If you are like me. A little keen, a tad random and hungry for some of the best food in town, you would most probably not score any seats in any 3 Michelin starred restaurants in Manhattan. Restaurants like Daniel, Per Se, Jean Georges and co. will require at least 1-2 months booking in advance. But will you really miss out on much? Probably not. Whilst chefs like Daniel Boulud and Jean Georges still helm their 3 starred kitchens in the city, spinoffs like Perry St.by Jean Georges and dB Bistro Moderne by Daniel Boulud are usually less popular but equally rewarding.
Perry St. was my choice for a quick lunch and believe it or not, the restaurant offers a $28 for 3-course lunch all year round. I was really wow-ed by the generosity and pondered on whether the food was really up to scratch. Was it?
The usual formalities; Bread and butter. Decent for sure but nothing beats the truffled butter and bread at Tetsuya’s in Sydney.
The appetiser was a celebration of summer. Fresh mangoes, micro herbs, yuzu and La Tur cheese. A vibrant salad with great flavours.
Think ripe mangoes, strands of herbs, creamy cheese and a zing from the yuzu! It was quite nice. However, the thin slices of chilli did not really tickle my fancy and to a certain extent felt like an outsider rather than part of a family. The spiciness was minimal and it added a really raw flavour to the over all dish. Not the most pleasant taste! Maybe pickled chill next time?
My main course was the sole reason why I chose Perry St which was 4 miles from my place over dB Bistro Moderne opposite my hotel. The Perry St Fried Chicken. I have always thought of fried chicken as a comfort food served in a bucket and with the eater in shorts with sandals. I was wrong.
Tell, me that did not look spectacular! I loved every bit of the chicken that Perry St produced. It was not the most moist but the combination was flawless from start to end. The crispiest chicken ever made served with a lovely creamed corn, grilled okra and a spicy sauce. Exceptional. Nothing I disliked on the plate as everything worked really well on their own or together. Great stuff.
Dessert was a deconstructed lemon meringue tart. It was pretty nice but I found the presentation a little sloppy. But I think back and thought to myself, hmm $28 for a 3-course…. what am I even complaining about? Taste wise it worked but it did not quite have the complexity or thought like the appetiser or the main. Decent but nothing to shout about would be my final verdict on the dessert.
Perry St. was a great host to me that afternoon. A small price to pay for the attentive service and food I had. The food despite a the ups and downs was enjoyable least to say. Whilst some of my comments are a little harsh, I can tell that the majority would absolutely fall head over heels when presented with such food. The meals I wanted to have at 3-star restaurant for lunch would set me back at least $150 without tax and tips! So there you go, Perry St. where one gets luxury for a steal :)!
WenY
