By Stuart Graeber
The Red Hat has been a staple of fine dining in Irvington since Mary Dooley and Jim Parker opened shop in 2003. Since then, they have garnered and retained customers due to the quality of their food, as well as the Parisian bistro style dining room that is inviting and beautiful. I had the pleasure of having lunch at the Red Hat this past week, and am excited to share my experience.
When I first sat down, I was immediately greeted by a waiter carrying a glass vase of water and a smile on their face. I was seated outside of the restaurant, overlooking the beautiful Hudson River and the silhouette of New York City in the background. What I was most impressed with about the Red Hat was their ability to serve high quality food at a very quick pace. There was not much waiting between the process of ordering and eating.
I ordered the spicy tuna and avocado, sat on a hard chip-like tortilla. It was delicious, the tuna was very fresh and the avocado was extremely smooth with the spice from the rest of the dish. For my main dish I ordered the Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. This salad was perfectly executed. Down to the minute detail. What stood out to me the most was how fresh everything tasted. The chicken was still warm and so tender, the lettuce was crispy and the caesar dressing was not overpowering. This dish satisfied all of my taste buds, giving me savory, sweet, warm and cold. Everything I was looking for in a mid-day meal. I walked away feeling satisfied and content.
The Red Hat was nothing short of spectacular. Not just the food, but the vibe in the restaurant and the way the staff treated their customers. From my perspective, this meal was everything I needed it to be. It is important to note that the Red Hat is certainly a high end restaurant, but in my opinion, is worth every penny. The next time you are looking for a delicious meal, I implore you to give the Red Hat a try. You won’t regret it.
