I was immersed in a food spa experience.

My dear friend and I, despite communication issues, met up at the Museum of Modern Art lobby and I indulged in Matisse Revisited…she had not yet perused the amazing Cut-Outs exhibit.

If you did not read my mesmerizing review of the Matisse show, check it out (https://ifthedevilhadmenopause.com/magical-matisse-moma/). Do not miss the Robert Gober retrospective and Toulouse Lautrec exhibit, as well.

If you are fortunate enough to be in NYC and experiencing our very own polar vortex (22 degrees as I transcribe this post) get your tightly wrapped bum into the warm, welcoming and toasty MoMA…I perspired my way through my third visit.

After absorbing culture, I suggested we share a late lunch at Le Bernardin’s first ever spinoff, Aldo Sohm Wine Bar.

Any restaurant associated with Eric Ripert and Le Bernardin, which is consistently one of the best restaurants in NYC, should be experienced.

Austrian- born, Aldo Sohm, continues to be the executive sommelier at Le Bernardin. Chef Eric Fricker who was sous chef at Le Bernardin, makes the trek across the Galleria to head up the kitchen.

The location can be a bit tricky to find. It is actually across the walkway (Galleria) from  reknown Le Bernardin…the entrance does not face the street. For old school New Yorkers, it occupies the old Palio space.

You twirl through the revolving doors and enter a sanquine, beige environment, enhanced by Keith Haring paintings, a comfortable, cozy linen sofa, abounding with pillows. An eclectic mix of art, books and vintage toys is strategically placed on backlit tall bookshelves.

We entered the embraceable, intimate environment 10 minutes before lunchtime concluded. There were only 2 other patrons…it was perfect timing.

Apparently, this is the place to be once offices in the midtown area close. After 5pm, it is quite the scene so all the single girls get over to Aldo Sohm.

When I was trolling the NYC single scene, Bloomingdale’s men’s department on Monday nights was the equivalent of Tinder.

Now you can have a maaaavelous glass of wine and some amazing food at Aldo Sohm and perhaps engage with someone potentially interesting…are there any interesting single people left in the world?

This question comes from the mother of a beautiful, smart, successful twenty-something who never meets anyone worth spending more than five minutes chatting up.

We did not partake of the adult beverages. That comes next, but the food was fabulous.

The kitchen was closing so we ordered everything at once with the superb guidance of the lovely sommelier, Sarah.

I could not resist the grilled foie gras lollipop on toast with a lovely dollop of tomato sauce. The foie gras was perfectly seared…a thick slab which melted in your mouth ($15).

I accompanied it with a romaine salad spear gratinee ($4.25/piece). A single spear is grilled delicately and lightly bathed in a Caesar dressing…delicious and the equivalent of a small salad.

Paula ordered the lentil soup with garlic herb crouton ($8) which was hearty, rich and tasty. She was wearing multiple layers and still needed to take the chill off.

At the last moment she placed an order for mini Boudin blancs sausage (6 pieces for $8.5)

I was surprised at how delicious and tender they were. The accompanying mustard achieved a perfect level of spice.

There is a lovely lunch menu consisting of baby red leaf salad ($6), grilled chicken paillard salad ($15), salad Nicoise ($14) and a warm duck confit arugula salad ($15) along with three appealing paninis ($12) from the french inspired menu.

Also featured is Brooklyn Charlie’s Charcuterie selection of sausage ($6.5), salami (6.5), truffle mousse pate ($12), spec and poached ham ($9.5), duck rillettes ($8.5) smoked pork loin ($12) and lardo dip ($6.5).

I was interested in trying the whole baked cauliflower with roasted chicken salt ($12),but my partner was unenthused.

More substantial items for both lunch and dinner include short rib skewer with fried shallot and red wine reduction ($12), organic chicken drumsticks ($6.5), grilled chorizo manchego panino ($12) truffle pasta ($22). Featured is Murray’s cheese of the moment (4/$21). Desserts are also available.

This is the best midtown lunch, pre-theatre, dinner restaurant to surface in years. You can enjoy terrific food at reasonable prices in a lovely setting.

No reservations accepted and the wait at dinnertime can be 45 minutes to an hour, but you can sample fabulous wines which will definitely take the edge off the wait…perhaps you may even meet an intriguing human.

Personally, I love a man in a suit and tie. It is a dying art.

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar 151 West 51st Street. Located across the Galleria from Le Bernardin. No reservations. Open Mon-Thurs 11:30am-3pm & 4:30-11:30pm. Fri 11:30am-3pm & 4:30pm-12am. Sat 4:30pm-12am. Closed Sunday.