I've run up to NYC for a quick two nights of opera, musicals and the Tucker
Gala and since I'm staying at the one-year old VICEROY hotel in midtown, I
decided to try the restaurant in house called KINGSIDE (120 W 57th Street near
6th Ave). guess Saturday night in mid-town isn't the busiest time for
Kingside.
My server, Stacy, said it might pick up later, but that weekdays are
busier.
I settled into my cozy brown leather booth and was a bit dismayed by the
loud music. The décor here is quite nice with B&W tile floors and white tile
walls. There are cool chalkboards on the walls with quite wonderful drawings of
various vegetables (very Audubon-ish) which Stacy explained are redone
periodically. The lighting is deco-ish and muted and there are lots of votives
on the tables.
The bread is sesame seeded and warm and comes with a timbale of tomato jam
which tasted like pasta sauce panna cotta, an interesting flavor sure. The white
bean puree was a winner for sure.
The menu is simple with some crudos, small plates, large plates and salads.
I did not want a lot so I started with the amazing Shaved Kale with Goat Cheese,
Olives, Toasted Almonds and a superb Lemon Vinaigrette. I had a very nice
"quarto" (small carafe) of Tenuta Rapitala "Campo Reale" 2013 Nero d'Avola from
Sicily which worked with the lemon.
Next I went a whole different route based on Stacy's suggestion. The Crispy
Baby Artichokes are cooked to perfection and come with juicy lemon slices. All
it needed was some fresh pepper which was on the table. Two silly deep fried
slices of zucchini were not welcome with the crispy tangy veggies.
The Lobster Toast is a treat with four small squares of toasted brioche
topped with lobster salad with mustard seed, fennel and almost no binder; think
aioli gone very light. YUM.
A super cappuccino finished my meal, but I was not done for the
night.
I returned at midnight where Stacy was tending bar and had a post-opera
snack of a 1/2 dozen Chesapeake Oysters with a boring cocktail sauce, but superb
jalapeno mignonette and a novel marinated beef mignonette. A small plate of
Shaker Blue cheese was a treat which came with yummy port-roasted grapes.
Owen Roe(Yakima Valley, Wash) Rosa Mystica Cab Franc was an awesome wine
choice as well. Now, I was ready for bed.
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