Contour, The Ritz-Carlton Central Park, New York City, NY USA

Enjoyed at Contour in the lobby of The Ritz Central Park South in New York City.

We left The Plaza hungry, and you can read about why from my previous post.

The Ritz is literally only a few doors down, almost hidden among the many entryways along Central Park South. Unlike our previous experience at The Plaza, one could feel the confidence among the staff as we entered this property, almost as though we were dining with a family who called the hotel a second home.

We sat down in Contour and were immediately greeted by a passionate waiter, excited to serve us and ensure our stay with them was as pleasant as every other guest he catered to. Harry and I glanced at the menu and noticed no club sandwich was listed.

Was our night ruined? Could this menu-change kibosh the evening?

I asked our waiter for guidance. Luck was on our side, as he had been serving guests of The Ritz for 21 years, and knew the menu intimately. He not only shared that the chef could create the Central Park Club Sandwich, which was listed on their website, he also proceeded to explain literally layer by layer how the sandwich was built and why we would enjoy it so much.

Now that was hospitality!

Harry and I soaked up the ambiance of what felt like a cozy Vermont cottage combined with New York City heritage. It was a warm, intimate impression not often shared in such a dense urban environment. We caught up on life and travels, while waiting for our club sandwich to arrive.

A lettuce-forward club sandwich, the kitchen had divided the meal for us prior to serving, and while I wasn’t overly impressed with the plating or the ratio, I decided to leave those observations behind while I took my first bite down.

Flavors vibing together, this was a massive step above what we had previously, and a true testament that choosing and crafting the correct bread and sauce for a club can have a massive, dramatic impact on overall flavors. The avocado mash, combined with the horseradish aioli, and perfectly grilled sourdough bread, could have enhanced any protein placed within these ingredients’ borders. Yum.

While the grilled chicken breast and smoked bacon were nothing to write home about, it was easy to see why our waiter of 21 years was so initially excited we asked about The Ritz’s Club Sandwich.

The French fries were of a less-fried style, which we enjoyed very much, and we continued conversing into the night as we enjoyed Contour’s set and setting.

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