Clued-in regulars and the occasional celebrity chef convene at this funky, cluttered antique shop-cum-restaurant to graze on Mediterranean appetizers and entrées that change nightly. (Don’t get too attached to that venison with farro and honey-roasted plums.) Seafood is the kitchen’s strength: octopus carpaccio and cod croquettes are standouts. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld
the ambiance is amazing. one of the two hostesses was a bit rude. my fiance and i sat at the bar (because we hadn't made a reservation, which apparently is a no-no) where we were able to to order the full menu and the bartender was lovely. we arrived at 6:30, but by 7:30 i had to step outside to get some air. it was really hot and stuffy to the point that i didn't feel very well. the circulation is terrible. otherwise a very enjoyable evening. the sommelier's wine selection was both different and delicious. next time we will make a reservation at a table right by the door.
Are good food and bad service inextricably linked?
$90 pre-fixe. Food was worth every penny. Wine pairings, a disappointment. Not for the taste -- they were well matched. But with $10 a bottle stock, the staff could have been far more generous. We had 3 different wines, and with each round, the staff took extreme pains to measure no more than a few anemic ounces into the glass -- like they were rationing the last bottle of the '61 Petrus among a dozen guests. When one is spending a healthy sum for dinner, the last feel one wants from the experience is cheapness.