I'm so sick of testing out sub-par restaurants. Everywhere I've been lately has been good, but none of it has been exceptional. Am I spoiled? Have I refined my palette too much? Or, have I become a snob?
I don't know.
What I am beginning to notice is that New York, especially Manhattan (I would agree with anyone that argues Brooklyn is otherwise) is more of a restaurant culture than it is a food culture. The difference?
In the restaurant culture extremely focused on well designed, trendy and cool establishments that are accompanied by young, hipster and somewhat good looking wait staff to complete this very hip vibe. The food is beautifully presented, french fries and chips in tins, clean white plates, and modern glassware on rustic tables and chairs with hipster looking walls and bars. The restaurant is created for the scene and sometimes it seems as though there is more invested in the decor and the vibe than in the actual food and ingredients. Don't get me wrong, the design and the restaurant's atmosphere is a huge part of the experience, especially for me, but where is the food quality? Where is the fresh food? Where is the meal that isn't buttered to the bone and fried in tons of oil that leaves diners feeling heavy, full and ultimately unsatisfied?
I don't know.
What I am beginning to notice is that New York, especially Manhattan (I would agree with anyone that argues Brooklyn is otherwise) is more of a restaurant culture than it is a food culture. The difference?
In the restaurant culture extremely focused on well designed, trendy and cool establishments that are accompanied by young, hipster and somewhat good looking wait staff to complete this very hip vibe. The food is beautifully presented, french fries and chips in tins, clean white plates, and modern glassware on rustic tables and chairs with hipster looking walls and bars. The restaurant is created for the scene and sometimes it seems as though there is more invested in the decor and the vibe than in the actual food and ingredients. Don't get me wrong, the design and the restaurant's atmosphere is a huge part of the experience, especially for me, but where is the food quality? Where is the fresh food? Where is the meal that isn't buttered to the bone and fried in tons of oil that leaves diners feeling heavy, full and ultimately unsatisfied?
I'd say this was pretty much my experience at The Dalloway.
And honestly, none of the food was bad or terrible, it never is at these places. I'm just coming to realize the sub par food at trendy and write-up restaurants is surprisingly more ubiquitous than one would believe and which, most importantly, brings me to the subject of this post.
And honestly, none of the food was bad or terrible, it never is at these places. I'm just coming to realize the sub par food at trendy and write-up restaurants is surprisingly more ubiquitous than one would believe and which, most importantly, brings me to the subject of this post.
The Food at The Dalloway
It comes in small portions, and when I say small, it's extremely small and for the same price as standard portioned food. It's meant to be tapas style, as the waitress explained when we mentioned our hunger after the first few dishes. This then entails ordering the entire menu because after each round of food (appetizer, main course), we were still famished.
One of the best items was the Persimmon Carpaccio (photo below) which I recently Instagramed and found to be an extremely cool concept and also tasting fresh and light.
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| Love this dish, it looks like art |
The flat bread pizzas were ok. The brussel sprouted salad with truffle oil wasn't my cup of tea but the sweet potato chips with garlic aoli were a favorite on our table. Essentially they were Terra chips reincarnated, and I think we all love Terra chips, but I'll give The Dalloway some more credit for claiming to create them on their own. The chipotle tuna was great and the mini smores at the end were a cute and gimmicky final touch.
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| Ahi Tuna |
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| Veggie Flatbread Pizza |
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| Sweet Potato Chips |
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| Brussel Sprouts Salad With Truffle Oil |
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| Mini Smores |
.JPG) |
| The Grilled Cheese *recommended |
Ambiance
It's pretty much that rustic vibe with hard wood tables, dimmed lighting and fire place-esque atmosphere, without the actual fire place of course. The brick walls and hipster type, mismatched pictures and "art" are scattered throughout the restaurant to compliment the rusticity. Essentially, it's that typical trendy vibe I mentioned earlier. There was some sort of loungy scene going on in the basement and honestly, if you aren't a lesbian I don't think this is really where the scene is at. If you are, then I'd recommend it. It seemed pretty happening actually.
Some Final Concluding Thoughts
The food was good, nothing special but nothing terrible. The ambiance was young and trendy but the food wasn't anything to rave and write home about. And to be completely honest, at the end of the meal we were all discussing which leftovers were waiting at home in our fridges. We left yearning for a fresh and light home cooked meal, or second meal of any sort, for that matter.
Some Final Concluding Thoughts
The food was good, nothing special but nothing terrible. The ambiance was young and trendy but the food wasn't anything to rave and write home about. And to be completely honest, at the end of the meal we were all discussing which leftovers were waiting at home in our fridges. We left yearning for a fresh and light home cooked meal, or second meal of any sort, for that matter.
Wait Time & Resos
Although we had a reservation, on a Wednesday evening there were loads of empty tables and mostly a drinks scene in the basement on a dark and wintry night.
Good For:
Dinner/snack with friends or a low key date.
Dinner/snack with friends or a low key date.
Don't come too hungry!!
The Dalloway
525 Broome St.
Between Thompson & Sullivan
(212) - 966 - 9620
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