An “oasis in the middle of Soho”, Gilligan’s is a summertime-only restaurant that pops up from May to September offering coastal dishes such as lobster rolls and oysters.
Its outdoor-only, tropical getaway setup takes you to another world – whether you’re searching for a respite from a day of shopping or looking for a fun summer date night. We stopped by this week to check out what the buzz was all about.
When we walked in, we were greeted by a beautiful enclave of wooden benches lined with festive cushions, tropical plants, and overhead misters to keep you cool during the NY summer. The menu dazzled us right away: squash blossom pizza, lobster rolls, watermelon margaritas, fish tacos, the list goes on and on… hitting every craving we’ve had this summer. We started with some East Coast Oysters right away, and they paired perfectly with Gilligan’s white balsamic mignonette.
Our appetizer of choice was the Crab & Artichoke dip – would’ve never thought to combine those two stellar ingredients, but I’m so glad someone at Gilligan’s did. The warm, creamy spread was delicious with their homemade lavish sesame cracker and felt like an elevated, New England summer take on the classic spinach & artichoke dip. I’d never had something like this before, and how something new and creative can be just as satisfying as the comfort food we know and love.
The main event was something I’d been looking forward to ever since I read the menu – Squash Blossom Pizza and a Lobster Roll. The pizza was perfectly peppery thanks to seasonal squash blossoms and enhanced with sliced, roasted zucchini. The lobster roll was also incredible, with a well-toasted brioche bun (a must!) and topped with decorative flowers. Rule of thumb for summer – take every opportunity to eat seasonal ingredients!
We loved getting to dine at Gilligan’s. The summer atmosphere, the creativity and inventiveness of the dishes, and the staff made it a wonderful experience. It’s rare that such a gorgeous venue, in the middle of heavily trafficked and trendy Soho, also has food that impresses to this level. We can’t wait to go again before they close for the summer, and highly recommend trying it out! Book your reservation here.
