Terrace Club - Mahopac

[LloydG]

We just had a great family dinner this past weekend at the Terrace Club. Among the dishes I would recommend, based on tasting as many as I could, are the wings (slightly sweet but not spicy - a big hit with the kids at the table), the lamb chops (a special, they actually tasted like lamb, as opposed to what I get from the supermarket), the tuna/salmon parfait, and the filet mignon. The fries were also good (the regular fries were better than the matchstick ones, imho). Deserts were apparently crazy good, but I'm not a desert eater so I didn't really sample.

However, the real bonus was that we got to eat all of this excellent food in a beautiful setting right on the lake. Now that it stays light out so late, it is a perfect time to have dinner with a water view.I highly recommend a visit.

[MisterBill2]

I had a really disappointing meal there during HVRW a couple of years ago and have not been back since. Do they still serve popcorn when you sit down? Seemed odd for a place that seems to want to be a fine dining restaurant.

[wincountrygirl]

They do serve the popcorn. I don't think he's going for fine dining - that place is far from it. Chef is a great guy and a talented chef. I feel like the kitchen gets overwhelmed when they take on too much, like a party in the back room during peak dinner service and the summer with all the boats, etc. As I said, we don't go in summer anymore but will give it a try when it calms down.

[weedy]

with all due respect, a half empty restaurant, and no sign of rushing in sight, should in no way be 'overwhelming' for a professional kitchen.

the level of execution last week when we were there was FAR from that of a "talented chef".

professional reviewers go multiple times; I'm not that. So yes, it MAY have been an anomaly.
But consistency counts.
I'm just a customer, but that was poor enough I doubt I'll be back anytime soon.

The popcorn was about the best thing we had.

[wincountrygirl]

Yes, I understand that you had the experience of an empty restaurant and I am sorry to hear the food was so bad even when not full as I like the chef very much. But I don't doubt it as I have mostly been underwhelmed the last several times I've gone. I was just saying that this was what I thought was the reason for the poor performance, but obviously it's not.. This is a talented chef and pastry chef and I wish they could turn it around.

[weedy]

"talented chef" implies being capable of effectively and consistently running a restaurant

that "talent' was absent that night, for sure.

[wincountrygirl]

I have been following this chef for years - talented chef means he is talented with food. There are chefs that are better at leaving the restaurant management in someone else's hands. This chef has turned out consistently good food in some very good restaurants, including X20 when they first opened, so please, snarky is really not necessary. I agreed with you about the place. Enough said already.

[weedy]

WCG sorry you see it as "snarky".
It's not meant that way, or at least not at YOU.

But, to me anyway, good COOK isn't the same as good chef.
He probably can turn out some excellent food, when Peter Kelly is standing over him tasting and demanding quality.

In this place, he's not BEING Peter Kelly effectively.
I wouldn't belabour the point if it was only 'eh', but things were seriously poorly cooked, while the person I assume was the chef flitted in and out of the kitchen distracted.

Maybe reviews like this can kick him into gear.

[wincountrygirl]

I really do hope so. I really like the chef and you may be totally right - maybe under an owner he had to buckle down more. He does tend to come out and chat a bit. I had no idea the place had gone that far downhill. Really sorry to hear it.

[MisterBill2]

Dish a few blocks away is a much better culinary experience, albeit without the view (no popcorn, however). Check out the mural on the wall of the building next door. It's of The Dean House, where I used to vacation with my family many years ago when Mahopac was considered "the country" for those of us growing up in Queens! Amusing that it's now just the next town over for me.

[weedy]

went there tonight.

eh. all round.
The crispy pork shank: dry.
The Caesar salad: fishy.
The Dorade: bland.

pretty place though.

[wincountrygirl]

I'm kind of with you, Weedy. I find in the summer the kitchen is overwhelmed and the food is lacking. I prefer to go off season - I miss out on the view, but the food is better. I do love the sliders though!

[weedy]

even though it was Sat. night, they were FAR from overloaded.
The place was about a third full, although it seemed someone's kids were swimming and eating out on one side of the patio area (the owner's? chef's?), it shouldn't have been anywhere near too much to handle.

[wincountrygirl]

Wow! I have not been in a while because I avoid the place in the summer because of the crowds. Maybe they're losing business.

[weedy]

certainly lost mine!

[ryanallday]

i doubt theyre losing business. cars flood the side of 6n every night I drive past it