Okay, so it's not filled with the youngest, hippest crowd in town, but you can't get more elegant and romantic than this place. My husband and I were given a gift certificate to the Palm Court as a wedding present. So we decided to use it last Sunday evening for a combo birthday/anniversary dinner. Things could not have been better. It was one of those meals that takes over 2-1/2 hours but not once ever leaving you wondering where your server went off to or when your food would arrive.
Each course of food was better than the last, and many of their dishes are prepared table-side. Kwan, our waiter, told my husband that he's been in the restaurant business 35 years, and it really shows. He personally prepared many or our dishes flawlessly (while waiting on and doing the same for many other tables). So here's a run down of what we ate...
We shared the prawn appetizer (prepared table-side) recommended by Kwan. It was in a butter/cream sauce and served with risotto. It was very tasty, and I found the two shrimps apiece were the perfect beginning to our dinner.
Next, my husband had the lobster bisque and I opted for a wilted spinach salad (again done table-side). The bisque was really delicious, but sooo rich, I don't think I could have handled more than my one taste. The spinach was a wonderful memory of what spinach salads used to be like before we all cared so much about fat and calories.
For our entrees, the hubby had the Dover sole (one of their (again table-side prepared) signature dishes), and I had the rack of lamb, as it's one of my all-time favorite dishes but often not done very well and always too fattening for everyday consumption. Simply put-- both were magnificent!! Even the accompanying sides were yummy.
By this point in the evening, we were both about ready to burst, even after saving half our entrees for lunch on Monday, but we couldn't pass up the banana's foster, as it evokes a personal, happy memory for us. Before we could order it, Kwan and staff brought us a lovely cake for our special day. None of that corny chain "happy birthday" singing, just the cake, a candle and a some privacy. After a few moments, Kwan returned and asked if we'd like them to cut and serve our cake or if we'd prefer to take it home with us. Since we had another dessert choice in mind, we took it home. Last night, we had it for dessert; yum!
A few additional notes...
I agree with the other reviewer, the Spanish guitarist in the lobby just outside the restaurant was wonderful.
They really go the extra mile in customer service... we had match books on our table that had been printed with our name on them (and ones that said Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary). And it goes without mentioning at a place like this, but your water (and everything else you need) never goes without refilling without you even being aware of it).
Keep in mind this is not a place to go if you're watching your diet. I told my husband that we did the dairy industry proud; we consumed enough butter, cream, etc. to keep many cows busy for years to come! But you can really taste the difference when real ingredients are used.
The meal wasn't cheap-- over $250 after tax and tip (for the food plus a moderately priced bottle of California sparkling wine)-- but we both decided that it was money, calories and time well spent!
So, in closing, you want an elegant, romantic dinner and don't care about seeing and being seen at only the hippest places in town, give Palm Court a try. It's been around forever and hopefully always will be.