The Bottom Line
Rein is an upscale restaurant located in the renowned Garden City Hotel. The decor features plush banquettes and cozy tables with metallic-toned chairs framed in black, colorful paintings on the walls and dark wood paneling. Chef Steven De Bruyn has created delicious, innovative meals that will please discerning palates. If you enjoy jazz, this is a good place for a first date. Or drop in for lunch or an early dinner if you're bringing the kids. You can also just stop in at the bar for a drink without ordering dinner.
Pros
- Excellent, innovative cuisine
- Intimate setting with upscale decor
- Excellent service
- Working fireplace (in season)
- Live jazz music on some evenings
Cons
- Not for those who dislike jazz
Description
- Rein address: Located in the Garden City Hotel, 45 Seventh Street, Garden City, NY
- Phone: (516)877-9385
- Range of prices per dinner entree: $21 to $32.
- Breakfast: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.;Saturday-Sunday, Buffet style from 6:30 a.m.–10:30am.
- Lunch:: Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. A limited daily menu is available from 3-5 p.m.
- Dinner: Sunday-Thursday till 10p.m.,Friday & Saturday till 11 p.m. Late Night Menu also available.
- Rein website
Guide Review - Rein restaurant review
Although Rein is housed in an intimate, cozy setting, the flavors in Chef Steven De Bruyn's imaginative culinary creations are larger-than-life. Originally from Belgium, Chef De Bruyn has assembled a pleasing variety of gourmet meals with an innovative touch. My theory is that he's part alchemist and part chef, because each meal that he prepares is sheer culinary magic, with small bursts of subtle flavors revealed with each bite.Start with the delectable watermelon carpaccio with buffalo mozzarella & heirloom tomatoes. Paper-thin slices of watermelon blend well with the hearty flavors of mozzarella and tomatoes.Or enjoy the sugar snap pea soup with Parmesan flan and Spanish chorizo. (Vegetarians may request the meal without chorizo.) Main courses include the excellent pan-seared red snapper with pearl couscous with roasted garlic-parsley puree and sauteed zucchini. The savory pan-seared wild king salmon comes with a fennel puree and orange-glazed baby carrots. You can also order grilled all natural NY strip steak, herb-roasted free-range chicken breast and more.
The wine list includes organic offerings like the Orvieto Blend from Italy; Garganaga, Soave classics from Italy; Menica, Cuatro Passos from Spain and more.
Save room for dessert. I recommend the key lime tart, a tangy, graham cracker-crusted dessert served with a creamy, dark chocolate ganache. Or try the decadent pineapple bread pudding with banana caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. If you're counting calories, order Rein's excellent home-made sorbets served with fresh berries.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary meals for the purpose of reviewing this restaurant. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
