Parisian Tartines

After seeing a terrible movie at the Angelika, we strolled in the light evening rain to Tartinery on Mulberry St. to for a late night snack.

In the city of widespread reviews, there aren't enough re-reviews.
Once a place has been opened a year or two, no critic ever revisits to offer another review on maintenance of the restaurant and to reaffirm what was originally reviewed. Has the quality of the food improved since it first opened? Has it kept the decor in tip-top condition? Or has it lost the aura it originally had us all raving about due to a number of things such as lack of upkeep, change in ingredients and downgraded service?
When Tartinery first opened, it had a pretty positive four star rating via New York Magazine (Just a quick FYI, I do have respect for published ratings, unlike Yelp ratings written by anyone who has fingers to type and knows, sometimes, absolutely nothing about food and restaurant). A few years later, it would be difficult to agree with that opening four star review...

Ambiance

Today, I was in the mood to mix up the categories and start off with the ambiance and decor primarily because, in all honesty, I was more taken by the decor than the food. There was something unique and versatile about the small upstairs seating with blackboard menu's linning the walls and a downstairs that looks to the upper part of the restaurant. 

View from above onto the downstairs seating

Skateboard wall art and tree with Christmas lights at the downstairs seating

The basement walls are made of dark brick that hide cabinets of wine inside. 

Mini wine cellar inside the brick wall situated on the staircase

The decor was quite unlike many of New York's typical restaurant decor. The lighting is dim and there is a large tree bark wrapped with white Christmas lights in the center of the basement seating area. 

Another view of the downstairs seating area

The crowd is young, international and trendy. One table was seated with two young French guys adorning beards, flannel T's and lots of rings. Another was a large group of Norwegians and Americans. All young, all trendy, all the women in oversized tops, long straight white-blonde hair, lots of chunky jewelry and combat boots. The eye candy at this joint was more the reason to return. Although, many other spots in NoLita would afford you the same types of people to watch.

Tartinery feels a bit washed up. As if it's just going through the motions and isn't interested in up keeping it's vibe. It's been around less than five years, but it lacks the energy that keeps a place vibrant and young. 

This isn't the kind of establishment that would be going for the beat-up look.
The table legitimately needed some retouching.

I read on FourSquare that they ship fresh bread from St. Germain which had me so unbelievably excited and bringing me back to my time in Paris. That lasted until ten seconds later when the menu revealed the furthest Tartinery's bread would be coming from was Eli's Bakery on the other end of Manhattan. 

Food

Ratatouille, Smoked Salmon & Tuna Sashimi Tartines

Tartinery offers its diners with a number of tartines, flat breads topped with just about anything, along with a choice of three types of breads to act as the tartine base.

The smoked salmon tartine was, of course, my favorite after I picked off all the fresh dill pieces. The salmon quality wasn't the best but was not fishy, old or bland either. The tuna sashimi lacked any flavor whatsoever other than the heaping amounts of wasabi sauce. and the roasted veggies in the ratatouille tartine were rich in flavor and were paired quite nicely with the multi-grain Eli's bakery bread.

Ratatouille Tartine with Multi-Grain Bread

The food wasn't exceptional but was appropriate for a light meal or snack. I wouldn't bring a bunch of people back here for a rowdy and drunken night but would recommend it for a low-key and casual, but still looking to impress, third date. Or, if you're looking for a chilled night with friends.
It isn't really four star worthy, more like three and a half. But for people who aren't too picky and just want a good atmosphere, this works perfectly.
Because, like Paris, the vibe was just charming.

Wait Time & Resos

On a Sunday night in Soho the restaurant was half full and we were seated immediately. 

For the most part, I've swung by a couple of times and it never seemed like it would be too difficult to be seated. 

Good For: Light Meal, Light Dinner, Lunch, Friends, Low-Key Date. 

Location:

Tartinery 

209 Mulberry St.

(between Spring & Kenmare)

http://www.tartinery.com/

Nothing More English or More American, Mildreds

While meeting up with a friend in London's Soho, we stopped at Mildred's for a light lunch. 

The Food

It's funny how certain types of restaurants can be found just about anywhere. Mildred's may have the most English name out there, but its food and atmosphere were quite like certain types of very American clean-eating, hipster hubs in New York/LA. (Think Urth Cafe, Candle Caf, Bliss etc.). Mildred's is a vegetarian restaurant with food choices that may remind you of the whole foods salad bar while the warm entrees are more like a cross between New York's Candle Cafe and Westville. I know I know, I must post on these two spots and will do so soon!

Mildred's offers a number of entree specials and salad specials. All of the salad specials can be ordered together as one entree which was one of the things we ordered. The variety included snap peas, goat cheese, tomatoes, pomegranates and some sort of dandelion looking leaf, although I'm unsure of what it's called. The mix of salads all pretty much had the same dressing of olive oil, salt and pepper and could have used a bit more flavor. 

Market Salads

We all shared a hummus/babaganoush appetizer, which as you may, or may not, have come to realize, are two things I feel the need to order EVERYWHERE because I love them so much. 

The hummus and baba were both ok. For some reason, hummus never seems to excel in vegetarian restaurants but always manages to be on the menu. Not sure what that's about. I fall for it every time.

Hummus & Babaganoush

I was quite disappointed by the fact that they were sold out of a lot of their specials. We ended up sharing the baby aubergine (eggplant) and olive tagine. The tagine was savory with a hint of sweetness to it that had a great kick of big fat juicy green olives. I'd recommend the tagine and am upset that we weren't more hungry to try more stuff on the menu. 

Aubergine & Olive Tagine

Overall, the food was light, extremely fresh and, like I said, very Whole Foods-esque. It was not amazing but good quality and light. 

I'd definitely go back to try more of the entrees as the tagine dish was my favorite and some of the specials looked really great. 

Ambiance

Its located in the heart of Soho on a narrow street. It has a young and hipster vibe and the scene somewhat reminds me of Cafe Gitane, although not entirely. Gitane is probably trendier. I was there at an off hour and therefore could not totally grasp what types of crowds stroll in and out. 

Resos & Wait Time

Again, I was there at an off time and so we were seated immediately. It seems like it could get busy as the restaurant was more than halfway full at 4pm on a Wednesday. 

Good For: Lunch & Brunch with Friends, Possibly Dinner as Well,

Vegetarian/ Vegan

Mildred's 

45 Lexington Street 

London

http://www.mildreds.co.uk/