The LES is still hot. Which is a bit of a miracle since they were hot last year and NYC hoods can get overplayed in a matter of weeks.
But maybe their scorch tab is under a new genre (please burn the speakeasy tab) – newbie eateries that are part concept – part just damn good.
Meet The Fat Radish. The place to go when your party includes broke-brilliant entrepreneurs, a few vegetarians, low-key trendsters, and lazy folk ready to drink one block after eating.
Opened only a few months ago, this exposed brick sanctuary is designed after the Covent Garden marketplace in London. (perfectly themed for that upcoming Royal wedding thing) Add some indoor shrubbery, au naturale seating and Mandarin wall graffiti (borders Chinatown) and you have yourself an LES gem, that’s finally not trying too hard. They even have a window-front cafe’ bar, which exudes an initial feeling of Euro-chill.
The veggie dishes were as superb as their meat. The roasted Brussel sprouts and duck were my favorites. And ending with chocolate -beet cake kicked in enough happy sedation to endure any bar line.
There was much waiting going on however, before, during……but this is NYC on a Saturday night, a holiday weekend.
I’m lucky OpenTable didn’t blackball me.
