Vive la différence and beat the March blues with an especially delicious meal at La Baraka in Little Neck. This classic French restaurant offers a touch of North African cuisine as well, making La Baraka a destination restaurant without a passport. Four generations of the Sonigo Family have been welcoming guests for nearly 45 years with charm, excellent food, wine, and friendly service.
The elegant dining room is dressed for Mardi Gras, Passover, and Easter festivities with flowers and vintage French posters on the white stucco walls. Plush carpeting, warm lighting, and soft French music set the mood for intimate conversation, family meals, and celebrations. Una, the veteran waitress served us aperitifs of Kir and Dubonnet to whet our appetites for the wonderfully exotic meal ahead.
The menu at La Baraka is a delight for foodies who can experience the wonders of time-honored French cuisine, as well as North African couscous owing to Lucette and Jean Luc’s history in Algeria and Tunisia. We began with a sumptuous platter of oysters Rockefeller broiled with spinach and cheese with wedges of lemon that were fresh and tasty. Vol-au-vent is a classic French pastry shell filled with savory ingredients and the chef’s version had escargot, shrimp, and mussels in a delicate sauce that we shared and enjoyed along with glasses of Pinot Noir. Coquille St. Jacques are tender scallops cooked with shrimp and mushrooms topped with melted cheese. Moules Farcies are mussels stuffed with aromatic garlic in a fragrant sauce perfect with the warm, homemade rolls brought to your table. The soup of the day was potato leek and there’s always classic French onion soup on the menu, served in a crock with bubbling cheese and croutons ($12.95). The house-made pâté has an incredibly silky texture and flavor, perfect for slathering on bread with cornichon pickles ($12.95).
Take a culinary trip to France with duck á l’orange, a signature French dish perfectly cooked and served with a trio of sauces: orange, peach, and raspberry. Boeuf bourguignon is a hearty beef stew made with red wine and mushrooms, the perfect comfort food ($31.95). Hanger steak with Bernaise sauce and tender veal cutlet sautéed with roasted apples make any night special.
The fish of the day was Cajun catfish in honor of Mardi Gras and I devoured this flaky fish rubbed with spices, perfectly cooked, and served with grilled shrimp, sautéed vegetables, and seasoned rice. Trout almondine and salmon with dill sauce are popular here. Fillet of sole is topped with scallops, shrimp, crab meat, and cheese, while jumbo shrimp are sauteed with garlic, parsley, and white wine.
For a taste of North Africa, I highly recommend the house Couscous Royale cooked and served in a clay pot called a tagine. This beautiful pot is loaded with beef flank, tender lamb, chicken, and Merguez sausage over steamed couscous with chickpeas and vegetables scented with cumin and mild spices. This dish is easily shared and a treat for your family.
La Baraka offers a 3-course “Twilight” meal for Early Birds Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 6:30 pm for just $40.95. Make your reservations now for a lovely Easter Sunday Brunch or Easter Sunday Dinner. The special Easter Brunch menu includes soups, quiches, Merguez sausage sandwiches, French toast, crepes, and more. The Easter Dinner menu features many of their most popular dishes for a 3-course meal with dessert and coffee or tea for $69.50 per person.
You simply must end your meal with one of the house-made desserts such as flaky fruit tart, crème caramel, cheesecake, strawberry mousse cake, and crepes of course filled with Nutella or traditional crepe Suzette.
Enjoy a hot lunch buffet Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 2pm with a plat du jour, or simply order off the à la carte menu. Private parties at La Baraka are extra special. Call to reserve for your next family occasion, business luncheon or dinner.
La Baraka is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5pm, and lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 2 pm. Closed Monday. Visit their website for menus, photos, and history of the charming, hospitable Sonigo Family of La Baraka. Vive la différence with two exceptional cuisines perfectly presented at La Baraka!
www.labarakarest.com