Auerole

Auerole moved from it's NYC Upper East Side townhouse to the new ultramodern Conde Nast office building on 42nd Street just a block away from Times Square.

The front room is a casual bar/lounge area.

The rear dining room is the "white tablecloth" area, but not at all formal. They offer three prix-fixe menus: pre-theatre for $55 (very basic standard fare), Parallel tasting (6 small courses) for $135 and the regular $84 menu.

We ordered from the regular menu. I didn't want to photos in the dining room because it would deter from the ambience. I will try my best to describe the dishes.

We first served an amuse bouche of tartare with green pea foam.

T had the Crisply Soft Shell Blue Crab appetizer with Belgian Endive, Crisp Granny Smith Apple, Smoked Paprika and "Sauce Remoulade"

I had the Diver Sea Scallop "sandwich" with seared foie gras, sugar snap peas, passion fruit and chives.

We both had the Canadian Lobster Tail vs. Berkshire Pork Belly entree - a plate with 2 sections: one with the lobster and the second with the tender pork - with summer squash, chanterelle mushrooms, cape gooseberries, Jura wine and almond emulsion.

Foam is still alive and well on West 42nd Street!

Then we were served a raspberry granita with cream. It was light and refreshing.

For dessert T had the Pam-fried Carrot Cake with goat cheese cream, red grape sorbet, maple walnut, balsamic.

I had the Sweet Corn Souffle with blueberry chutney, frozen yogurt and brown butter (an almost frosting consistency smeared across the plate).

The also gave us a cone full of mini beignets dusted with sugar and chili (not too spicy).

After dessert and coffee they brought over a tray of petit fours.

We tried the french macaron, peanut butter cup, caramel and pistachio and white chocolate (all wonderful).

In addition, our waitress gifted us both with a large olive oil madeline "for breakfast the next morning" as we left.

It was a very good and quite satisfying meal. We shall return!