Indulging at The Breslin Bar and Dining Room, NY

The goal for our date night was a simple one: go on and live a little. We have to, we’re parents, and we don’t get out much, alone.

And as dinner approached our ambition to fulfill this set goal let us right through the doors of The Breslin located in the trendy Ace Hotel.

As I walked into the crowded room full of sexy young things, with an air of artsy cool surrounding them, I wondered if, even without kids in tow, this would be my scene…being as I, myself, lack any level of cool artsy air. We requested a table and were told it would be a 45 minute wait. I looked at my husband, whose eyes were full of excitement for what was to come (food), in a place he had wanted so badly to come to (The Breslin). So we stayed and ordered mojitos at the bar, and before it was in my hands, the host informed us that a table had cleared. A heavenly gift?  Maybe. I hear you can wait forever for a table here, but we’re good people, so who knows. Someone loves us.

The decor of The Breslin reminds me European taverns: the interior dark wood, the large window panes throughout, the tin ceilings, all this complimented further by the sounds of easy conversations taking place over food and drinks.

We sat near the kitchen, where we were able to watch the hurried actions of those in charge of bringing us the “magic”. Forgetting my focus to go on and live a little, I ordered the Caesar salad with anchovies. Not a bad Caesar salad, but really? What was I thinking? My husband ordered the mussel soup with curry butter. Now, he was right on track. Words cannot describe what happened to my taste buds after tasting this soup. The explosion of flavors and spice made me regret my little salad choice, and I have still not forgiven myself for it.

So I threw caution to the wind and I next ordered the boiled peanuts fried in pork fat (oh yeah, I so went there!), and as main dishes my husband and I shared the char-grilled lamb burger with cumin mayo and thrice cooked chips and the smoked belly with mash potatoes. It was heavenly. No regrets.

And just like in a European tavern, where a community often comes together over chips and beer, our little row of tables came together over food and mojitos. “Ooooh, what is that?” asked one patron sitting next to my husband. “And what are you drinking?” asked another. “Isn’t it amazing?” “Did you try the oysters?” “Oh, I couldn’t eat another bite, but it was too good!” And on it went. And though I may lack the cool artsy air of most, what I don’t lack is an ability to bond with complete strangers anywhere over food, and that’s exactly what we did.

It was a wonderful culinary experience for sure, an indulgence in all that involves fried pork and an amazing house mojito. My next trip will include an order of their famous Terrine Board, a magnificent display of fabulously cooked and spiced pork, rabbit, or guinea hen to be devoured with the closest and hungriest of my friends, or maybe even take it a step further and have a big ol’ eating fest over their suckling pig dinner, which feeds about 10 to 12 people, has to be ordered 1 to 2 business days ahead of time, and costs $65 per person.

My hat and expanding waist belt are off to chef and owner April Bloomfield (of Spotted Pig) for her continued success in bringing all that is pork, creamy, fried, and amazing to us.

And if you are staying at the Ace Hotel, order room service from The Breslin…they’ll deliver. Have the salad if you must, but try a pork dish and a dessert dish too. Go on. Live a little.

The Breslin Bar and Dining Room

16 West 29th St

(Between Broadway and 5th Avenue)

New York, NY 10001

212-679-1939

Photos courtesy of The Breslin Bar and Dining Room.

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Tags: Date Night, food, nyc restaurants
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