There’s a cozy, intimate feel to Pascal’s, a lovely pretense-free French restaurant that recently took up residence in the space last occupied by Hope and Anchor. And, no surprise here, the restaurant’s arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed by Larchmont’s sizable French community: You can hear the lilting cadence of French as you sit comfortably and sip wine at one of perhaps a mere dozen tables.
You can just tell you’re in for a treat.
The kitchen sends out a little something to help prepare you for that treat. One night the amuse-bouche was a palate-pleasing demitasse cup of creamy gazpacho. The refreshingly cold soup can be ordered as an appetizer, many of which Pascal’s prepares extraordinarily well.
Take, for example, the vegetable tarte, a lovely concoction of eggplant and zucchini bathed in a delightful Balsamic truffle vinaigrette. Or, the heavenly sliver of homemade foie gras accompanied by a flavorful fig jam—a surprisingly terrific combination. Other appetizer choices: warm sautéed shrimp with a salad of tomato and mango, sea scallops encased in a potato “shell” moistened by a saffron sauce, and asparagus and grilled Japanese eggplant salad with a ginger and lime vinaigrette dressing.
The treat continues with a nice selection of prettily-presented and expertly-prepared entrées. Among them—and a real winner—is a dish of sautéed lean duck breast drizzled with a fresh raspberry sauce. The duck was moist and tender; the sauce sweet but not overly so. Other entrée choices include sautéed veal filet mignon in a lemon sauce, green-pepper dressed grilled New York steak, pan-seared tuna on mushroom blinis, and sautéed scallops and shrimps à la Provencale.
Dessert won’t disappoint either. Chocolate fans might choose chocolate soufflé or profiteroles with a rich chocolate sauce. For pie lovers, there’s the quintessential French apple pie—tarte Tatin. And, of course, heavenly crème brûlèe.
PASCAL’S
141 Chatsworth Ave., Larchmont
(914) 834-6688
