michael anthony's has a friendly staff, a decent wine list and a well-variegated menu. where it fall short, though, is in the execution of the dishes themselves. the ""burst of brie"" is more like a brie blintz; it's wrapped in a phyllo cigar and served with a rich berry compote that made me think ""IHOP."" the hearty crackers (a/k/a biscuits) that accompanied it should have been replaced with something lighter that would not detract from the flavor of the brie pastry itself (which is good). double cut pork chop was overcooked (ordered medium plus by waiter's suggestion but came out well done) but was still palatable. to their credit they comped the brie even though i did not send the pork chop back. sea bass was delicate but a bit gamey, and the combination of creamy seafood risotto (best part of the dish) and sweet marinara resulted in a cacophony of flavors. a lemon butter sauce might have been a better choice. \r
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michael anthony's has only been open 20 months so let's give them the benefit of the doubt that things will tighten up over time. there is a lot of promise here, and i am inclined to return soon!
Pros: friendly staff, decent wine list
Cons: none of the food was that great - yet...
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