2007-01-25 Dining With Albert

Nobe

01/25/2007 - Nobe has an interesting dual personality. It is an American Bistro with a full sushi bar. The restaurant has a subdued contemporary décor with a large mirror in the entryway and a long rectangular mirror in the main dining room. Both mirrors are striking in appearance and make the restaurant appear larger than its actual size. Abstract modern art adorns the walls. A large curtain is draped across the dining room doorway. The bar area is to the left as you enter. A sushi bar is in the rear, but you may also order sushi in the dining area and at the bar. More Dining 2007-Jan-25 Pancho’s Tacos 2007-Jan-25 Franco Ristorante 2007-Jan-25 Cafe Little Europa 2007-Jan-25 Izumi 2007-Jan-25 Insieme Ristorante More... Extras e-mail this article link to a friend letter to the editor about this article print this article facebook twitter digg it share Larger | Smaller My wife ordered a fruity Pappio Merlot ($6.25) and I had the Iced Tea ($1.95). Karen and I both decided to order from the American menu. As an appetizer, Karen selected the Organic Greens Salad ($5.95), served with goat cheese, julienne carrots, cherry tomatoes and croutons in balsamic vinaigrette. The goat cheese was a mignon size and was sautéed and subtle. Goat cheese can be overwhelming but here it balanced nicely with the greens. For her entrée, Karen chose the Butternut Squash Ravioli ($19.95) with a sauce of braised beef short ribs, fava beans and a pumpkin demi-glaze. It was a large order of perfectly cooked ravioli. The sauce was interesting and tasty because of the unusual ingredients. This was a hefty and hearty main course, well-suited for a cold winter night. I ordered the Hangar Steak ($23.95). This type of beef, also known as skirt steak, is a flavorful cut but it can be tough. At Nobe, it was excellent. The beef was sliced in fairly large portions, had a very nicely grilled crust, and was as tender and tasty as any hangar steak I have had. The peppercorn demi-glaze was a fine complement to the beef. The extra steak sauce that the waitress brought was unnecessary. Sautéed spinach accompanied the beef. I requested the grilled potatoes as a substitute for the mashed potatoes. They were freshly cooked, thinly sliced and had those "grill lines" we Americans like. In France, hangar steak is often paired with French fries and known as "steak frites". The grilled potatoes gave the hangar steak the French quality I was seeking. I was happy that I had made the substitution. If you are a hangar steak fan, I recommend Nobe. For dessert, we ordered the Bittersweet Warm Chocolate Cake ($7.95). It was made in house and was quite dark and dense. It was topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and definitely satisfied my chocolate sweet tooth. Our total bill for dinner for two, before the gratuity, was $69.96 with tax. Our waitress was very friendly, smiley and attentive. The refills for my iced tea were complimentary and refilled without my having to ask. Nobe offers a separate room for private parties. We did not sample the sushi this time. Perhaps next time. Nobe's duality of offering a traditional Japanese sushi bar and a contemporary, adventuresome and eclectic American Bistro menu offers a wide range of quality culinary opportunities for diners. Go and enjoy! Buon Appetito from Albert. Nobe, 35 Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury. (203)730-0001.