Welcome to La Verandah Restaurant

La Verandah just received three stars by Atlantic City Press Restaurant Critic C.C. Hoyt

"A soft summer breeze suggested we find a place to dine outside. And so it was on a warm Cape May evening we found ourselves walking up Grant Street past the hydrangea bushes and other assorted flowers, past the wooden rocking chairs to the screened-in porch of La Verandah. The maitre'd offered us a choice of tables; inside an air-conditioned dining room or outside where a sea breeze was just beginning to find its way inland. Point us toward the porch, we agreed.

La Verandah is the restaurant at the recently restored historic Hotel Alcott. The dining room was pretty enough with a large tapestry hanging on one wall, paintings and a large folding room divider. We had our hearts set on dining outside.
Our table had a starched white cloth and a pink frosted glass candle lamp. The chairs were those comfortable bistro types with wood frames and woven plastic straps. The hardwood floors and palm plants added an elegant touch to the decor.
Our bread was the round chewy type served with a big scoop of butter.
Our server recited from a long list of specials without prices although they were listed and priced on a blackboard easel on the porch for any one to see. We chose the scallops flambe ($10) as our starter, large sea scallops seared on two sides paired with a rich cream and brandy sauce with chopped chives and a small dice of tomato. The scallops were slightly undercooked in the center, the way modern chefs prepare them, allowing the creamy center to contrast with the crisp flavorful exterior. The sauce was balanced and lightly coated the scallops, each of which sported a pasta strand reaching for the sky. An old-style dish lightly re-interpreted for today's diner. We liked it.

We also sampled a tomato and mozzarella salad ($10) served with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and fresh basil. It was a Jersey tomato cut into thick slices but it wasn't nearly ripe enough to release all of its flavor. This salad, too, is a classic dish, the balsamic, basil and oil blending into the perfect foil for the tomato and cheese.
Entrees arrived as pretty as paintings. The broiled seafood combination ($26) was a special of the day and was composed of a split lobster tail, scallops, very large shrimp and a crab cake resting on a bed of sauteed spinach. The sauce was very good, tasting mostly of lemon, butter and capers with some diced tomato for color. Vegetable garnish included a trio of asparagus spears with a baby carrot and a baby zucchini fan to finish. The seafood was fresh tasting and broiled perfectly. The vegetables were cooked to a turn but unseasoned and unsauced. Baby vegetables are flavorless on their own.

Roasted duck ($26) was a boneless breast absolutely tender, thinly sliced and arranged around the plate like numbers on the face of a clock. A sauce of cherries and Grand Marnier was thin and light, pairing nicely with the medium rare slices of meat. A saute of spinach and more of the baby vegetable medley, this time including a yellow pattypan squash, were ringed round a terrific vegetable mousse timbale layered with cauliflower, broccoli and carrot. Classically good.
Our server wheeled a dessert gueridon up to the French doors and did a sleight of hand routine, whipping each cake under our noses for just long enough to anticipate what each would taste like, given half a chance. We had a slice of a flourless chocolate torte ($6). Rich, dense and fudge-like it came covered with a chocolate ganache coating and was garnished with a strawberry fan and three crisscrossed sauces; brown, green and white. The brown was chocolate, the green we think, was sour apple and the white we couldn't decide, short of it being dairy."

The Hotel Alcott's classic dining room is the perfect location for weddings,
banquets and receptions. Conference facilities. Group rates available.


		La Verandah just received three stars by Atlantic City Press Restaurant Critic C.C. Hoyt "A soft summer breeze suggested we find a place to dine outside. And so it was on a warm Cape May evening we found ourselves walking up Grant Street past the hydrangea bushes and other assorted flowers, past the wooden rocking chairs to the screened-in porch of La Verandah. The maitre'd offered us a choice of tables; inside an air-conditioned dining room or outside where a sea breeze was just beginning to find its way inland. Point us toward the porch, we agreed. La Verandah is the restaurant at the recently restored historic Hotel Alcott. The dining room was pretty enough with a large tapestry hanging on one wall, paintings and a large folding room divider. We had our hearts set on dining outside. Our table had a starched white cloth and a pink frosted glass candle lamp. The chairs were those comfortable bistro types with wood frames and woven plastic straps. The hardwood floors and palm plants added an elegant touch to the decor. Our bread was the round chewy type served with a big scoop of butter. Our server recited from a long list of specials without prices although they were listed and priced on a blackboard easel on the porch for any one to see. We chose the scallops flambe ($10) as our starter, large sea scallops seared on two sides paired with a rich cream and brandy sauce with chopped chives and a small dice of tomato. The scallops were slightly undercooked in the center, the way modern chefs prepare them, allowing the creamy center to contrast with the crisp flavorful exterior. The sauce was balanced and lightly coated the scallops, each of which sported a pasta strand reaching for the sky. An old-style dish lightly re-interpreted for today's diner. We liked it. We also sampled a tomato and mozzarella salad ($10) served with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and fresh basil. It was a Jersey tomato cut into thick slices but it wasn't nearly ripe enough to release all of its flavor. This salad, too, is a classic dish, the balsamic, basil and oil blending into the perfect foil for the tomato and cheese. Entrees arrived as pretty as paintings. The broiled seafood combination ($26) was a special of the day and was composed of a split lobster tail, scallops, very large shrimp and a crab cake resting on a bed of sauteed spinach. The sauce was very good, tasting mostly of lemon, butter and capers with some diced tomato for color. Vegetable garnish included a trio of asparagus spears with a baby carrot and a baby zucchini fan to finish. The seafood was fresh tasting and broiled perfectly. The vegetables were cooked to a turn but unseasoned and unsauced. Baby vegetables are flavorless on their own. Roasted duck ($26) was a boneless breast absolutely tender, thinly sliced and arranged around the plate like numbers on the face of a clock. A sauce of cherries and Grand Marnier was thin and light, pairing nicely with the medium rare slices of meat. A saute of spinach and more of the baby vegetable medley, this time including a yellow pattypan squash, were ringed round a terrific vegetable mousse timbale layered with cauliflower, broccoli and carrot. Classically good. Our server wheeled a dessert gueridon up to the French doors and did a sleight of hand routine, whipping each cake under our noses for just long enough to anticipate what each would taste like, given half a chance. We had a slice of a flourless chocolate torte ($6). Rich, dense and fudge-like it came covered with a chocolate ganache coating and was garnished with a strawberry fan and three crisscrossed sauces; brown, green and white. The brown was chocolate, the green we think, was sour apple and the white we couldn't decide, short of it being dairy." The Hotel Alcott's classic dining room is the perfect location for weddings, banquets and receptions. Conference facilities. Group rates available.