Jazz clubs are all the rage again in New York, and we’ve been to our fair share. We were not prepared, though, for the glitz and glamor that is the Club Room.
In the up-and-coming Hudson Square neighborhood, tucked into the ground floor of The Dominick Hotel, lies Michelin-starred restaurant Vestry. A seafood-forward menu, dreamt up by Australian chef Shaun Hergatt, graces the table as we settle into our seats.
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.
Hell’s Kitchen’s newest gem (or should I say one of its oldest?) reopened a few months ago on 51st Street. A bastion of the French community in New York City, La Tout Va Bien has a complex history.
The NYC Ballet, Lincoln Center, Juilliard, The Metropolitan Opera… what’s missing from this list of Upper West Side performing arts institutions?
A heat wave in New York City means only one thing – rooftop season!
On Thursday night, we returned to one of our favorite spots in the city: BLACKBARN threw a celebration to launch their new intimate event space: the Den. The Den sits at mezzanine level, a step above the lively dining room below but still enveloped in the restaurant’s cozy barn-chic aura.
An exciting new launch, the Den was introduced as the perfect location for intimate dining affairs, birthday dinners, business meetings (it’s equipped with a wall-mounted TV). With its sliding full-length glass doors and hidden satellite bar, the Den is a welcome addition to BLACKBARN’s other event spaces poised to host every occasion.
For those who aren’t familiar, BLACKBARN is an American restaurant situated right by Madison Square Park, home to gorgeous views overlooking the park. Its event spaces and coveted vistas are only the beginning of what the restaurant has to offer, though. Their farm-to-table menu delights clientele with local ingredients, artisan flavors and techniques, and a cozy “modern barn” interior that feels like a special treat and makes you feel right at home. We’ve been in the past to sample their summer menu and their wine collection, but this was the first time we got to try their winter selection.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were escorted upstairs and greeted with fresh wines and their signature apple whiskey cocktail while we took in the calming atmosphere of their Loft event space. An array of wondrously delicious appetizers floated around the room during the entire night: fried artichoke with goat cheese, black truffle egg yolk souffle served in eggshell cups, breaded lamb-stuffed olives, and many more.
Halfway through the event, Chef / Owner John Doherty came out to tell us about some of the exciting initiatives they are undertaking. A recent event with Netflix’s Blue Zones documentary inspired the kitchen to create more plant-based, gluten-free, and vegetarian menu options. Their new Hudson Valley location at Diamond Mills Hotel in Saugerties offers a dazzling experience: from spa treatments with non-toxic, science-backed products from Comfort Zone to a waterside massage to a personal ferry ride from the spa to the restaurant. We can’t wait to make the trip upstate to try it out!
Kintsugi Omakase NYC, a sleek chef’s counter-style sushi “atelier” in lower Soho, recently upped their game by bringing on Chef Victor of Sushi Ko. To find out what the buzz was about, we stopped by this week to sample their new menu, which changes with the seasons for the freshest ingredients.
Chef Victor follows the traditional edomae (referencing the style originating from Edo Bay) style of sushi-making, but puts a modern twist on his art. He uses non-traditional, non-Japanese ingredients to flavor some of his dishes, and his close relationship with NYC fishmongers allows him to source the freshest, finest seafood available. The difference is palpable – one bite of Kintsugi’s Hokkaido Ikura (salmon roe) or uni and it’s clear how high-quality the ingredients are.
In addition to technique and ingredient excellence, Kintsugi Omakase stands out by its use of seasonal ingredients. Typical of new Nordic or farm-to-table style restaurants, Kintsugi brings flavors of the month to sushi, where most establishments would stick to the tried-and-true traditions. Since it’s autumn, our dishes featured a green apple puree paired with a smoked Sawara and apple cider, baby corn with crispy fried fish, and other winter seafood delicacies.
When I asked Chef Victor what his favorite season of ingredients was, he told us “fall and winter, because they have the weirdest items.” Weird as they may be, he prepared them to perfection – half the dishes were items I’d never heard of, and I’m a sushi aficionado. Host Ko told us they aim to “take your palate on an adventure you’ve never been on before.” This delectable adventure featured a codfish sperm sac (winter only), crispy fried Amadai (tilefish) with its scales (dubbed by Chef Victor as natural fish and chips), a pickled fish similar to the herring popular in northern Europe, and barracuda.
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In addition to the sushi tasting, each menu option includes a handroll, the best miso soup you’ve ever tried, bruleed tamago, and a dessert (the current one is black sesame and ginger ice cream – a scoop of each). Finishing off the meal with these comforting plates was the perfect way to wind down from the experiential tasting. We also highly recommend the restaurant’s singular cocktail: a yuzu and violet syrup enhanced sake. I’d come back for this item alone; clearly the team at Kintsugi has the expertise to open a successful bar, if they wanted!
Dining at Kinstugi Omakase NYC is an experience that can’t be missed if you’re a foodie in this city. Their 10-person dining room, carefully designed by creative partners Ashe Yeung and Tim Madrid, feels intimate and sophisticated. But definitely not stuffy – Chef Victor’s lighthearted jokes and sarcastic commentary make you instantly comfortable with him, and we enjoyed hearing his descriptions of his craft while watching him expertly assemble each mouthwatering bite. We can’t wait to come back. Book your reservation at Kintsugi here ASAP!
A few weeks ago, we tried the new Italian restaurant in Chelsea Market. A less rushed alternative to the market’s typical grab-and-go options, La Devozione offers fine dining, casual dining, a market of artisanal goods, and also takeout. If the restaurant’s name sounds familiar, it’s because they stem from a well known pasta manufacturer with roots dating back more than 110 years – Pastificio di Martino. Their story is fascinating, with the aforementioned origins to the first takeaway stand in Naples, to now expanding into restaurants in the United States. Our last visit involved dining at A Tavola, their casual dining area, and we couldn’t wait to try The Oval for an immersive tasting experience with Chef Alessio Rosetti.
Well, today was that day! We entered Chelsea Market and wandered over to the restaurant, nestled in the very center across from the open-concept food court. Soon, we were seated at the impressive chef’s counter: an oblong round tabletop surrounding state-of-the-art stovetops, ovens, pasta stations, and more, also known as The Oval.
We began our meal with a few cocktails: the American Rose and the Select Aperitivo. Both drinks had a citrusy, bitter flavor profile with the former boasting a bit of fizz and the latter holding a more floral component from the juniper berries. They paired perfectly with our first course, which was a wafer made of over-boiled and mashed up pasta, then spread thin, seasoned with classic italian herbs, and dried out. It also came with two breadsticks, and delicious ‘cookies’ made with pork fat and crushed almonds. So unique, with familiar tastes but brand new formats, made for the perfect carb-based appetizer.
The second course was our first pasta, the Spaghettini a Limone. Bright and acidic yet balanced due to the creamy provolone sauce, it excited us about the rest of the courses to come. Lemon pasta is one of my absolute favorite dishes, so I could have happily eaten an entire meal of this alone. Next, the Pacchero Calabria arrived. A plate of 4 large paccheri, each topped with bergamot glaze, smoked swordfish, and fennel fronds, were like little flavor explosions. Citrusy and fresh, earthy, and smoky essences filled your mouth for a true gastronomical experience. I loved this small, punchy dish!
Next, the Sogno Rosso was a spaghetti with caviar and parlsey foam that came out for our fourth course. It was plated gorgeously with voluminous bright green parsley foam that keeps its shape for longer than expected. The flavors, once swirled together, were earthy and complex. The Marco Polo, a roasted beet goat cheese pasta, arrived next: a bright magenta colored sauce served in a large wine glass. Goat cheese comprised the main flavor, which quickly melted and incorporated into the pink sauce. This brightened the dish and added a whipped, creamy texture.
Our next course was a pick-your-own adventure: either the Candele Rotto a Mare or the Candele BBQ. Of course, we each chose one so we could sample both dishes. The Candele Rotto a Mare was a cripsy medley of octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and asparagus covered in a ragu sauce. The result? A seafood-heavy flavor balanced by the classic, neutral comfort of a red sauce that blended perfectly. The Candele BBQ was one of our favorite items of the night, with sizzling pork belly and creamy artichoke.
The final food course was the restaurant’s namesake dish – La Devozione. A simple tomato basil sauce yet so complex and satisfying in flavor, this pasta absolutely cannot disappoint – and that’s due to the quality of its ingredients. Tomatoes are from Sorrento which are harvested in the summer and canned to send to the US in the fall. In contrast to San Marzano tomatoes, these are richer and sweeter, giving the sauce an extraordinary flavor. This was our favorite item last time as it’s also on A Tavola’s menu, and was definitely near the top this time as well.
For dessert, we had a lime tart, which was a unique twist on the indulgent lemon tart. We finished off our meal with smooth, creamy espresso brewed in the moka pots La Devozione sells in their market. They were a delicious end to a decadent, artful meal. We highly recommend The Oval to anyone looking for an experience far greater than just a meal – a creative, interactive Chef-led lesson in Italian cuisine.
Amidst the buzz of fashion week in Soho this weekend, we grabbed a break and a bite to eat at Soho Diner. Perfectly situated under the Soho Grand hotel, a few minutes walk from fashion week hub Spring Studios, the Soho Diner was a great spot to unwind from the day’s activities and inspirations. We weren’t the only ones who thought so, clearly, as the 50s themed diner was packed with models, editors, and fashion fanatics.
When you walk into Soho Diner, you feel like you’ve instantly stepped back in time. Wait – scratch that a little – into a beautifully curated version of the past: salmon colored upholstered booths, cherry wood finishes, a Crosley jukebox, and vintage signs indicating menu items. Soho Diner “pays homage to the great American dining staple: a place where every stripe of the community can have a quality meal with friends and family.” But their modern touches remind you that you’re in a place with the charm of the past but the welcoming attitudes of modern day, rather than a perfect carbon copy of an imperfect past world.
Just like their ambiance, Soho Diner’s menu reflects the beauty of modern American cuisine and the classic comforts of staple diner items. From their classic burger and milkshake to a half dozen oyster starter and a grapefruit brulee, every type of eater will find their fix here. Since we went for brunch, we ordered the Smoked Salmon and Potato Latkes, the Steak and Eggs, and started off with a few oysters. And of course, some milkshakes – how could we not at a diner?!
To start off, our milkshakes came out first – an orange julius and a vanilla classic shake. The orange julius was creamy and citrusy, but still very light and refreshing even with its sweet flavor profile. To round it out, the vanilla milkshake was thick, decadent, and delicious. An absolute must try – they were out of the strawberry and chocolate flavors when we visited, so we can’t wait to stop by next time to try those.
After we finished our drinks, the oyster starter arrived. The east coast oysters were fresh and delicious – a must have during the summer season. They were served with the classic mignonette, spicy cucumber relish, harissa cocktail sauce, and a lemon wedge. All the accoutrements you could possibly want to accompany a set of oysters. Next up, our main dishes: the Potato Latkes with Smoked Salmon, and the Ham Steak and Eggs. The latkes came with herbed creme fraiche and poached eggs; their creaminess paired wonderfully with the salty smoked salmon. The steak and eggs arrived with specklings of chimichurri on a giant cut of pork, and topped with two sunny side up eggs – definitely plan on leftovers!
We left the Soho Diner full and happy, and can’t wait to go back to try the rest of the items on their menu. Learn more about Soho Diner here, and click here to make your reservation!
