Buttercup walls, mile-deep plush banquettes, authentic farmhouse wood-beamed ceilings, and a warm amber glow give Hamersley’s Bistro the air of home. The food coming out of chef/owner Gordon Hamersley’s lively open kitchen (Hamersley is usually on the line, cooking in a baseball hat) makes you realize that you are, in fact, not at home. If the food were this good at your home, it is doubtful that you would ever bother leaving. The house specialty, chicken roasted with garlic, lemon, and parsley, is the perfect example of how simple food can shine. The bird has a crisp, taut, golden skin, and its flesh is moist, succulent, and saturated with flavor. While the menu centers on hearty American bistro fare, do not take this to mean that the food here is boring, dull, or tired. Standards are expertly prepared with care and skill, and the kitchen is not afraid to bring in eclectic global flavors to create inventive dishes for guests who have been dining here for more than a decade. The kitchen also offers a weekly vegan special that could turn on the most ardent of carnivores. Hamersley’s eclectic wine list changes with the seasons, as does the menu, and the restaurant’s warm staff is more than happy (and very able) to help guide you to the right selection for your meal.

Hamersley's Bistro Information:

• French bistro menu. Dinner. Closed July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day. Bar. Casual attire. Reservations recommended. Valet parking. Outdoor seating. Credit cards accepted.