Company description
Canterbury Brook Inn Restaurant offers Restaurants services in Cornwall NY, NY area.
More details
- Editorial Text 1
- We check in with the hostess at Canterbury Brook Inn; she checks off the alias I've used this week and all seems well. But we're surprised to be led past one table, then another, then a third until we reach the farthest table next to the restrooms and kitchen –probably the worst table in the house. The traffic here rivals I-84 at rush hour, and the back door opens and closes with newly arriving guests. We made a reservation, and tables like this are usually relegated to walk-ins. When I check the other dining room, there are tables available there also. Perhaps we should have complained, but we didn't. Still, I'm perplexed. Why us? The restaurant is made up of a central bar with a couple of tables and two dining rooms on either side. We're in the one to the left as you enter. The room is old and comfortable. Dark wooden wainscoting provides contrast with the walls, which look like paneling that's been painted over. A few pictures are here and there, and patterned curtains shield the windows. Tables are double set with tan and white cloths and butcher paper on top. Sturdy tables and chairs, brick walls and a fireplace all add to the well-built feel of this place. Customers range from a young couple with a baby who coos and giggles nonstop to more mature customers out for an early meal. The room is cozy, but a bit cramped for some of us. The menu is a mixture of old classics, Bratwurst and Wienerschnitzel, along with some more imaginative creations with Italian and Asian influences. There is a small section of items devoted to low-carb diets and there are also a number of specials recited by our helpful waiter. What's interesting is the increasing speed with which he recites these as the restaurant gets busier and busier. Toward the peak hours, he's speed-talking and barely coherent. We start with two special appetizers. Spring is here, so the kitchen celebrates with Asparagus With Sun-dried Tomatoes, ($7.50). Lots of bright green spears are piled on a plate with garlic, butter, sun-dried tomatoes and a light topping of Gruyere cheese. Two small pieces of eggplant and Portobello mushroom are delicious alongside. The result is a happy and healthy opening, an ode to renewal and fresh produce. Another special is a combination plate of Clams Maison and Oysters Remick ($8.95). This hearty plate features whole clams topped with herb butter, bread crumbs and bacon. They were delicious. The oysters are swathed in Russian dressing and capped with Gruyere again (obviously a favorite of the chef). The rich combination is interesting, but somehow doesn't quite work. House salads are the usual combination of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, purple cabbage and (surprise!) jicama. The house dressing is a pleasant dill vinaigrette. This recipe is a welcome and inventive alternative to boring house salads. For entrees, my guest tries another special offering, Ziti With Rock Shrimp and Broccoli ($17.50). Though not mentioned, the pasta also arrives with cooked carrots, a side dish with my entree, which kind of throws the entire dish off. Besides that, the combination of ingredients is flavorful, the shrimp succulent and melt-in-your-mouth tender. I try Coconut Crusted Grouper with Spicy Orange Sauce ($18.50). A large filet is served with roasted new potatoes, carrots and snap peas as accompaniments. The coconut crust is crunchy and sweet, but the sauce is also sweet and it lacks even a hint of spice. The result is clean and perfectly cooked fish that's overwhelmed by the too-sweet ingredients. Dessert is disappointing. We order the Almond Creme Brulee ($5.95). The dessert is served in a deep dish and the filling has not chilled properly. The top has a nice sugary crust, but the center is soupy and still warm. It's a muddled mess. Good espresso finishes our meal. Service is pleasant, though a bit hectic. As the place fills up it gets more and more hurried, but the young members of the staff are pleasant and diligent. They work hard at taking care of their customers. The wine list is OK but somewhat overpriced. We drink a well-balanced sauvignon blanc from the Benzinger Family Winery in Sonoma Valley ($25). It pairs well with most of our food. Dinner comes to $80.90 without tax and tip. Canterbury Brook Inn has been here for many years and it's easy to see why. The food here is generally good; Old World and New World cuisine intermingle with some lapses in consistency. The rooms are cozy and pleasant, service is good and prices are reasonable. This is a restaurant that shows its age but still delivers a solid dining experience. (Note: The Canterbury Brook Inn will be closed for vacation from May 24-31 and will reopen June 1.) Restaurant critic Bill Guilfoyle has more than 25 years experience in the restaurant industry as a sommelier, manager and chef/owner. He is an associate professor at a local college. He welcomes readers' comments; e-mail him at [email protected]. The Dish rating Decor: *** Service: *** Food: *** Value: *** Overall: ***
- Restaurant Features
- Catering Services, Delivery Available, Dinner, Online Menu, Patio, Quiet Conversation, Romantic Spot, Senior Appeal, Takeout Available, View, Waterside, Working Fireplace
- Payment Accepted
- American Express, Cash, Debit Cards, Mastercard, Traveler's Checks Accepted, Visa
- Atmosphere And Personality
- Area Classic, Bar Scene, Romantic, Upscale
- Good For
- Quiet Conversation, Romance, Seniors
- Rating
- 70% of 17 people liked it on Urbanspoon
- Features
- Prix Fixe Meals, Signature Dishes
- Cuisine
- American, European Continental
- Alcohol
- Beer, Full Bar, Wine
- Neighborhood
- Cornwall-on-Hudson
- Meals Served
- Dessert, Dinner
- Noise Level
- Quiet, Moderate
- Price Range
- $$$$ ($26-$30)
- Bar Style
- Supper Club
- Cross Streets
- Quaker Ave.
- Parking
- Street
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Average Drink Price
- $7.50
- Year Opened
- 1995
- Web Site
- http://www.thecanterburybrookinn.com/
