Sometimes a restaurant comes along that just seems to do everything right. That was very much the case on Friday when I finally paid a visit to Matt Levine’s newest restaurant, Sons of Essex.
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The Lower East Side hot spot has gotten numerous write-ups since opening about three months ago, but I could tell that that wasn’t why the place was packed with what seemed to be local New Yorkers who know a good thing when they see it. SOE is a deli in the front and cozy-yet-hip restaurant in back.
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The homey ambience was paired ironically-yet-perfectly with old-school rap playing in the background and a menu that had my wanting one of everything.
We browsed by munching on the complimentary corn bread and pickles.
We decided to split three dishes – truffle mushroom pizza (ultra thin crust pizza, fresh sheep’s milk ricotta, mascarpone & goat cheese, sautéed mushrooms, arugula, white truffle oil).
mac n cheese balls (fried chicken cordon bleu balls, blue cheese cream sauce).
..and “guss” grilled cheese (monterey jack & sharp cheddar cheese, sliced guss’ fried pickled tomato), served with tomato soup for dipping.
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To make a long story short - each bite was better than the last. I loved the modern twist on classic dishes, yet it still felt like we were eating rich comfort food. If I had to pick a favorite it would probably be the truffle pizza, which I haven’t really been able to stop thinking about since. We can’t wait to go back soon!
If you’re in NYC or plan on visiting I definitely recommend making a reservation now.
(Check out more of my favorite NYC restaurants here.)
What’s the best new restaurant you’ve been to lately? Best dish?
The food certainly looks delicious, yet another restaurant to put on my must-eat list for when I return home… I haven’t exactly eaten at any good restaurants recently, but I did get some Indian take out last night that was quite good. I miss New York restaurants!
You are so pretty
Food looks amazinggggg…!!
My favorite new restaurant was Uva, when I came up to visit good old NYC. I had a gnocchi dish that I’m still dreaming of 3 weeks later!
Losing Lindy says
That pizza looks so good!
So I hope you don’t mind if I do a bit of stupid self-promotion, but after hearing about SOE, I think you would love the restaurant the Half King. I wrote a review of it when I went around the holidays (<a href="http://www.foodbabyblog.com/2011/12/city-experiences/"😉 and I am still dreaming about my chicken and waffle.
It's a really great neighborhood kind of place, with great leather couches, a fun waitstaff, and interesting drinks. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.
And I totally messed up that html stuff. Here’s the real link http://www.foodbabyblog.com/2011/12/city-experiences/
All of those dishes sound fantastic!! Especially the pizza!
I went there a few weeks ago it’s amazing! If you go back with a big appetite try the lobster pot pie..super tasty.
Omg this looks amazing!! That mac and cheese and grilled cheese are making my mouth water!! I can’t eat fried food due to a health issue but if I could, those mac and cheese balls would be first on my list!
I am seriously drooling. Those all sound so phenom. Being a fellow New Yorker I am definitely very familiar with both Beauty and Essex and Essex (in fact I have brunch reservations at Essex in two weeks-you know what that means! 😉 ), so I will definitely be checking this latest one out. Those mac and cheese balls have my name all over them.