107 West, Broadway north of 107th

We don't know quite how to categorize 107 West...Southern? Cajun? Barbecue? Comfort food? American? Bistro? Italian? A couple times we'd paused at the menu and were confused by the range of offerings and so we passed on entering and ordering. Last week, in search of a good burger, we went in and were not disappointed. Not at all.

But we didn't order burgers. David had the duck -- half of a big, succulent duck with crispy skin served with roasted rosemary potatoes -- crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and steamed broccoli. I had marinated hanger steak served with mashed potatoes and grilled onions. David thought my steak was a bit vinegary, I liked it a lot. Perhaps too rare though I'd ordered it medium-medium-rare. I always specify "pink," not red -- and it was a tad too red.

The atmosphere was nice. 107 West had just redone their glassed in "porch" with gray vinyl banquets, huge white pillows, and scattered tables and chairs. The soft light of candles burning in votives made the space festive. Though it was freezing outside, we were practically dining on the sidewalk.

We each took half our meal home. The next night we pulled the duck meat from the bones, made a broth, boiled in some red wine, and added the duck meat, chopped rosemary potatoes and broccoli and beef -- and served it all over fresh pasta.

For two glasses of wine and two entrees (our take-out served another two meals) the bill came to $52.

Another night, last night to be exact (April 16), we ordered the duck and a pan seared brook trout.  The trout (the mango chutney remained on the side) with just a squeeze of of lemon, was perfect -- the fish's surface crisply browned.  As a side, I ordered spinach and the dish came with string beans.  Delicious.  All that remained on my plate was the skin.  David's duck was a bit dry -- but made good leftover soup today.