Alison C.
Yelp
My friends and I were easily able to get a last minute table at Ainslie Bowery on a recent Friday evening, and once we arrived, I could see why. Though the place was packed, it was also sprawling with high ceilings and tons of space. The industrially-designed restaurant was also carefully constructed to ensure the place was not overwhelming loud. It was definitely a destination best suited for a large group and/or birthday experience.
The service was fine, yet nothing memorable, and the food was pretty much the same. Our part of 4 started with 2 market sides as appetizers, before moving on to individual main dishes. The Sauteed Baby Spinach with garlic and olive oil was very standard, yet well-executed. The Wood-Fired Beets with goat cheese and toasted almonds were also good, but not great. For my entree, I opted for the Pan-Roasted Branzino, which was cooked to perfection and exceeded my expectations. It was served over a warm Spring mixture of Israeli Couscous, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini, all in a white wine butter sauce. The broth skewed more towards butter than wine, but I still very much enjoyed it. It was also a generous portion at a reasonably-priced $27. I had paired my meal with the Spicy Like Me cocktail, which was a blend of Ilegal Joven Mezcal, Contratto Aperitif, white peach, lemon, and habanero. While I typically love spicy margaritas, especially those made with mezcal, I found that one too sweet and fruit juice-forward.
Ainslie Bowery offered a buzzing, young atmosphere perfect for a festive group meal on a Friday night, and the food was fine. Overall, I would say it was more of a place for the scene than anything else.