Dinner in Central Park - The Loeb Boathouse, New York, NY

East 72nd and Park Drive North, New York, NY 212-517-2233, www.thecentralparkboathouse.com

A business associate of Brian's was in town for the weekend with his wife and we took them out for a lovely dinner at the Boathouse. Whenever we entertain, Brian always leaves it to me to choose a place that out-of-towners would like and that would show off our city. Since we're in Manhattan, there's no shortage of impressive places but I like to feature the quieter, less touristy aspects of this city.

A lifetime of living in Manhattan has not lessened my love and appreciation of Central Park. Sitting on 843 acres of prime Manhattan real estate, it's the most visited and most filmed urban park in the country but it's also a peaceful oasis for us big city dwellers. Rowing, skating, bicycling, horseback riding...the park offers all that plus an outdoor theater, concerts, a zoo and lots of bird watching. And, of course, lots of people watching from the numerous benches and grassy areas. Brian and I particularly love to sit by the model boat pond and watch them being raced.

You won't go hungry or thirsty in the park. Apart from the numerous refreshment cart vendors, there are also several casual cafes, concession stands and, until recently, two elegant restaurants. Although the famous Tavern on the Green is currently closed due to a managerial flux, the Loeb Boathouse is bustling with lunch and dinner patrons. Located at the northeastern tip of the lake, it offers waterfront fine dining with a seasonal menu.

We booked our table for 6:00 pm so that we could enjoy some late day sunlight over the lake before dusk settled over the park. We scored a table by the sliding windows and watched the last of the row boaters enjoying a beautiful spring day while we sipped selections from their wonderful specialty cocktail menu.

This restaurant is definitely pricey and the portions are a bit small. But, the food was delicious and the atmosphere delightful. There's an easy elegance about the place that makes you feel comfortable despite the elegant surroundings. The service was friendly and attentive and, although the dining room was packed, we were not rushed out. We lingered over coffee and dessert before strolling out through the now quiet and peaceful park.

Mango Mojito

Boathouse Salad with red oak lettuce, herbs and smoked almonds in a Cabernet vinaigrette.

Heirloom tomato salad with English cucumber, kalamata olives, red onion and imported feta cheese

Seared sea scallops with parsley salsa and cherry tomatoes

Roasted Amish chicken with wild rice, charred corn, lingonberries and chicken jus

Roasted Colorado rack of lamb with potato croquette

Halibut with roasted white asparagus

Sour Cream Cheesecake