A culinary journey through Europe!

Brasserie 214

A European Bistro

Located at The Inn at New Hyde Park

214 Jericho Turnpike

New Hyde Park

516-354-7797

www.brasserie214.com

From stately elegance to European style service to amazing cuisine, Brasserie 214 is a restaurant that deserves raves. And more raves. Award-winning chefs give contemporary twists to old world favorites. You might even find flavors that send your taste buds back to grandma’s kitchen.

Founded in the thirties, the restaurant at The Inn at New Hyde Park originally offered German fare. When the Sakowich family and Frank Marino purchased the Inn in 2005, they expanded its restaurant’s menu to include the finest of Scandinavia, Belgium, Northern Italy and France. Renovations of the catering facility took place shortly thereafter.

Bread baskets often set the stage, and theirs was no exception. It was hard to resist the collection of freshly baked goodies - from cranberry-walnut muffins to buttery soft pretzels. Bremerhaven beet and herring salad, served over romaine with apple slices, was something to write home about. Biscay Bay mini crab cakes were crisp and sensational, served with shaved fennel and orange salad, and Dijon remoulade. Thai chicken dumplings were pan-seared, joining sweet chili sauce to dip. Brasserie salad, which can be split, offered mesclun greens, beets, candied walnuts, dollops of goat cheese, drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette.

Salmon Nicoise was a generous filet dotted with roasted red peppers and green olives, served over whipped potatoes in garlic white wine sauce. Four grilled baby lamb chops came with mashed potatoes and baby asparagus, and of course, mint jelly. Bone-in Tuscan rib eye, which is 22 ounces of tender Black Angus sprinkled with rosemary garlic butter, joined fresh broccoli rabe and roasted Fingerling potatoes. From their “Schnitzel Bank,” which includes every veal, pork and chicken version imaginable, we adored Austrian Weiner Schnitzel, lightly breaded and fried veal in parsley butter sauce. Mushroom sauce was served on the side to allow us to sample Jaeger.All schnitzels come with red cabbage and German home fries.

Fried cheesecake was surprisingly light (and addicting!). Ice cream-filled Profiteroles arrived with Belgium chocolate sauce. Rice pudding was creamy, topped with strawberries. Samplers can be ordered for groups.

From the dinner menu, soups, salads and appetizers are $5.95 to $12.95. Entrees range from $19.95 for a Belgian mussel pot to $42 for a three lobster tails. Desserts are $5 to $6.50. Children’s dinners are $9 to $12. Prix fixed themes - Lobster and Mussel Night on Wednesday; Steak House Night on Thursday; Seafood Fest on Friday; and All Day Oktoberfest on Sunday - are whole dinners for $24.95.

With magnificent rooms and wedding facilities, The Inn at New Hyde Park is the perfect venue for all types of gala affairs. The restaurant itself seats 200 and has three private dining rooms for smaller parties. Brasserie 214 serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, and weekend bands and DJs perform in the lounge. Restaurant hours are 11a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Monday (from September on), Wednesday and Thursday, and noon to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. They are closed on Tuesday. Reservations are suggested.

Recommendations:

■ Biscay Bay Quartet of Mini Crab Cakes

■ Thai Chicken Dumplings

■ Bremerhaven Beet & Herring Salad

■ Brasserie Salad

■ Grilled Baby Lamb Chops

■ Bone-In Tuscan Rib Eye

■ Jaeger Schnitzel

■ Salmon Nicoise

■ Fried Cheesecake

■ Rice Pudding

■ Profiteroles with Ice Cream