Soigné: Eclectic dining with a French twist

Soigné Fine Dining
1066 Broadway
Woodmere, NY 11596
Phone: (516) 569-2259
www.soignerestaurant.com

Once inside Soigné, a quaint ten-table restaurant on Broadway in Woodmere, you feel as if you have entered a quiet, romantic out-of-the-way spot in France, with paintings depicting Parisian streetscapes, and each table adorned with a small lamps. A small fireplace compliments the decor, along with draperies, chandeliers, and rugs.

The bread basket was exquisite, with a sampling of warm breads, including crusty onion and old-fashioned cornbread, all served with butter, sautéed garlic, and olive oil.

To start our dining experience, we chose the California Friseé and Bartlett Pear Salad with pecans, crumbled gorgonzola and a honey-roasted pear vinaigrette. It was light, sweet, and fresh.

For appetizers, our attentive server, Fanny, brought out a beautiful presentation of Escargot Bourguignon on a bed of spinach with sancerre, butter, garlic and fresh herbs, served with garlic toast — which we used to soak up the remaining sauce.
Next was the Smoked Duck Confit Quesadilla, with ratatouille, dried fruits, gruyere, and crème fraiche, all topped with a fine balsamic drizzle. It was lighter than we expected, with a mild, sweet flavor.

For our main course, we tried the Roasted Pecan Crusted Filet of St. Peter’s Fish with jasmine rice, Cognac shallots noisette; the fish had a nice flaky texture and a crunchy topping. The string beans and carrots were a nice accompaniment.

The Seared Boneless Long Island Duck Breast Framboise with raspberry demiglace was a treat. Sliced thin and cooked medium rare, it was tender and juicy.

Our final selection was a Gorgonzola Black Angus Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes, topped with a Roquefort fondue demiglace. Each bite was delicious — a great combination of French and American favorites.

We were not rushed into — but couldn’t wait for — the tantalizing desserts listed on the menu. The Caramelized Apples & Bartlett Pear Strudel, made with flaky phyllo dough, caramel, and maple-cinnamon spiced gelato was heavenly. Not be outdone, the Semi Sweet Chocolate Molten Cake, served with chocolate sauce and vanilla gelato, was warm, gooey and fabulous.

The Tahitian Vanilla Deep Dish Crème Brulee was custardy, creamy and a decadent way to top off our dining experience.

Soigné has small bar with fine liquors and an extensive wine list. They offer a seven-course tasting menu, a Prix Fixe lunch and dinner menu. The restaurant has been named one of the New York Times top five romantic restaurants on Long Island, and has had an excellent Zagat rating each year since it opening.

Soigné is the place to go for a unique dining experience.