In search of scallops...
Hi everyone,
Am grabbing dinner with a co-worker next week, and he's suggested we find good scallops. Cuisine type (Italian, Vietnamese, etc) can be anything - we both enjoy/eat everything - as long as the scallops are knock-your-socks-off, out-of-this-world good. Only other specifications are that it be in the city and a work appropriate venue. Any recommendations? Thanks a bunch!
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By way of response to all the suggestions, I finally settled on Little Owl for scallops. It was unfortunately booked the night I needed to go and had a 2.5 hour wait for the walk-in tables, so we ended up at Market Table down the street. I've noted this restaurant has gotten good but maybe not stellar review on this board. I really enjoyed the meal there, and the scallops were lovely. I'd definitely have a meal there again - we elected for the scallops and gnocchi appetizers and lamb shank and the fish of the day for entrees - but I have lot more places to try first! Thanks again for all the recs.
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Hi amymbell,
Almost every restaurant has some version of scallop dish and it is quite hard to screw up these delicate creatures unless they are overcooked. Adorned or by itself, scallops have been one of my favorite seafood as well. There are a few places that I always have good luck of getting great scallops dishes:
Jean Georges - scallops with mustard emulsion - great flavor though I have to complain about slicing the scallops to smaller pieces
EMP - their preparation of scallops change quite often, and among versions that I have tried:
- scallop sashimi with lobster and tangerine,
- scallops topped with uni, scallop with watermelon broth,
- seared scallop with grapfruit "cubes", etc.
had always been nothing but mind-blowing and delicious. The presentations were so artful that I hated myself for eating the scallops (though I never regretted after I ate :P) However, I recall only seeing scallops as appetizers and never as a main on its own, and the portion sizes are quite small.Maze at London Hotel (By Gordon Ramsay) - they have a scallop dish that is always on the menu: Hand dived sea scallops roasted with spices, golden raisin purée and cauliflower beignets - the juicy scallops work perfectly with the sweet raisin puree, and the spiced cauliflowers (fried?) added a whole new dimension. This dish is probably my favorite at Maze and I will go back just for this dish.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon serves a scallop on shell with seaweed butter - simple yet decacent. If they use a even better grade of butter, then this dish would be perfect.
I recalled having great scallops at Cafe Boulud, Craft, and of course, Sushi Yasuda. Their versions were more minimalist with little condiments (Cafe Boulud's had roasted corn I recalled).
Too many choices, too little time!
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Scallops are my favorite seafood, and unfortunately I eat way too few of them. There are great scallop appetizers at Market Table and Little Owl (also Dressler in Brooklyn). Aquagrill is good for a main course scallop.
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re: Lucia
MMRuth
Apr 8, 2008 11:14 AM
I didn't post this originally for the OP, b/c I didn't think a sushi place would fit the bill, but I had some beautiful scallop sushi at Sushi Jun this weekend - was less excited about some other things - haven't posted my review yet!
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Sushi Jun
302 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019 -
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Hi amymbell,
I think more specifications will actually help. Do you prefer any cuisine? Price range? Since you are looking for specifically scallop dish, I assume you want a la carte and not tasting / prix-fixe menu?
What exactly did you mean by "work appropriate" venue? Do you mean quiet or do you need to use your laptop or something?
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re: kobetobiko
Truly no preference on cuisine. By work appropriate, I meant something that's good for conversation and showing up dressed in a suit, but not for laptops.
Flexible on menu - if the scallops are part of the appetizer, main course or tasting menu, I'm indifferent. As long as they're good! Thanks for the response.
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