and are extraordinarily helpful when it comes to attending to your needs and tangentially backing your whole experience. The decor of the room is plush, quaint and refined. The walls are planted in a soft, unobtrusive yellow and are adorned with portraiture and cases with ornate finery. There is a calmness that permeates over the entire dining space and the carefully designed interior complements the wealth of meals.

Overall, the restaurant proved to be worth every penny and was a welcomed escape during a busy weekday. This is a great place to take a date, bring co-workers or dine 'just-because.' The setting is romantic and transporting. Not for children. I definitely plan on escaping to this culinary retreat in the not-so-distant future.