Alison C.
Yelp
My brother graciously treated me to a rooftop dinner at Hudson Table, which included a stellar menu by Chef Koray Karakilic and music by James Calleo, one of my favorite local artists. While we had eaten in the street-level cooking school and restaurant previously, this was our first time on the roof. When the elevator let us out on the penthouse, we walked out onto the roof and were floored by the fabulous views of Hoboken, the Hudson River, and the Manhattan skyline. The dining time was perfect, as the sun was just beginning its descent.
The hostess took our names and escorted us to a table at the far end of the space, with prime views of the culinary team prepping the meal and James strumming his guitar. The adventure started with Scallop Crudo, which was elegantly sprinkled with blood orange, yuzukosho, pickled mustard, avocado mousse, and forbidden rice crisps. The scallops were thickly-sliced width-wise and had a pillowy texture. The dish had notes of citrus, which were contrasted by the pop from the mustard and the refreshing taste of the mousse. The black rice crisps added floral notes and a welcome crunch. The subsequent course was a platter of Roasted Brussel Sprouts, which were cooked through but thankfully not charred. The sprouts were served over a tart meyer lemon aioli and plated with shaved breakfast radishes and aromatic nasturtium flowers. Next came a Butter Lettuce Salad, which was kicked up with slices of avocado, crescents of Persian cucumbers, shiso leaves, pickled strawberries, shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, and a cool orange champagne vinaigrette. Initially, this was the dish I was least interested by, but all of the carefully curated toppings changed my thought process. In particular, the pickled strawberries were sweet, zesty, and extremely unique.
From there, the meal progressed on to the main entree, a Beef Stew that had been braised in red wine, making the meat so tender that it melted in our mouths. The stew included perfectly cooked cavatelli and a rustic, roasted pumpkin purée, which was a great way of celebrating the end of the winter season. The pumpkin was a well-suited compliment to the beef, both of which were further enhanced by hints of cinnamon. Lastly, we were presented with the dessert, the first course that was plated individually, rather than family-style. A warm brownie was creatively studded with macadamia nuts, offering a creamier, more subtle flavor than the traditionally used walnut. The gooey treat was topped with macerated raspberries and a scoop of vanilla creme fraiche ice cream, which reminded me of sweet cake frosting. It really was an elevated version of a classic dessert.
The Chef stopped by throughout the meal to chat and hear our feedback, which we truly appreciated. Our server was also very accommodating and gracious - opening our wine (Hudson Table is BYO!), getting us blankets when the night air became too much for us, etc. Plus, James Calleo was as enjoyable and talented as always.
From the excellent food and service, to the superb view and musical accompaniment, it was a magical and engaging evening!