how i love you

I'm just going to copy and paste a review I wrote for NYU's student newspaper of this restaurant...but Perilla is just a GREAT place to be and you should all definitely go there.

 


In September, my mom flew to New York with me to help me move into my dorm. While she was here, she asked me to make a reservation at a restaurant called Perilla. I was impressed by her sudden interest in the New York dining scene - I've always loved food, but she never has. Only later did I find out that the only reason she wanted to visit was because the restaurant was opened by the winner of "Top Chef."

I went to the restaurant unexcited and expecting a mediocre meal. My mom just wanted to stalk Harold Dieterle, the chef, and I was not at all interested in that. But I was surprised: Perilla was excellent, and I've been back several times.

One of my favorite items on the menu is the Red Lady Apple Salad ($11), seasoned with a biting walnut vinaigrette. The bleu cheese is the perfect addition to this dish.

I usually follow that up with two or three side dishes in lieu of an entree; these are among the best items on the menu. The flavor of the creamy, artichoke risotto ($10) always lingers in my mouth, leaving me begging for more long after my plate is cleaned.

Also not to be missed is the side of edamame falafel ($8). Using edamame instead of simple chickpeas makes the dish remarkable. Dieterle jazzes up the falafel even further with a light, subtle and delicious lemon-tahini sauce.

If you're in the mood for a full and satisfying dinner, start with the spicy duck meatballs ($13). Paired with a quail egg, they're heavenly. Then go for the tender hanger steak ($27). The meat is perfectly seasoned and absolutely delectable.

Dessert is always delicious at the restaurant. The available items change seasonally but are consistently inventive and tempting. One of my favorites is the dark chocolate cherry compote tart ($9), which perfectly blends the tangy cherry flavor with chocolate. A new dessert I love is the frozen milk chocolate mousse ($8). After I eat this dish, which was inspired by s'mores, I sometimes feel I could die of happiness.

There are only 18 tables at Perilla, and most of them seat only two diners. Go with a group of three to six friends and you'll get a larger, much more private table.

Months after my first dinner at Perilla, I've tried dozens of other restaurants in the city, but I've never had a better overall dining experience. Critics of the restaurant complain it is overrated and that the menu is too minimalist and boring. But the simplicity and low-key atmosphere of the restaurant, modestly tucked away on quiet Jones Street just above Bleecker, are part of Perilla's appeal.

Dieterle has gladly given up his role as high-wattage reality star. Everything about his restaurant is effortlessly elegant, from the unobtrusive yet attentive wait staff to the warm and soft lighting, and even the clean and simple menu. Perilla exemplifies class in every way.

Even if you're not a "Top Chef" fanatic, don't miss the restaurant. But if you are, all the better. I've seen Dieterle leave the kitchen and come into the restaurant on several occasions to talk to dining fans - fans like my mom."

 

Perilla
9 Jones St. (bet. Bleecker & W. 4th St.)
New York, 10011
Tel: (212)929-6868

  Add a Comment

0 Gobbls  

Post a Comment

Already have an account? Sign in.

Choose your identity (required)

Name:		or
E-Mail:
Make me Anonymous
Anti-Spam: 10 divided by 5 equals