WTN: A Chablis and a Cornas at La Silhouette

A Chablis and a Cornas at La Silhouette, NYC
02/09/11

It was another last-minute decision to try out a newly-opened restaurant that I read about in a few foodie internet forum boards and we byo’d our wines as they await the approval of their liquor license.

2001 J Moreau et Fils Chablis, Burgundy
This wine had been consistently pleasant to drink. Not a blockbuster by any means, but has the appropriate fruit, acidity and mineral components to provide for a good drink, not only as a starter, but throughout the rest of our dinner. B

1985 Guy de Barjac Cornas, Northern Rhone
Very appealing smell of leather, earth, grilled meat and slight confection notes, that stayed throughout the 2-hour meal. Lean on the fruit that was somewhat lacking as the dominant intensity of the fine but present tannin and earthiness of this rustic wine was not appropriately overcome or balanced. As traditional, and Old Worldish, as any syrah-based wine can be, but the balance and the interest was simply not there to make it a very good wine. B-


La Silhouette is a 4-week old French restaurant located in Hell’s Kitchen area, or as others would prefer it to be called, Clinton or Midtown West. One of the partners/owners was very busy helping serve wines and/or having friendly chats with diners. He mentioned to us how the idea of opening their own restaurant came about after he toured throughout Asia with his restaurant partner, a Filipina and a former sommelier also at Le Bernardin. The restaurant set-up is very modern, with 2 levels of dining room and includes an outside patio that will be open for diners during warmer weather. In addition to a couple of complementary dishes, one being an excellent risotto appetizer with Burgundy snails and wild mushrooms, the dishes we had were well-executed and showed the characteristics of the excellent pedigree at Le Bernardin, with a quick note that my entree of Veal Cheeks was quite sublime. Service was flawless and cordial without being overly patronizing. A very good addition to the area and with very close proximity to the Theater District.

http://www.la-silhouettenyc.com/

How timely...I have a reservation there for next month. Ramon, do you have any idea when they expect their wine license, and do you know if they will continue to permit wine to be byo'd?

I have no idea, Diane. As long as their license is not approved, I suppose they will continue to encourage diners to bring in wines when they call in to confirm reservations. Although, even if they do have their license, I certainly wouldn't mind eating there every once in a while.

I have no idea, Diane. As long as their license is not approved, I suppose they will continue to encourage diners to bring in wines when they call in to confirm reservations. Although, even if they do have their license, I certainly wouldn't mind eating there every once in a while.

This is either a very brave restaurant or there is an option a lot of people are not aware of. A new restaurant opened in my immediate neighborhood in NYC, so I showed up with a bottle of wine knowing that they didn't yet have their liquor license. When I took out the bottle the proprietor produced a letter from the Liquor Board which stated that until an establishment has a liquor license it may not allow customers to bring wine and cannot serve free wine. Apparently this regulation is rather recent. Anyway, we were not allowed to drink the wine. There must be a loophole here, I doubt the new restaurant mentioned in this thread would risk their liquor license approval by allowing BYO before getting their license if there were not.

I have no idea, Diane. As long as their license is not approved, I suppose they will continue to encourage diners to bring in wines when they call in to confirm reservations. Although, even if they do have their license, I certainly wouldn't mind eating there every once in a while.

This is either a very brave restaurant or there is an option a lot of people are not aware of. A new restaurant opened in my immediate neighborhood in NYC, so I showed up with a bottle of wine knowing that they didn't yet have their liquor license. When I took out the bottle the proprietor produced a letter from the Liquor Board which stated that until an establishment has a liquor license it may not allow customers to bring wine and cannot serve free wine. Apparently this regulation is rather recent. Anyway, we were not allowed to drink the wine. There must be a loophole here, I doubt the new restaurant mentioned in this thread would risk their liquor license approval by allowing BYO before getting their license if there were not.

Well I think I got the answer to my own question. Apparently an establishment can get a temporary license while they wait for a permanent license. The LB tells me that that is a quick process. I guess the restaurant I went to was unaware of this option or chose not to bother.

There you go.
It's hard for restaurants to survive nowadays. if it's ready to go but sans license. how will it survive if given what I would estimate as the majority, at least 75%, of diners nowadays have one form of alcoholic beverage or another on their tables? After all, liquor is a major chunk of an NYC restaurants’ income. Especially, as I understand it, it takes a long time, and a lot of money, for restaurant liquor licenses to get approved in this city.

I also recall a few years back, we dined a couple of times each in 2 other NYC restaurants back when they were new and awaiting their respective liquor licenses. One was Orchard in the Lower East Side and the other was Falai along Lafayette. Both are thriving Italian restaurants in the LES today. As I recall, during their call back on the day of the reservation to confirm, includes a reminder that they do not have liquor available as of then and that patrons may bring their own if they wish. This went on for several months, could be 6, iirc.

I take it that you were aware La Silhouette did not yet have a liquor license, and that they did not inform you.

There you go.
It's hard for restaurants to survive nowadays. if it's ready to go but sans license. how will it survive if given what I would estimate as the majority, at least 75%, of diners nowadays have one form of alcoholic beverage or another on their tables? After all, liquor is a major chunk of an NYC restaurants’ income. Especially, as I understand it, it takes a long time, and a lot of money, for restaurant liquor licenses to get approved in this city.

I also recall a few years back, we dined a couple of times each in 2 other NYC restaurants back when they were new and awaiting their respective liquor licenses. One was Orchard in the Lower East Side and the other was Falai along Lafayette. Both are thriving Italian restaurants in the LES today. As I recall, during their call back on the day of the reservation to confirm, includes a reminder that they do not have liquor available as of then and that patrons may bring their own if they wish. This went on for several months, could be 6, iirc.

For Sure, in one way or another I would think it would be critically important for a restaurant to be able to have it's patrons enjoy wine or beer or whatever with their meal. When we went to the establishment I mentioned, there were a lot of folks who looked more than a bit forlorn with their glasses of coca cola sitting it front of them!

It's kind of surprising to me Ramon that the restaurant I mentioned is still operating a month after we tried it out without a liquor license and is still not allowing BYO. I can't understand why they wouldn't get the temporary license. It's got to be hurting them. I know we won't be going back until we can unwind with some vino during the meal! Maybe there's some other complication for them.

I take it that you were aware La Silhouette did not yet have a liquor license, and that they did not inform you.

Yes I was aware that they allowed byob ... read from another wine board and at chowhound.
Also, the lady receiving their reservation calls volunteered the information when I made our reservation the afternoon of our dinner.

Were you not informed? if not, it's probably because your reservation is for next month and they may have their liquor license by then.