Emma G.
Yelp
***3 1/2 stars***
I've been meaning to stop by here for a while now, as this is super close to where I work and has a very intriguing multi-floor, open air concept that sets it apart from some of the other nearby eateries. I visited yesterday for lunch - it was super quiet/laidback, as it was the day right before a holiday weekend. It usually looks decently crowded every time I walk by around midday, but most of the tables and bar area were empty and I was ushered over to one of the high-tops by the window immediately. Sadly it was super hot so the giant windows were closed, but I could have opted for outdoor seating if it were that important (it wasn't).
I investigated the menu pretty thoroughly earlier in the week and selected the Quinoa BBQ Short Rib Bowl ($19), along with the Broadstone Paloma ($15). The actual short rib portion was delicious. I feel like most places that offer short rib usually have it in the context of a super bougie entree so I don't end up getting it often, but I always enjoy it. The BBQ had a sweet zest to it, and the short ribs were super tender. A delight. I have an unapologetic texture-based palate, so I wasn't crazy about the peppers and the spinach leaves, but it's not like those ingredients weren't known to me ahead of time - on me. I mostly ate around them, but when they showed up in my mouth, it wasn't that upsetting. Everything tasted solid. I thought the toasted almonds might be an issue but they actually paired well with everything else in the bowl. And as for quinoa? To me it's in that same genre as chia pudding. I don't really understand why it exists since it's never the star of the show, but it's inoffensive and not a deal-breaker. I'm sure there's a really good character actor comparison I could do here but I don't feel like dealing with the hate mail.
My co-workers went out of their way to laud the drinks here, so I also visited the cocktail menu and ordered a Broadstone Paloma. Eh. As Palomas go, I honestly thought it tasted pretty blend. I'm guessing the bartender went a little light on the grapefruit juice and/or the tequila (I'm not a Paloma expert, but I feel like that's where a lot of the taste for that particular cocktail comes from). As a result, the rim was a touch overwhelming. You can see in the accompanying picture that it consisted of red pepper flakes or something similar, which is obviously a strong flavor. If the drink had matched it in flavor level, they would have complemented each other much better. It was refreshing though, and on a day where it was probably about 90 degrees or so in one of the more claustrophobic NYC neighborhoods, it definitely could have been worse.
I know a lot of people who are uncomfortable at the idea of going to a sit-down restaurant by themselves. Let me tell you - I have done it plenty of times at various establishments and I almost always get excellent, excellent service. Maybe the waitstaff is just more on their toes because I don't have a dining partner to talk to, but whatever the reason, this time around I had my lunch within 10 minutes, and the check probably two minutes after I started thinking about wrapping things up (so basically I telepathically requested the bill). So if you ARE someone who doesn't like the idea of a solo party, I assure you - restaurants do not look upon you with pity, thinking you're going to die alone; instead they up their game. The waiter and busboy were both on the ball and could not have been better. And the price point is comparable for the area. If you don't think you're going to part with at least one Jackson at a sit-down around here, you're probably better off bringing your lunch from home. Definitely going to give this another shot down the line, but probably would experiment with other parts of both the food and drink menus.