The first night to get out after the big storm....28 inches - tough digging out. Decided to make a reservation at Nina's - always a great spot. Arrived on time for reservation - Hostess (owner/chef's wife) remembered our name and had a table ready for us. Nice touch. However, in the cold months, the best table is not really the best because of the draft. Sat us by the front window but was very chilly. Remembered from our last visit but didn't comment because the restaurant was busy and didn't want to make a scene about moving. Menu was good but I am a non seafood, non mushroom eater. Hard to get thru this menu without mushrooms. A particular chicken/pasta dish caught my eye but it listed a Marsala sauce (mushrooms!). Spoke to waitress and explained that the dish sounded good but could the chef do it with a different sauce (i.e. lemon butter, wine, etc). She commented that the chef may not want to change his menu but would ask. Came back indicating that she was right .... that would not work for that dish but she asked him to cut it down some, perhaps with just pasta, chicken, spinach and a lemon, butter sauce. Sounded like a good compromise to me - told her to go ahead. I was a little disappointed since in the past I have found many things on the menu to order....butternut squash ravioli, risotto, chicken dishes, etc.
Pasta arrived, tasted great, so little chicken, I was searching for it. The sauce was great but it was just really pasta and spinach with a little chicken tossed in.
Hubby had escargot for starter. It came in a pastry crust with mushrooms and a very heavy brown sauce which over-powered the escargot - he only ate half of it because it was hard to detect the escargot from the mushrooms in the dark sauce. Hi entree was scallops with Spanish rice. The scallops were reportedly great! The Spanish rice was a weird side affect that did nothing for the great tasting scallops.
After dinner, I had a cappuccino and hubby had a double espresso. Both good with a side of white sambucca split between us.
The wine served with dinner was very good. Chardonnay for hubby and Pinot Grigio for me - the house wine was great but pricey. $9.75 for the chardonnay and a little less for the Pinot Grigio. No complaints there, though, the wine is important to the meal and was good quality.
Would hesitate to go again soon, since we have other favorite restaurants that are less pricey with chefs that will work with you on the dish you are looking for.
Would like to hear from others who dine out in the Orange County, NY area.
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