Restaurant Review - Bistro Z

The midweek breakfast buffet at Bistro Z is one of our area's best kept culinary secrets.

Tucked into the elegant Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown, Bistro Z has long been a popular meeting spot for business people. The richly upholstered chairs, granite table tops, plenty of elbow room, and most of all the gracious service make this a great place to comfortably hash out the issues of the day.

But why should we leave this upscale oasis to just the movers and shakers?  For me, there's nothing more fun than taking an ordinary weekday and making it feel special with an eating experience we usually reserve for the weekend.

"We do have a special Sunday brunch menu, as well as a regular breakfast menu," we are assured by restaurant manager, Cheryl Weeks. "But isn't this a great buffet?" Ah, yes.

After being seated at your table, you are served coffee and juice, as well as a kitchen prepared omelet if you choose. I had the cheddar and mushroom, which was cooked to perfection; firm outside, soft inside.

Where to begin describing the buffet table? The fluffy scrambled eggs and home fries are a must, as is the crispy bacon, tasty sausage, perfectly cooked oatmeal, and silky smoked salmon. There's an array of pastries being offered, as well as breads. Toasters are available, so you can have fresh hot toast just the way you want it.

Incidentally, the little jams on the dining table are delightful, and only the knowledge that I'd have to reveal all kept me from slipping one or two into my pocketbook.

If you want to skip the hearty oatmeal, which is offered with brown sugar and golden raisins, you can, of course, have the cold cereal instead. I'm sure those little cardboard boxes beckon to some, but who wants Cheerios when you can eat pancakes? The yogurt has a certain appeal, it's true. But I needed to save room for the blintzes.

Buttermilk pancakes, thick French toast, and Belgium waffles are also available from your waiter, so don't be shy to ask.

How decadent to have a long, leisurely breakfast on a Wednesday morning, being waited on and pampered, and knowing that the food available is not only unlimited, but truly delicious. I want to come back with my girlfriends, when we can all get together to sneak away for a morning. What a unique and stress free way to celebrate a birthday, or other occasion that usually involves making a reservation, getting gussied up, and blowing the bank account.

We've all done a lot of rethinking in these difficult economic times. My contribution is to suggest you plan a special event around the weekday breakfast buffet at Bistro Z. The complete hot buffet is $17, and for those cold cereal eaters, $13. Come anytime between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (you can still get breakfast from the kitchen until 11:30 a.m.), and plan to feast and relax.

The Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown is at 455 South Broadway, and the phone number for the restaurant is 914-524-6410.

We left feeling well fed, upbeat, and a little wicked.