107 West: American Fare, Light & Easy

107 West is a cozy little restaurant tucked away into a non-descript row of store-fronts as eclectic as they are expected on the block of 187th Street at Fort Washington Street in the Hudson Heights/Inwood Section of upper Manhattan. It is the one of two 107 West locations, the original is actually located at 107th & Broadway on the West Side. Which location is better depends almost wholly on personal preference. This writer’s just happens to be for the less accessible enclave situated in Hudson Heights. But the staffs at both locations are equally attentive. The themes at each restaurant are different, but both are equally inviting as places to unwind at the end of a long day or to begin a romantic evening.

At the 187th Street location the fare is American and Mexican inspired with occasional flourishes that make their way to the menu seasonally. Dishes such as jambalaya made of Andouille sausage, smoked chicken, shrimp, calamari, crawfish & clams in corn & sweet pepper etoufee with cajun rice, an all veggie platter of roasted assorted vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, brown rice & tahini sauce, jumbo Maryland crab cakes, sautéed creole chicken and shrimp, and quesadillas round out the menu. Admittedly, and to the chagrin of many, I feel their strongest dishes are the ones that include good old fashioned cow. The burgers and steaks will leave meat lovers aching for more. The pan seared hanger steak, prepared to your liking, with sautéed sweet onions, mashed potatoes and country collard greens is hands down their most memorable meal and actually tastes just as good from one visit to the next. But fret not, their fried chicken is crisp and succulent and will leave you satisfied to the very last forkful. Nor are they lacking in Italian and seafood selections, and their vegetarian considerations welcome the most discriminating Vegans. The bar is more than adequate with several varietals to accompany your meal. The mimosas aren’t especially dry and make for a great daytime pairing.

The sides alone could carry a review. The French Fries always come piping hot, but hardly heavy. There’s not much of a desert selection for those of us with nut allergies, but if you’re not held down by such limitations, feel free to round out your meal with a slice of macadamia oat apple crisp, frozen mocha mud pie or an evil looking slice of chocolate mousse cake. Or you can simply opt for a cup of coffee.

Art for sale lines the walls of the narrow Hudson Heights location and is rotated on a regular basis. You’ll be surprised to see an occasional celebrity sitting alone or with company enjoying a quiet meal. I once had the interesting pleasure of being seated beside Dr. Ruth Westheimer, but I didn’t bother her with any questions.

107 West is the place to go when you can’t really make up your mind what to eat, but know for sure you want memorable food and a memorable experience.

107 West

811 West 187th Street
New York, NY 10033
Tel: 212-923-3311
www.107west.com

Photo credit: Eric Payne

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