Klee Brasserie

Klee Brasserie is an adorable upscale Austrian brasserie located in Chelsea. The décor is relatively casual with comfy banquette seating along the wall and eggplant colored pillows that almost make you want to snuggle up with the person at the table beside you. A long bar lines the opposite side of the restaurant with wood paneling. Psychedelic oversized flowers and a beautiful glass mosaic at the rear of the restaurant liven up the mood.

The menu offers up inventive Austrian fare with dots of spatzle and weiner shniztel making appearances along side Alsatian pizza and oddly enough, a paella special. Our waiter seemed to be fresh out of school, very new at the job. I noticed the manager shadowing him as he took our order and fulfilled other such duties. The service was far from terrible but overall needed some work: wine was brought at awkward moments, pepper offered on salad when I was halfway through, etc. I think with a little bit of time, they’ll get it together.

The chef at Klee, Daniel Angeler, has some big name institutions under his belt such as work at Fresh, Jean Georges, and Bouley. His skill certainly shows in the food. My Mom started with a delectable char tartare which came with a heaping portion, served simply in an oversized martini glass with golden-beet caviar. I had a blue cheese, radicchio and lollo rosso salad with hazelnuts. For entrees she had the roasted duckling with plums, quinoa, and klee honey and I had the pine nut crusted halibut with lemongrass broth.

A very enjoyable meal, though they have some kinks to work out in terms of service. I would love to return to Klee in a few months when they have had some more time to get comfortable in their own skin.

Klee Brasserie: 200 Ninth Avenue and 22^nd

Cuisine: Austrian, New American

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