THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The House Restaurant

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The House Restaurant Restaurant Review:

Imagine having the time to expertly prepare classic American dishes in your own home, familiar renditions destined for a table simply set with white linen and a single candle in a calm, austere dining room. The house seems to exist to spare us the effort. To say that the décor is minimal may be an understatement but things warm up considerably with the enthusiastic, informed service and season-saluting food. There are small plates, large plates and desserts. Executive chef Scooter Kanfer mines the farmer’s markets to fill her potpie and complement the meats, chicken and fish featured on the compact menu. Small plates include a salad of grilled endive, grapes, goat cheese and roasted walnuts dressed with an earthy pomegranate vinaigrette, and classic macaroni and cheese, a dish of pure nostalgia---the smallish portion somehow invites sharing but expect to fight for the last tangy cheese and cream-coated shell. Large plates include roasted black cod with Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes and cider sauce, and lamb and fennel stew. Chef Kanfer’s pastry background sweetens the dessert options: Cookies and milk is a something-for-everyone sampler and baked hot chocolate delivers an intensely bittersweet cake baked à la minute in a small cup served straight from oven to table accompanied by a small pool of softly whipped cream.