5 /5 Jesse Alk: A top-shelf experience from finish to start.
Service was friendly and personal, somehow both low-key and refined at the same time. I was dining alone, which sometimes can feel odd, but the staff made me feel very comfortable and welcome, with just the right balance of friendly, casual interaction and leaving me to enjoy/absorb the dishes. They were incredibly skilled at this, it must be a cultivated vibe, and it’s a good one. The playlist was great -I wasn’t expecting Joy Division and the Cure, but somehow it was perfect. The volume was correct and unlike some places, I could hear all the descriptions easily.
The food was wonderful- real food with unexpected flavor profiles, which actually worked and weren’t just for the sake of concept. A nice blend of the familiar with surprise secondary notes that elevated every dish. Someone’s review mentioned that the breakfast taco was salty, and for half a bite I had that same reaction, but there were other flavors that came behind that upfront saltiness which let me know I was in for something smart. I think the hamachi was my favorite, but every dish was really great. Somehow they gave me the best piece of bread I had on my trip to New York, and the best butter. It came dead center in the meal, and it was absolutely perfect, exactly what I needed at that moment. The final dessert was so, so good. I’ll never look at carrot cake the same.
The pacing was exactly right, as was the amount of food. I added on everything, but in retrospect might have kept my add-ons to just the hand roll, most of the other dishes were fine without the extras. Really happy I chose this for my last night in NYC.