Bar Americain

Had our second Bobby Flay meal, after doing Mesa about a year ago, at his W. 52nd St. spot. We declined wine, but I opted for a Belgian-style wheat beer (can't remember the name) from the tap. We shared the grilled oysters with a black pepper tarragon butter and hot chile BBQ sauce ($17), anticipating something like Drago's back in Metairie. That was our fault, perhaps. Upon arriving, five oysters in their shell were warm, but for some reason the shells were set on top of crushed ice. The oysters were plump, as if they had not actually been cooked, not the shriveled bits of garlic-butter deliciousness we loved back in Louisiana. Each was finished with a squirt of the dark brown BBQ sauce. Disappointing, but certainly nothing special. For entrees, I got a hanger steak ($31), which was tender ant tasty, although a bit small, judging by the guy next to me who got the much heftier rib eye, a whole chop, compared to about twelve bite-size slices that appeared on my plate. The BBQ sauce on the side (thankfully left on the side) was overpowering and best untouched. Alisa got the red Snapper Florida style ($32). She enjoyed it, resting on top a banana leaf with black beans underneath and a mango guacamole on top. She enjoyed it, but said it was cleared an also-ran to the monkfish we had at Le Cirque earlier in the day. As sides, we got the hot potato chips with blue cheese sauce and the Fries Americain with a smoked red pepper mayo ($9 each). The chips were long, apparently from a potato cut lengthwise and nicely crispy. The fries were even better, holding in some of the grease from the fryer (bad, I know, but hey...) and wonderfully salty. I preferred the mayo with both (the red pepper flavor made it a fine substitute for ketchup), Alisa was torn between the two sauces. We had to ask for a second tiny cup of the mayo, since the first was barely enough. For dessert, we shared the chocolate praline layer cake with caramel rice krispi crunch ($10). They brought it out with a happy birthday message written on the plate in chocolate, always an appreciated touch with a candle resting in a strawberry on the side. The cake was nice, with a warm chocolate fondant on top and many layers inside. The rice crispi (why the final 'i' I don't know) pieces resting on top and wading in a vanilla-ish sauce in the plate were delish...I just wish there were more of them. I certainly didn't expect the banana pieces on top and could have done without them, but we peacefully coexisted. The cake itself had little if any praline flavor, with the rich chocolatiness overwhelming any that actually existed. In all, it was fine. We both agreed it was a decent enough meal, but not a place we'll need to return to with any sense of urgency.