Cafe Des Artists in NYC's Upper West Side: A Step Back in Time

Cafe des Artistes is located a half block from Central Park on the Upper West Side. The restaurant is housed in an old apartment building called Hotel des Artistes, and you certainly get a turn of the century feel when you enter the building. The wrought iron grills on the windows and doors are decorative swirls and create a hidden feeling. Pot after pot of lush greenery line the window sills and climb up towards the ceiling. Even on a blustery winter day, the cafe is cozy, bright and lush, with murals by a mid century artist on every wall. The space is detailed in wood and the tables each have a charming pastel mini-lamp. In the back, on the way towards the restrooms, is a hidden bar with room for 4 or 5 patrons to dine on stools. The setting is truly like stepping into an impressionistic painting or a glimpse into how the New York elite dined a century ago.

The food is standard American fare. I started my meal with a green salad that just had "champagne" vinaigrette on it, but I honestly couldn't taste anything remarkable about the dressing. A salmon fillet was my main course, and it was perfectly cooked. A co-worker dining with me had the same entrée and noted, "It broke easily apart with a fork and was soft and flavorful." Polenta with a fruity sauce surrounded it and that was creamy and rich too. Dessert was a decadent chocolate and walnut cake that was warm and fudge-like in the center. With a full mouth, my friend exclaimed, "Sooo good!" when she bit into the cake. The bread basket even had some great and hearty whole wheat rolls. The food quality was quite remarkable. Absolutely everything had complex flavor and unique flavor pairings and I could tell how fresh the fish was. I believe the menu changes frequently, as different items are available each season - even each week. A lunch prix-fixe menu runs about $25-$35. If you're going for dinner, definitely make a reservation and be prepared to spend upwards of $60 per person if you order more than one course.