I really hate when restaurants have rules. Why can’t you seat my party before every single person arrives? Why can’t you split the bill between four cards? Why don’t you take reservations (my biggest gripe)?! Having worked in an extremely successful restaurant in Boston that has high customer service ideals, I know it’s certainly not because you can’t. It’s because you won’t.
So after being told that everyone in my 8-person party must buy the prix-fix meal, even though it was way more food than we wanted, plus, oh yeah, they only take Discover, American Express, and cash, I was already annoyed that I was going to be eating at Taureau, a BYO fondue spot in the East Village. But, the food is decent, it was in a convenient area for who I was meeting, they take reservations, and did I already mention it’s BYO? No? Guys, it’s BYO.
Once we sat down, we managed to convince them to let us opt out of the prix-fix, and we ordered two fondues and several sides for our group.
Each fondue comes with salad and unlimited bread, and each side you order is also unlimited. We chose the Perigord (parmesan & white American with truffles & truffle oil) and Pyrenees (swiss with white wine, garlic, and nutmeg), and mushrooms, cauliflower, fennel sausage, and asparagus to dip.
Nothing is even worth discussing other than the Perigord–it’s addictive. Truffle cheese? Just try to put your fork down. Everything else was only okay. The Pyrenees was bland, the veggies were overcooked, and the fennel sausage was cold and greasy.
I suppose in the end it’s a good place to gather with friends, especially because of the BYO factor and social aspect of fondue. Just don’t even think about going over seven people, though–and order the Perigord!!!
Taureau, http://taureaunyc.com, 127 E. 7th St. (between 1st & Ave. A), New York, NY, 212-228-2222
I’ve been dying to try this spot but it’s so ridiculously contra everything my new years resolutions stand for.