The John Dory
The John Dory // 4.0 of 5
Food: 4.5
Atmosphere: 4.5
Service: 3
My new favorite place in New York? The John Dory. One reason I love this place is because all the seating is bar seating. And you know how I feel about that. Another reason? The restaurant is a celebration of seafood and aquariums. 2 thumbs up so far. Having been on my “To Do” list for quite some time, The John Dory seemed like the perfect place to catch up with my super cool, food-loving mentor, Will. So here we go…
Before taking my first step into The John Dory, all I knew about the restaurant was that it was a seafood lover’s haven, and it had closed down earlier this year when it was located on 10th Avenue. I quickly learned that it’s now located in the Ace Hotel and has an impressive specialty cocktail list. Besides being an aquarium in itself, The John Dory is also a speakeasy, oyster bar and English Pub. Interesting combination, huh? It doesn’t all quite come together until you’ve been there for an hour or two. Then BAM! You get it. It works. The aquarium/speakeasy/oyster bar thing works!
(Gothamist)
GREATNESS
So I didn’t get a picture of everything, because by the time we got to the food, I was a little woozy. Thank you, Williams “75″–Poire Williams, Lemon, Sugar and Prosecco. Oh, and you must know that the menu is all about small portions (aka fancy bar grub).
West Coast Oysters // We started out with some luscious and creamy oysters, which were unbelievably smooth. If you remember anything about oysters, remember that West Coast oysters tend to be sweet, creamy and smooth, and East Coast oysters tend to be briny and chewy.
Oyster Pan Roast with Uni Crostini // Life-changing. Imagine a cream of oyster soup with a few pieces of our favorite mollusk friend. And imagine a thick layer of uni butter on a crunchy piece of toast. Imagine dipping that uni toast into that cream of oyster soup. Eat that and you’ll be in heaven. Foodgasm.
(Serious Eats)
Parker House Rolls // These buttery rolls = thebombdotcom. Hot out of the oven and oh so damn chewy and perfect. I don’t think its fair to the other rolls in this world. The John Dory’s Parker House Rolls are going to put the Pillsbury Dough Boy out of business.
Parsley & Anchovy Toast // Parsley explosion in my mouth! Will loves anchovies, and I love parsley, so this super delicious toast worked for us. With parsley and anchovies, you know you’re going to get some intense flavors and a heavy dose of sodium. Good. Well, this green stuff looks like pesto + parsley – basil, and it was incredible on a thick piece of warm country toast.
Razor Clam Ceviche // The Razor Clam Ceviche was phenomenal. I ADORE razor clams, but I’ve only ever had them grilled or sautéed. Needless to say, this ceviche was a super special treat. Subtly marinated, the meat was incredibly delicate, refreshing and silky to boot. I could eat this all day long.
Octopus with Potatoes and Aioli // This octopus very much epitomized the thick and chewy texture we’ve come to associate with this 8-legged creature. Its spicy and creamy flavors are tame, yet vibrant enough to leave your taste buds happy. The meat was pretty tender, although I’ve had octopus that almost doesn’t taste or feel like octopus (more like squid).
(Ultraclay)
Malted Chocolate Ice Cream with Honeycomb // Yes. YES. YES!!! This dessert reminds me of an Herbal Essences commercial. It makes me want to roar (as a Fatty Kat would). The chocolate ice cream is rich, dark and very chocolatey. Ah! And the honeycomb is brittle with a hint of caramel. Oh! And the chocolate sauce. YES!!! I love the drastically different textures and flavors that make up this dessert. Foodgasm.
As you see, The John Dory is perfect. I mean…there are mini aquariums in the restaurant! What’s not to love?
Next Time // Nantucket Bay Scallops, Maine Lobster Chowder, Chorizo Stuffed Squid with Smoked Tomato and of course, more Parker House Rolls
Chelsea // 1196 Broadway (at 29th Street in the Ace Hotel)
212-929-4948
Eclectic, Seafood
$$$
Bar Seating, Specialty Cocktails, “The Scene,” Notable Chef (April Bloomfield), Late Night Delight
Reservations
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