Fine Parisian Fare on Scarsdale Avenue

It was big news when the Metro Diner on Scarsdale Avenue was transformed from a coffee spot to a high-end eatery and I have been anxious to see what’s inside since the opening in September.

But Micheline was an immediate hit and securing a table was not easy. After I attempted and failed to get reservation for a few weekends it slipped off my radar. However, this week, when I was free on Wednesday night I checked RESY and found that I could get in.

And what a pleasant surprise. First the space was truly reimagined. Looking at it today it’s hard to conjure up the former diner which is now an elegant French bistro. There’s a beamed lacquered ceiling, banquette seating, brass lighting and a well-stocked, back lit bar. And even more surprising was the fact that the restaurant was full, bustling with business on a school night in Scarsdale.

We got a warm greeting from Jonathan Aubrey the managing partner who runs the show in front of the house. He escorted us to a roomy circular table and joked, “Can I bring you a Corfu salad or a chicken Caeser wrap?” It took us a minute to realize that he was referring to Metro Diner’s legendary menu.

There was a tempting bar selection with cocktails I would like to sample on my next weekend visit, and a healthy wine list too.Escargot

We chatted to Aubrey to find out how this young man had come to open his own upscale restaurant in a town that has challenged many restauranteurs for years. First, why French food? Aubrey said that he had spent the first few years of his life in Scarsdale – but when his parents split up, he went with him mother to spend the rest of his childhood in Paris. There he developed the taste of a Francophile. After college at the University of Pennsylvania he tried his hand at the retail business in the training program at Bloomingdales but decided that was not his passion. From there he moved into restaurant management, gaining experience at Eleven Madison Park and Simon and the Whale.

Fast forward, he got married, started a family and decided to move back to Scarsdale. He quickly realized that there was great demand for good food and limited choices in town. After securing the Metro Diner he embarked on a major renovation and redesign of the space and partnered with chef Joshua Capone to embark on planning Micheline on Scarsdale Avenue.

Butter lettuce saladWe asked Aubrey to help us select the best of the best from the menu and we followed his recommendations. For starters we chose the Butter Lettuce Salad with goat cheese, and pears in a pomegranate reduction. The herb dressing was light, the salad was crisp and well complemented by sweet pears and tangy goat cheese.

The Spanish Mackeral on Toast was topped with saved radishes, arugula and pesto. The fish was cured and tasty and it was a light and tasty appetizer. Upon Aubrey’s urging, we also sampled the escargot. These arrived out of the shell, in a flavorful sauce of parsley, garlic and lemon. I must admit I had not gravitated toward snails – but this is an outstanding dish to accompany your wine or cocktail.

The entrees include a Chicken with Herbs de Provence, Honey Brined Pork, a Micheline Burger and a new Hazelnut Dusted Hake. We went for the Steak Au Poivre – which can be made with your choice of flank steak, strip steak or filet mignon. My dining companion was particular about how she liked the steak cooked and it arrived perfectly done – charred on the outside, slightly pink on the inside and encrusted in a tasty peppercorn crust. The fries on the side were hard to resist.Wild Striped Bass

Another outstanding dish was the Wild Striped Bass that was served with red flint grits, Swiss chard, leeks and honey nut squash. We also enjoyed a side of sweet and buttery rainbow carrots with chives.

For dessert we were tempted by the crème brulee, warm apple tarte, warm bittersweet chocolate tart, the Baba Au Rum and the homemade ice creams but agreed we had better save those for our next visit…. which will be soon!

We left the restaurant and expected to step out onto the Boulevard Saint-Germaine. Alas we were still on Scarsdale Avenue.

So if you’re yearning for a vacation – or just a good dinner, check out Micheline…. for Parisian food, easy parking and a warm welcome.

Micheline
878 Scarsdale Avenue
Scarsdale
Dinner Wednesday – Sunday from 5:30 pm to 10 pm
Click here for reservations

Steak Au Poivre