Boulud Sud, Daniel Boulud’s latest restaurant, is devoted to the flavors of the Mediterranean. It’s on the Upper West Side, and so a great place for a pre-theater dinner before a show at Lincoln Center. The rabbit porchetta, below, is a lovely starter.
The restaurant is sleek, with clean lines and a little bit of an airport-70s feel — in a good way.
I think, though, that Boo and I were the youngest diners in the restaurant by quite a margin.
We shared a few small plates. The rabbit first among them. Then, grilled shrimp:
Linguine with razor clams and bottarga:
Octopus with Marcona Almonds, Arugula, Jerez Vinegar:
All the dishes were vibrant — as fresh as spring peas, even though we’re in the middle of August. The flavors were clear and succinct and yet playful. Bravo.
Unfortunately, I did not take notes on our dessert. But I do remember it being a fruit dessert rather than chocolate, because Boo was shocked — shocked — that she was a big fan of something that wasn’t chocolate.
Big fan, indeed.
The 411 on Boulud Sud: The famous French chef Daniel Boulud has an enormous restaurant empire these days, and Boulud Sud is his latest New York addition. On the Upper West Side, it’s convenient to Lincoln Center, and has the crowd to match: you won’t find the hipsters here. The food is fresh and clean with vibrant flavors and creative plating. The setting doesn’t get in the way. 20 West 64th St., Manhattan. 212-595-1313; danielnyc.com/bouludsud.
