GRUB: Craftbar, Colicchio’s New American needs more salt.

GRUB 411:

• CRAFTBAR (official website): 900 Broadway @ 20th Street, 212.461.4300
• TYPE: New American
• PRICE:  $$
• QUICKVIEW: For a “new American” restaurant, the menu caught my eye more than most, but unfortunately didn’t hold my attention.
• SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

FULL REVIEW:

The New Year’s Eve tradition for the past few years has been a low-key dinner with a small group of friends.  This year, we stepped up our dining destination by eating at Craftbar, Tom Colicchio’s staple restaurant in the Flatiron district.

I can’t believe — despite my love of Top Chef — that I’ve never eaten at any of the Colicchio haunts.  Unfortunately, being that my first visit there was during NYE with a party of 9, I wasn’t able to pay too much attention to all the intricacies of each person’s dish.

But it makes for some great food porn!

Overall, Craftbar is definitely a place I would re-visit, just go get a second opinion.  For a “new American” restaurant, the menu had me more curiously intrigued than usual.  The food was hearty, but definitely underseasoned, IMO.  My friend & I were constantly saying “needs more salt”.  Also, my dishes seemed to be a little one-dimensional — would have loved to have seen more flavor contrasts within a dish.

Service was friendly and accommodating, without being smothered in attention.

Here’s the Menu:

• Starters/Apps
• Entrees
• Dessert

Here’s a plate-by-plate Photo montage of our REALLY HUGE meal (keep in mind, there were 9 at dinner!):

APPETIZERS

• Polenta Fritters, Jalapeno, Golden Raisins.  $7. This was my app.  Truthfully I was a little underwhelmed; the fritters were a little dry on the inside, and the Golden Raisins made the entire fritter too sweet.  The Jalapenos were pickled, but they were also slightly sweet.  I would have liked some tang to balance it out.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

• Wild Arugula, Lemon, Parmigiano, Pine Nuts.  $12
  

• Fried Oysters, Cucumber, Old Bay.  $9

• Confit Pork Shoulder, Tomato Molasses, Smoked Pearl Onions.  $12

• PICORINO RISOTTO BALLS, Spicy tomato.  $7

• Salumi Assortment.  $20.

ENTRÉES:

• Branzino, Escarole, Cannelinni Bean.  $22.

• Beef Short Rib, Anson Mill Grits, Fried Egg, Shishito Pepper.  $24. Although I’ve been trying to limit my red meat intake, the Korean girl in me couldn’t possibly say “no” to Short Ribs!!  (and again, I think my unhealthy obsession with All Things Egg made me order this dish!)  The meat was beautifully braised, egg was heavenly, shishito peppers gave a nice depth…but it could’ve used slightly more seasoning to put it over the edge.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

• Pork Belly, Lentils, Black Currant, Spiced Endive.  $22.
  

• Skate Wing, Fingerling Potato, Sauce Gribiche.  $20.

• Dayboat Scallops, Cardoon, Lardon, Smoked Orange Purée.  $24.
  

• Black Angus Hanger Steak, Baby Shitake Mushrooms, Market Onion, Potato Purée.  $25.

DESSERTS

• Apple Pear Crisp, Cranberry, Golden Raisin, Maple Whipped Cream.  $10.

• Butterscotch Pot de Crème, Caramelized Apple, Crème Fraiche.  $10. This was my lovely dessert option.  I wish I had chosen the tart above.  The butterscotch was way too sweet, and the apples were not tart, so there was no depth or dimension — just SWEETNESS.  meh.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

• Olive Oil Cake, Cardamom Ice Cream, Pear, Sliced Walnuts.  $10.

• Vanilla Ice Cream Float, Boylan’s Orange Soda or Root Beer Soda.  $10.