We were almost the only ones dining in L’Escale who weren’t celebrating a birthday! Practically every table around us ended their meal with a sparkler and song.

Brunch started with the Koesar’s Bloody Marys ($16), described as “a little spice, lots of sass,” and the jumbo shrimp cocktail (3 for $18) and the tender Mediterranean octopus with chorizo and Gigantes beans, shared by all.

With a group of five, we sampled much of their menu. Two of us savored their lump crab cake eggs benedict with sautéed spinach ($24), one the fresh blueberry pancakes with Connecticut maple syrup ($19), one a Croque Madame ($24) with bistro ham, gruyere cheese, mornay sauce and a fried egg plus a salad; and the other, a prime hanger steak with pommes frites ($44) with a Bearnaise sauce.

We didn’t stop there.

For a sweet ending, we ordered ricotta donuts (5 for $16) with raspberry and chocolate sauce, the last order of chocolate souffle ($18), fresh apple tart ($16) and one espresso martini ($17), my new traditional dessert.

The restaurant also sent out mini madeleines gratis.

We sat yacking almost until the start of dinner, continuing to see sparklers and happy birthday songs all afternoon.

I highly recommend L’Escale for good food in a quiet, elegant setting.

Weather permitting, you can dine outside.

L’Escale
Delmar Hotel
500 Steamboat Rd
Greenwich, CT 06830
203.661.4600
lescalerestaurant.com/