Salmon River

[Pan]

Hi, hounds. I'm going to a party at Salmon River Saturday night at 8 P.M. Should I have dinner there or eat somewhere else first and just have drinks? What do you recommend I order?

[christene]

The food is decent and enjoyable but not extraordinary, but then I wouldn't expect extraordinary for this type of place.

[financialdistrictresident]

Is this in a hotel? If yes I've been there before with a group (who only want to have dinner near Grand Central). As noted by others it is good (not great). It's also a nice, quiet, undiscovered location where you can enjoy dinner and the company.

[NYChristopher]

Yes, that's the place. A quick search online indicates it was a Clarion, then renamed Hotel 5A and is now a Courtyard.

[Pan]

I found the food uniformly good and also enjoyed a Pinot Noir from the coast of Chile. I will post in more detail later.

[xigua]

I've ordered their salmon burgers on seamless and have quite enjoyed them, although it can be dry. Would love to hear what the actual experience in the restaurant is like.

[Pan]

Well, here you go:

Because no prices were listed on it and because it was printed on an ordinary sheet of white paper, I believe we were given a special prix fixe menu that had been worked out by the organizer of the party. It was a 4-course menu:

Appetizers:

Crab cakes with mustard sauce

Salmon River Chowder

-----

Green Salad

-----

Mains:

Salmon with roasted red pepper sauce

Roast chicken breast with risotto

Filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus

-----

Dessert:

New York Cheesecake

Cappuccino cake

Berries

I ordered the chowder, which was creamy. Otherwise, there was nothing notable about it, other than that it was good. I had a bite of a crab cake, which tasted good.

The salad was simply an ordinary, good mixed salad with vinaigrette.

For the main, I avoided the salmon because bell peppers are no good for my stomach, but I was told it was good. The filet mignon was good, and they cooked mine medium-rare, as I requested. The mashed potatoes were tasty and the asparagus was good steamed asparagus. I tried the risotto that came with the chicken breast, and it was a tasty pea risotto with parmigiano.

I'm sometimes reluctant to order cheesecake, because so often, gummy cream cheese ruins the texture. But I needn't have worried. This was classic New York cheesecake, totally ungummy. I didn't try the other desserts, but the cappuccino cake was actually tiramisu', and friends said it was very good.

I don't know what the actual cost of the prix fixe would have been. We paid $55/person including tax and tip plus $6/person for the wine, but that included subsidizing the cost of the meals of the two birthday people. (There were 19 of us, so someone who feels like doing the math can.) The restaurant is perhaps a bit pricey, but not as bad as I thought it would be, and while there was nothing unusual about the conceptions of the dishes we were offered, the execution was good, everything was tasty, and everyone was happy. I think that Salmon River would be a good choice for any similar kind of party, where there's a mix of "foodies" and unadventurous eaters, and everyone could come away satisfied. It might be a good place for business meetings, too.

Salmon River
3 E. 40 St. (just east of 5th Av., north side of the street)
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[bread for breakfast]

Thanks, Pan! I'll give it a try.

[sivyaleah]

I've eaten there several times, because I work in the neighborhood and it's a good after-work meeting place for my friends and I. I've never had salmon there, so I can't comment on that. However, I've enjoyed my meals there. Solid meals for what it is, some dishes with a bit of a pan-asian flair. Good pot stickers, and crab cakes. Nice atmosphere, good service. You won't be disappointed. Not a destination place by any means, but you won't walk out being annoyed you went either.

[eve]

I went many years ago and it was good for salmon. Nothing over the top but good. I had low expectations and was surprised. But not worthy of a return visit apparently.

[Pan]

Thanks. So maybe I'll just order salmon and normal things like a mixed salad.

[bread for breakfast]

Hey Pan,
Let us know how your meal goes. I've walked by that restaurant a thousand times and wondered how it is.

[Pan]

I'll definitely report back.

[AKR]

I was actually pretty disappointed in my salmon there. A big slab, but burnt/dried out.

The college dormitory grade ceiling panels are tacky too. You can't but help noticing how lousy they look.

[Pan]

Considering that it's a big party and I can't suggest another place, do you have any suggestions for how to make the experience as bearable as possible? Should I ask for the salmon to be gently cooked or seared or something?

[RGR]

Since it sounds as though the food is not much better than mediocre, why not go with the other option you mentioned and eat somewhere else, then just have drinks?

[DoctortedNYC]

Isnt this a Chodorow joint?

[NYChristopher]

Much as I detest Chodorow, I must regretfully inform you you're thinking of Wild Salmon.

Sorry to hear this place has slipped. Hadn't been in a while and was about to suggest it to someone. Now I have reservations.