The Old '76 House | Tappan, New York

The Old '76 House

110 Main St, Tappan, NY 10983

http://76house.com/

The dining experience at Old '76 House is quite enjoyable. The staff is very friendly and helpful. You don't feel rushed here. The atmosphere is quite calming with dark wood tones and eclectic furniture, paying homage to the restaurant’s storied history as one of the oldest establishments in America, dating back to 1668.

I appreciated their commitment to sustainability, showcasing locally sourced ingredients such as Hudson Valley apples, wild American axis red deer, Sullivan County brook trout, Maryland blue claw lump crabmeat, and Lancaster roast chicken.

The Jager schnitzel (pictured) stands out as one of my favorites; the schnitzel is perfectly crispy, and the accompanying red cabbage is sweet, adding a delightful contrast. The spätzle seems to be fried, which isn't a personal preference of mine. I prefer boiled spätzle which I think would have complimented the dish better considering the schnitzel is crispy.

The chicken cordon bleu is exceptional—perhaps the best I've ever had—remarkably tender and flavorful. The venison medallions were also commendable, with a lingonberry-madeira compote that complemented them nicely. The venison was served with pureed sweet potatoes which I thought were a bit too sweet when considering the compote already on the plate. I would have preferred maybe simply a regular mashed potato or something like a roasted brussel sprout.

While I thought the pot roast was decent, it may appeal more to those who enjoy pot roast more than I, as it was notably fork-tender. The sweet cabbage and mashed potatoes were also good, however, the popover served with it had a slightly bitter flavor.

One area for improvement is the vegetables that accompany many of the dishes, which tended to be somewhat bland. Additionally, the cocktails could use enhancement; my husband was not pleased with the old fashioned, and I noticed another patron returning an Irish coffee for being cold. Further, their overall menu could be slightly more cohesive. Most of the dishes are Austrian or English, so the addition of risotto, empanadas, and spring rolls feels somewhat disjointed.

Our dessert experience was slightly mixed. When it arrived, the returned Irish coffee was mistakenly brought to our table, noticeable by the missing spot of whipped cream, where the other customer had taken a sip. The Austrian Linzer torte was a bit dry, but the crème brûlée was delightful and perfectly sweet.

Overall, while Old '76 House has many strengths, there are areas that could benefit from refinement, but they'll definitely see me as a return customer.