Our Experience at Ian: Bizarre but Fantastic!
My girlfriend and I went to Ian last night. The food was absoloutely perfect in every respect. Ahi poke was better than anything we have ever had in Hawaii. Her ribeye was perfectly cooked and exactly as requested (medium rare), accompanied by the Chef's "dirty" sauce which we loved. He is very good with flavors. My chilean sea bass was sublimely flavored and textured with just the right combination of tastes...complex yet not overwrought. Even the small touches like the bread were amazing. The server chopped fresh oregano in an olive oil confection that also included red pepper and garlic in which to douse the crispy bread. Lovely! My desert, a trio of Hawaiian Chocolate was original, distinctive, and not cloying.
Now for the bizaare part. The decor is cheap...hard banquette, industrial ceiling, etc. and incongruous...kind of middle eastern and doesnt suit the cuisine at all. The service, while attentive, is not professional enough for the quality of the food.
Overall, I would highly recommend Ian, and we plan to go back again soon. In a sea of overrated and overhyped restaurants in NYC, Ian really stands out.
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foodiegrl
Jun 28, 2006 04:15 AM
Bummer. They just closed!
I just received this in my inbox:
http://www.ianrestaurant.com/Thank You and Farewell
June 26, 2006
Dear Friends and Family of Ian,
I'd like you all to know how much I've enjoyed hosting you at Ian over the past three years. I've had the pleasure of expressing myself through my cuisine only because you, my treasured friends and gourmands, have shared my restaurant with me. Without your support, I couldn't have had the 3 best years of my life.
Due to the unpredictability of the restaurant business, Ian will close permanently on the evening of Tuesday, June 27th. I'd like to invite you to stop by for one final drink or meal on that night, and even if you're not up for a dinner, perhaps you'd like to stop by just to say hi. Join our friends and staff to celebrate these past three wonderful years and to toast to the future: yours and ours.
I look forward to sharing news of my next endeavor. I'll take advantage of all I've learned over the past three years to make the next restaurant a huge success. I look forward to both seeing you and cooking for you again in the near future.
On June 27th, we will open our doors at Ian at 5:00 PM and close at 9:00 PM for the last time. We look forward to you joining us for one last "Big Night."
Please visit us at this web page to learn of any updates or to contact us with the form below.
Warmly,
Chef Ian Russo and my entire staff
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