NEW YORK, NY – At Gilligan’s, New Yorkers can escape the bustling city life in exchange for a tropical beach getaway.
Tucked away in the middle of SoHo, Gilligan’s is at first glance somewhat discreet – the exterior is covered in plants and you’ll need to walk past the bar and a hallway of plants before you reach the main dining area.
The effort is well-rewarded – once you complete your foray into the greenery, you’ll find a particularly spacious seating area reminiscent of the seating at beaches (the bar emulates a surf shack, after all).
Plants of varying heights stagger to create the illusion of a tropical rainforest. The entire dining area is uncovered, with seating made of wood, making it only accessible during days without inclement weather (they’ll give you a heads up via text if the weather means you’ll need to reschedule).
Cocktails on the menu hum a similar tune, with sea-inspired names such as “spicy skipper” or “a dose of vitamin sea”. These drinks incorporate as much tropical elements as they can, using a refreshing blend of fruits like coconut, pineapple, and watermelon.
And, given that the US Open was in season, we were also pleased to spot the iconic “honey deuce” cocktail on their menus – a simple yet tennis fan-favorite cocktail (lemonade, raspberry liquor, and Grey Goose vodka).
Each menu item is pretty light, as one would expect from a typical beach fare.
To start, the smashed avocado and pita included a very generous portion of avocado. Crunchy pita chips, dusted with flaky sea salt, balanced out the softness of the avocado. Even though the avocado dish was kept rather simple (the primary flavors were cilantro and sea salt), it worked well to complement the summer heat.
The tuna crudo, its demand for attention enhanced by its portion-size-to-price ratio, was overwhelmingly tender and soft.
Similar to the previous dish, the addition of the flaky sea salt on top completed the dish.
Continuing with the theme of lightness, the pasta dish (“spaghettini”) was flavorful without being overpowering.
Instead of being drenched in oil, the spaghettini with shrimp was almost like a pasta scramble. It arrived with just the right amount of oil for the chili flakes to coat the pasta but still left enough room to enjoy other parts of the menu.
Stop by Gilligan’s to experience this relaxed and warm atmosphere.
Gilligan’s is located in SoHo at 310 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013. Reservations can be made online at their website: https://www.gilligansnyc.com/.
