I had heard about the opening of this restaurant and was so excited that there was another option in the theater district. We have spent a lot of time here over the last 25 years, and there has not always been a nice variety of restaurants. We have always stopped in Tremont or Ohio City first for dinner or drinks.
First the sign for the restaurant was great and easy to find....the front door not so much. That needs to be addressed. Last night they decided to just prop it open. We watched people pass it by and then turn around. I'm not sure how to fix that but...street level sign maybe?
The bar is tiny and situated strangely in the restaurant. The whole layout is quite strange. The bar does not really invite you in!
They have an interesting menu and drink and wine list. The bartenders initially were quite attentive...we did have to ask for bread, clean plates, new silverware, and motion for a second drink. It seemed like the 2 of them were not quite in sync. I have seen one bartender tend a larger bar and restaurant much more effectively. Perhaps that will come in time!
The Manhattans were good. They had one of my favorite wines too!
Now to the food....well the tapenade/flavored butter for the warm roll was great and flavorful...best part of the whole experience. The olive oil with 2 rosemary sprigs in had no real flavor. We ordered mussels which were cooked just right. We then had goat cheese stuffed calamari.....short on the cheese and very little flavor. I wanted to just cover the tempura batter in salt. I believe it was slightly under fried as it had a mushy quality to it. We then had the ahi tuna....nicely prepared and flavored.
I keep trying all these restaurants in this district and have yet to find one that is worth returning to....I like to spend my money and calories wisely. We will keep looking!