Hastings' Buffet de la Gare Lives On After Suffering Great Loss this Summer

After Buffet de Le Gare founder and chef Gwenael Goulet passed away on July 19, many wondered whether the beloved French bistro in Hastings would continue to thrive.

But his son Gwendal Goulet and wife Annie have carried the torch—offering a menu that's more succulent than ever.

The menu at Buffet de la Gare in Hastings on Hudson remains the same as the seasons come and go but daily specials change seasonally and for the fall/winter months, venison and coq au vin will be back as main special attractions.

Many of the staples appearing on the current dinner menu were on the menu back when the restaurant opened 30 years ago. This includes confit de canard (duck leg confit), escargots de Bourgogne au beurre d’ail (French snails in a Burgundy style garlic and parsley butter), crème brûlée (glazed custard) and tarte aux pommes chaudes (warm caramelized apple tart). 

The lunch and dinner menus are different for the most part. Two of the best selling luncheon dishes, manager Gwendal Goulet said, are: 

• Gigot d'agneau. Leg of lamb
• Croque-monsieur. A smoked pork loin and Gruyère cheese grilled sandwich

Another lunchtime favorite is brandade de morue et homard, Niçoises (warm mousse of salted cod and lobster with Niçoise olives). It was added to the menu about three years ago.

At dinner time, seafood enthusiasts can opt for the market fish of the day or order nage de fruits de mer aux épices d’Orient (lobster, shrimp and scallops in a lobster and ginger broth). This dish, owner and host Annie Goulet (Gwendal's mom) confides, is her favorite choice for dinner.

The most popular choices from the dessert list, Gwendal said, are:

• Îles Flottantes or "Floating Island.” Soft baked meringue on vanilla crème anglaise, pralines
• Crêpes Suzette. Crêpes flambéed with Grand Marnier, caramelized orange zest 

The wine list offers 200 French wine selections. Prix-fixe menus are available on holidays.

Buffet de la Gare was closed for most of the month of August (in keeping with French tradition) but it reopened on Aug. 28.

The restaurant has 11 tables downstairs that accommodate up to 35 people. Patrons are also welcome to have dinner at the bar which has ten stools. Ten to 30 guests can be seated in a private dining room on the second floor. Prix-fixe meal options are offered to groups that reserve this space. 

Gwenael and Annie Goulet bought the restaurant in 1979, sold it in 2005 and repossessed it in 2008. 

Buffet de la Gare is located at 155 Southside Ave. in Hastings on Hudson. 914-478-1671. www.buffetdelagareny.com