Home > Restaurants > Little Giant

Little Giant

85 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002
at Broome St. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-226-5047 Send to Phone

Price Range:
$$
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Reader Rating:
5.0 out of 10
|
3 Reviews | Write a Review
Cuisine: American Nouveau

Photo by Shanna Ravindra

Map Rate & Review

Official Website

littlegiantnyc.com

Hours

Mon-Thu, 11:30am-11pm; Fri, 11:30am-midnight; Sat, 11am-4pm and 6pm-midnight; Sun, 11am-4pm and 6pm-10pm

Nearby Subway Stops

F at Delancey St.; B, D at Grand St.

Prices

$19-$25

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

Brunch - Weekend
Dine at the Bar

Alcohol

Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

Large windows angle around the corner site that houses Little Giant; against these sits a banquette lined with haute-homey felt and cotton canvas pillows. An exposed brick ceiling undulates above. The two owners call the food seasonal American, emphasizing the greenmarket produce they gather and their wealth of house-made items, from sausage to condiments. The menu is sprinkled with puns, but even if you find these too coy don't let them deter you. Hazelnuts turn up in the sautéed scallops entrée, their toasty crunch a terrific counterpoint to the shellfish. Another outstanding main dish is the Swine of the Week, which despite the name changes seasonally. In one case, it's a heap of pulled Berkshire pork atop a buttermilk scone. The slightly smoky flavor of the meat amplifies when you taste it with its buttery supporting act. For dessert there are liquor-spiked renditions of floats and an egg cream. If you're sticking to solids, look for the sticky toffee pudding, paired with fruits like quince or banana. — Jennifer Paull

Recommended Dishes

Swine of the week, $24; sautéed scallops, $23; sticky toffee pudding, $8

This cozy lower east sider has a charming ambiance with attentive staff. The beer, wine, and cocktail options also add to the experience. However, the food does not match the decor, as you are left somewhat underwhelmed. I would recommend others visit the bar or enjoy some of the appetizers prior to dinner elsewhere.

I was in for the perfect dinner - And was disappointed.

oeufsmayo from 11215 | Posted on 5/11/09

Overall Rating: 6 (Mixed Reviews)


Food:	6
Service:	10

Décor:	10

Value:	6

It all started well with a truly homy/designy decor, deviled eggs, braised artichokes and warm spinach & feta dip to nibble on. I liked the spinach dip, a lot: not that I could taste the feta, but it reminded me of a spinach gratin I used to love when I was a kid Â– and for that Little Giant, I am grateful. As for the entrees, well...I was intrigued by the ramps, a wild leek Â– which tastes a little like a scallion/green garlic mutant. I might have hesitated to order something like this in any other restaurants Â– but not there. Well, I should have : my ramps & orrecchiette, with ramps puree and braised ramps were unfortunately almost inedible. That stuff is really, really powerful. And I couldn't find the braised ramps, despite careful examination. My husband had the veal short ribs (with braised ramps). It was OK Â– but I wish I didn't feel the grains of the grits Â– and also I wish the veal had been a little crustier. I have to say that the service was very good though. Deserts were perfect, with a special note for the yummy sticky toffee pudding . Oeufmayo.wordpress.com

Read All 3 Reviews >>

Advertising

Latest News

Latest News Near

Popular Restaurant Guides

Where to Eat

Adam Platt picks 2009’s top dining destinations,
including Dovetail, Momofuku Ko, and Corton.
Best of New York Food

The best that the city’s restaurants have to offer:
paella, coffee, grilled cheese, ramen, and more.
The Cheap List

We live in a city full of small cheap-eats miracles,
including $1 foods, Korean fried chicken, and burgers.