|
 Intro
Walking
down Broad Street you may have glanced down through
picture windows at this small intimate cafe, quite
different in atmosphere from the upstairs restaurant.
No reservations are taken. There are eight tables
with bright blue checkered table cloths. It opens
at six o'clock for dinner only and on season you
need to quay-up about 5:30. This is a delightful
restaurant, with excellent food. The main restaurant,
which accepts reservations, we have yet to visit
this year.
Ambiance  |
Just
peeking in the lower level windows, you get a sense
of the atmosphere of this small cafe with the bar
tucked behind. It feels very different than the
restaurant above, and most other restaurants.
With a bench across one wall, seating can be arranged
to accomodate twos or fours easily. Several round
tables seat slightly larger groups. The checkered
table cloths, soft glow from the small kerosene
table lamps, and single flower on each table set
the tone. Tall wine bottles line the fireplace.
The small size of the room keeps the noise level
perfect for conversation; the only exception, might
be the tables nearest the bar on a busy night. The
waitresses are efficient and responded promptly
to an artichoke appetizer not on the menu.
| Food |
The
cafe menu is identical to the upstairs menu except
for the offering of a hamburger with french fries,
a holdover from previous years' bistro menu. The
Langueduc follows the current trend on
with a growing number of intriguing appetizers and
choice of about five entrees. Our orders included
a generous dollop of crab served over spinach and
a salad with arugula, walnuts and beets. Both were
very well prepared. Our entrees included turbot,
with fennel, celery root morsels and chive cream
sauce, and monk fish, often very bland, but perfectly
balanced with a spicy, crunchy corn mix. Both were
rated as very good. A dessert not to be missed,
the best of the island so far, was an amazing concoction
of phyllo dough, vanilla ice cream, carmel and fudge
sauce that was 5 star.
Other Observations:
Only one table was empty on this Wednesday in
late May, but be warned, this place is busy on
season. One in your party could stand in line
and the others slip across to the Book Shop to
browse while waiting for 6 o'clock, or you could
have a drink at the appealing bar. We had time
for a leisurely dinner and then walked to the
Bennett Hall theater, a great way to combine early
dining with an evening out. The Longueduc also
has an outside eating area which is charming as
well, perfect for warm summer evenings. However,
remember, warm balmy evenings are not a given
on the Gray Lady.
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