Two Gays Three Takes ..
Yelp
6.8/10
Dined on 7/27/24
Rooster and Owl's menu is seasonally driven with flavors that lean Asian but also incorporate other regional influences and cooking techniques. Carrying a Michelin star since 2021, we were anticipating a knockout meal. While we appreciated the diversity of the prix fixe menu, the starters and desserts were ultimately the strongest offerings. The rest ranged from fine to completely missing the mark. The plating and styling of the food, however, were consistently well done.
The cocktail list was well conceptualized but promised more than what was delivered.
The quality and quantity of the food for $95 per person felt like good value, but the meal was not impressive enough to warrant another trip over similarly priced options in the city.
Follow us on Instagram for our full review @twogaysthreetakes
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scallop crudo
strawberry, nuoc cham, katsuobushi
steak tartare
thai green papaya, mango, potato chips
english pea rangoon
green aioli, sweet pepper relish, calabrian honey
pork belly
corn pudding, braisel eel, succotash relish
spinach cavatelli
mushroom duxelles hon-shimeji, petit basque
kampachi
congee, ginger scallion, tempura crunch
chicken presse
roasted sunchokes, swiss chard, chicken jus
olive oil cake
semolina, cherry, mascarpone
chocolate ganache
devil's food cake, caramel, espresso foam
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On paper, Rooster and Owl had a lot of interesting dishes, but when actualized, most of them fell flat. This isn't to say we had a bad meal, but my overall impression was mid. We started strong with the steak tartare -- it was aggressively seasoned with a level of heat that actually packed a punch. The mango added some fruitiness and textural variation to round things out. The scallop crudo had potential, but the strawberry sorbet belonged on a dessert plate - it was cloyingly sweet and honestly spoiled what could have been a stand out dish.
The rangoon was a fun concept, but the wonton shell was greasy. Between the honey and the sweet pepper relish there was a need for some acid to lighten things up. The spinach cavatelli were perfectly cooked, although the 'everything but the bagel seasoning' garnish felt gimmicky and didn't complement the rest of the dish. The kanpachi was bland and frankly looked horrid on the plate - the ginger scallion condiment was absolutely delicious, but only a quarter sized serving made its way onto the fish. The other offerings were good, but ultimately forgettable. The desserts, however, were both strong and ended the evening on a good note. -TWP
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Rooster and Owl had components of a Michelin star-worthy meal, but everything just seemed a bit off. The service was attentive to the point of being hovering. The food attempted innovation, but the creativity was ill-conceptualized or was drowned out by other flaws. The sorbet on the scallop crudo was a miss--it was too sweet and overpowered a delicate ingredient. The aioli, relish, and honey on the rangoon were delicious, but were barely noticeable paired with steaming cream cheese in a not-crisp-enough wonton. The eel and pork belly terrine was a no--just too weird of a flavor combination. I could go on. Some stuff, especially the tartare, was quite good and I appreciate thinking outside the box, but ultimately there was just a lot that missed the mark. -JB