Nook Bistro (brief review)

I called them Wednesday and asked for a reservation Friday night between 6:15 and 6:30 so we could make it to the theater on time ("Take Me Out" at the Brentwood, yet another Geffen Playhouse P.O.S.). Brian said they weren't taking reservations because they anticipated huge crowds after SIV's mini-review Thursday. Obviously he was right, because when we arrived at 6:25, he apologized for having given our table away and was kind enough to give us the next one that opened up, though it was wobbly and he wasn't able or willing to spend the time to fix it and it remained wobbly throughout our meal. The atmosphere is industrial NYC studio loft; nothing has been done to personalize it or give it a hint of charm.

We decided on the crispy calamari and the ginger salmon. Um, well, our server apologized, the crispy calamari "isn't ready yet." And they're out of the ginger salmon. The mom on our left indicated her family had wanted the calamari too. Later on, the woman on our right was turned down, and not just on the calamari or the salmon but a third dish as well. I'm really sorry, the man said again, we didn't expect this many people. Well, did they or didn't they?

We finally decided to split the chicken paillard ($12) and the mushroom-dusted albacore ($17). The albacore is served with lentils and pea tendrils in an unusual mint-green-colored sauce. It doesn't look or taste quite the way fish should. There's something very pallid, oddly textured and airplane-y about it.

The chicken dish is better in terms of the chicken itself. But the "smashed bliss potatoes" aren't blissful; they're beyond forgettable and not close to worth the calories. And the sauteed rapini is undercooked to the point of fibrousness, by which I mean not only difficult to cut and to put together any kind of a sensible bite, but difficult to chew and actually almost conducive to choking.

It's probably too soon to write Nook off. Hopefully this was just a really bad day. But from what I could tell, SIV reviewed it a few months too soon. (And hard to find it's not; there's a huge sign with an arrow right out front, in the only corner in the mini-mall; it is called Nook, right?) At this point, though, Nook is not ready for prime time.

[recovering_vegetarian]

What a shame. I actually loved Nook when I went (which was, for the record, much more recent than most of these reviews) and I think I even prefer it to Violet. While the latter's small plates always leave me a bit hungry, Nook's portions and flavors left me fully sated. The chicken Caesar with fried capers was one of the best we've ever had (we're connoisseurs), and the braised shortrib over mash was rich and decadent. I also really recommend the savory bread pudding with shiitakes and gruyere -- sooo good! Halfway through dessert (chocolate pot de creme), we saw the couple next to us receive the most perfect-looking mac & cheese, and we swore we'd return soon to try it. Yes, the decor is stark (exposed ceiling, minimal adornments) but I actually liked it. It's all just a matter of personal preference, I suppose. We sat at the communal table and received excellent service. Nook may just become my new favorite neighborhood bistro.

[ElJeffe]

Have to agree with all of your comments. This place has had major buzz, and we had very high expectations when we gave it a shot. Lively atmosphere, hip crowd, educated server, but the food disappointed. The Bistro burger looked amazing but ended up being just decent. Much better gourmet burgers to be found. The salmon entree was lacking in flavor, and just didn't work well together as a dish.

At the end of the day, a decent meal, but neither of us had any interest in going back. We're dying for good, mid-price bistros, having lived in San Francisco where they are a dime-a-dozen, but have yet to find many we would return to. After giving Nook a try, we're still searching....

[hrhboo]

I agree with you. I find Nook massively overrated and think that Violet is far superior in terms of food.

[ElJeffe]

I've heard very good things about Josie. Any thoughts on that place?

[hrhboo]

I've only been a couple of times and I like it well enough. In that price range, I prefer Jar or Grace.

[a_and_w]

Wow...I totally disagree, though I like Violet, too. If you ever find yourself back at Nook, try the spicy gulf shrimp with grits and chorizo. I'm not usually a seafood guy, but this was spectacular.

[hrhboo]

That dish sounds very good! I will absolutely order it when I'm next there.

Having eaten there prior to the review and the resultant seige, I must say that this restaurant is much better than any of the comments offered here. This is not an excuse for the way you were treated, yet they had endured a long stretch without any wine license, then when they finally got it, the crowds picked up, yet how could you plan on the crowds that apparently showed up.
It is not trying to be a warm/fuzzy/cozy spot, and anyone looking for that has many options elsewhere on the west side. It is trying to be a casual drop-in spot serving good food at any time, in a comfortable yet semi-industrial loftish setting. If that is not what you are looking for, go elsewhere. Their act will come together, and soon.

I had a very different experience at lunch there early in the week (before the SIV review).

I agree that the peanuts are gross and tasted like beans. Not something to be eaten with your hands or come to think of it not something to be eaten at all.

I asked what the soups were and was intrigued by the chicken mole soup. The waiter offered to bring me a espresso cup of it to taste and I agreed. It was delicious and so I began with the chicken mole soup, which was somewhat of a stew. Yum.

Then I had the Nook burger with french fries. They substituted manchego cheese for the cheese normally on it. It was a nice burger but so big that it was hard to eat. Quality meat and cooked medium rare - as ordered.

I had a mint lemonade - which was very green in color - it looked like I was going to drink some awful veggie puree but it was refreshingly minty lemonade - a nonalcoholic mojito on steroids.

Service was friendly and effecient - very welcoming and professional. A positive experience. I'd go back, but based on the other posts I will wait a couple of weeks until they settle in.

[TBird]

we went friday night and they were out of their hamburger. how does a place run out of hamburger?

Based on our visit of a couple of weeks ago I am in agreement with your review of the food. Since we went before Sherry sang their praises we didn't have to endure the crowd or the wobbly table, but we also found the decor a bit on the stark side. We had very warm and accomodating service when we went with the staff ready to spend time discussing anything you had in mind as to how to improve things. At that time my suggestion was never serve the curry soaked peanuts in the shell to anyone unless they were trying to get rid of them.

I also think it is too soon to say that they can't get their act or their food together. But, based on my one visit to Violet the other night, Violet is clearly in the lead between the two places, (with the understanding that Violet is a bit more on the $$ side).

Agree 100%, including about those ridiculous peanuts.

We had a similar experience on Friday night. When we arrived Brian was busy turning people away at the door, telling them there was at least a 30 mins wait. We decided to put our name on his list anyway and left our cell # (just like they do in Paris) and no sooner had we returned to the car, the phone rang. A table had magically materialized and we could be seated. Nook, as SIV warns, is wedged in the corner of a mini-mall but the huge neon sign makes it easy to find. Just like the space, we were wedged in between diners, so close to the other tables you couldn't help but overhearing everyone's conversations.

Joe, our server, clearly had his attention elsewhere. We ordered our drinks and made sure to ask for white sugar (of course he'd never heard of simple syrup) for the iced tea. When the tea finally arrived, the sugar did not. Ten mins later we asked again for the sugar and Joe snapped..well, most people don't use sugar anymore! When we ordered, Joe apologized that they were out of calamari (after all, we didn't expect so many people tonight), they were out of french fries (they're peeling potatoes but they won't be ready for awhile), etc. etc. With the glowing praise from SIV the day before, they should have expected throngs of people! The wine ordered wasn't cold yet. I chose the mushroom soup (a special at $3) which lacked flavor and my friend had the NZ mussels with sausage and tomatoes. The mussels ($10) were good and sauce was tasty. After getting to know our seatmates (I think we were sitting next to one of Nook's investors...the sold-out calamari magically appeared for him and his date), our entrees appeared. My flatiron steak ($18) was good, especially with the garlic butter slathered on top) but the smashed potatoes (substituted for the absent fries) were tasteless and boring. My friend enjoyed his snapper with beets, green beans and fennel and an orange soy reduction ($17). When we asked about dessert, Joe informed us that they were out of everything except the bread pudding. We passed.

The space is indeed very NY loft-like (and noisy). My friend thought more "cosmopolitan" than Violet, but we both agreed that overall, we like that place better. I hope the Nook kitchen realizes that they will be extra busy tonight....they'd better start peeling those potatoes now!

Great report.

One more comment about the signage: How much cooler it would be NOT to have a huge sandwich-board-like sign out front but just that one barely perceptible arrow on a narrow strip of siding overhead. At least then there'd be a little bit of charm or mystery to it.

Even my beloved R-23 lost some of its charm when it put the sign at the entrance to the alleyway, though in its case most of the charm and mystery come from the moderate difficulty of finding the alleyway in the first place, since most of us Westsiders would never otherwise be on that stretch of land.

Just goes to show that one person's "charm and mystery" is another's much needed direction.

I posted some months ago recalling a Lou Grant episode in which the paper's reviewer praised a restaurant. The place couldn't handle the resulting crowds, and went to hell.

Some 'Hounds mocked me. How could a positive review harm a restaurant, they asked.

This is how.

On the other hand, going to a restaurant immediately following a rave review -- even one by S. Irene -- is like going out for Mother's Day or Thanksgiving. You sort of deserve what little attention and poor food you get as a result of the crowd.

Give 'em another chance, after all the foodies move on to another discovery,

Concur. I was surprised that so many 'hounds fell into this trap...we don't chase reviews, we WRITE them! :-)

In fairness to the OP, I did say I made the reservation before I knew anything about SIV's piece. And a positive review from as useful a contrary indicator as SIV would generally drive me away.

And we went at least two weeks before Sherry ever sang their praises.