Company description
Violette offers American Restaurants services in Woodstock NY, NY area.
More details
- Editorial Text 1
- French cuisine has taken its lumps lately. A younger and more innovative dining public has migrated away from ancient recipes, heavy butter and cream-laden sauces toward Modern American, Asian and Latino restaurants in a movement that redefines dining. So when Violette (pronounced a la Fran?ais "vee-oh-let") opened, it took a certain amount of risk. Would country French cuisine, with some side journeys into Modern American food, be able to succeed in the Hudson Valley? Located in a fairy tale-like cottage on the outskirts of Woodstock, Violette tries to bring a piece of France to the area. There is a tiny parking area in the front of the restaurant (and plenty more parking behind) with a small garden and pathway to the front door. Inside, we enter the bar area to find a few tables scattered about. Up a couple of stairs and to the right is the main dining room. We're seated at a lovely table for two in a windowed alcove. The room contrasts old (huge, rustic wooden beams across the ceiling) with new (modern, brass-accented sconces and small chandeliers). Vintage posters and paintings accent the walls. Floors are wide-planked wood polished to a sheen, and tables are made of dark wood. Comfortable padded chairs are painted a mix of pastel colors. Small antique bottles with flowers decorate the tables, and miniature pepper mills add a rustic touch. The room is clean and comfortable, and mellow jazz adds to the laid-back, bistro feel of the place. The menu is interesting. It features an array of salads and a series of appetizers; pat? and escargot are here. Entrees, very reasonably priced, and finally a couple of sandwiches complete the main selection. But there's also a menu of specials that features a lengthy list of entrees available either a la carte or as pris fixe with soup or salad and a choice of two desserts. Prices on this menu are generally higher and, in a couple of cases, they are much more expensive. It's an appealing and somewhat confusing menu format, giving the diner lots of options. We start with a perfect springtime classic, Gruyere and Asparagus Quiche ($8). We're presented with a nice-sized piece of the egg-based pie along with a delicious salad of baby spinach, fennel and Parmesan dressed with a light vinaigrette. The quiche is light, airy and filled with cheese and nicely herbal bites of fresh asparagus. Along with the salad, this would be a perfect, light lunch; portions here, especially appetizers, are generous. There are lots of other classic French dishes here, but we decide on an Asian-inspired appetizer, Chicken and Beef Sates ($12). This is a large portion, six long slivers of grilled meats skewered on bamboo spears. They're served with a crispy rice cake, and each is decorated with a different sauce. The beef, overcooked and dry, has a sweetish peanut sauce painted on, and the chicken, smoky and moist, is touched with a bright green cilantro sauce spiked with jalape?o and coconut milk. What's more French than Trout Amandine ($22)? A whole trout, headless, is splayed on the plate and covered in a butter sauce with thin slices of almond. On top of that are piped mashed potatoes in a snowy white pristine cloud. Good spinach napped with fresh butter is alongside. And even though the trout is overcooked, it pays off in delicious, crisp skin. Skate With Capers and Lemon ($26) is another favorite from France. Skate is especially delicate, so freshness is a premium, and this specimen is perfectly fresh, cooked to a turn, moist and tasty. Alongside are plain boring white rice and asparagus, all served in a plain- Jane, protein-starch-vegetable triangle. More creative plates would be welcome. Dessert is a harbinger of summer, Fresh Strawberries With Puff Pastry ($7). A small mountain of whipped cream and strawberries conceals two brittle layers of puff pastry. The sweet berries, rich cream and crunchy pastry form a lovely trio, a fine finale. Service is formal and distant. Our waitress seems less than comfortable interacting with her customers. Basics such as replacing used silverware are also wanting. There is a small, innovative wine list, and a number of very good beers are offered. We sample a glass each of Gordon Brothers Sauvignon Blanc ($8) and a Hungarian Rose from Monarchia ($6). Both are quite nice. Dinner comes to $90.75 before tax and tip - a bit expensive, but you can dine here on a budget as well. Violette is a cute little restaurant that delivers a quality dining experience. The room is most handsome, a combination of old and new that works well. The food here is generally good, though some things are simply adequate. And prices here, at least for the food we had, are fairly high, leaving little room for the mediocre. Service could be better. But overall it's a lovely little restaurant, a tiny bit of France on the edge of Woodstock. 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. The Dish rating Decor: *** Service: ** Food: *** Value: *** Overall: ***
- Restaurant Features
- Booster Seats / High Chairs, Catering Services, Children's Menu, Meet for a Drink, Online Menu, Patio, Takeout Available, Wine bar, Working Fireplace
- Rating
- 71% of 21 people liked it on Urbanspoon
- Cuisine
- American, American (New)
- Email
- [email protected]
- Payment Accepted
- Accepts Major Credit Cards
- Meals Served
- Dinner, Lunch, Sunday
- Reservations Policy
- Suggested (Highly)
- Cross Streets
- Playhouse Ln.
- Neighborhood
- Woodstock
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Year Opened
- 2003
- Web Site
- http://www.violettewoodstock.com/
