La Sirene on the Upper West Side
I love La Sirène, a French restaurant located in Soho that has been opened since 2007. So, when I heard last year that its Chef and owner Didier Pawlicki opened a new location on the Upper West Side, I had it on my list, promising to go there for one dish: the cassoulet. At La Sirène, Chef Pawlicki creates its own version, the Kassulet Toulousain de la maison (homemade). The spelling is intentional: this is not exactly the classic recipe as there is no garlic sausage in it (there is indeed a sausage, but not garlic). His is made with cannellini beans, carrots, tomato, garlic duck confit, slab bacon and pork sausage all braised with duck fat, White Stock and Foie Gras Jus. It is like a heart attack on a plate and you feel the richness of the dish from the first bite. Every bite is like going to heaven: from the crust on top to the pieces of meat, especially the duck confit that was not salty as you can find it sometimes. I highly recommend that dish.
Cassoulet at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
Cassoulet at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
But this is not the only dish we tried. I could not resist not ordering their escargots a la bourguignonne, that is snails cooked with butter, garlic, parsley and shallots. I should mention that they were served in their shell, something you don’t find not too often in restaurants. Delicious, especially the bread dipping at the end..
Escargots a la Bourguignonne at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
Escargots a la Bourguignonne at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
Jodi went for one of their specials, some asparagus served with a tapenade, berries and a lemon vinaigrette.
Asparagus at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
As well as their delicious goat cheese tarte made with aged Gruyere and truffle.
Goat cheese tart at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
We finished the meal with one of their specialties that I tried in the past: their banana brûlée that is like mixing a banana pudding with a crème brûlée. This was the only dish that was disappointing that day: it was supposed to have homemade Nilla wafers. There were none.
Banana brûlée at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
Banana brûlée at La Sirene on the Upper West Side
Despite that, we had a great meal at La Sirène. Their food is very good, with many interesting dishes, some you would rarely find in French restaurants, like the ravioles. I definitely recommend this place!
Enjoy (I did)!
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La Sirene - 416 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
