dining out

after reading the tony reviews for top 10 burgers in nyc, i was very excited about going to market table with Q2 which had secured the #1 spot.. . but fortune would not have it. we were unable to score reservations or bar seats. instead, we decided to go to perilla... a restaurant started by harold dieterle, the winner from the first season of top chef and which has been on my "to-try" list for quite some time.

so instead of a burger, i got to feast on spicy duck meatballs, buffalo tataki, and roasted guinea hen. poor me, right?

the spicy duck meatball, was actually not spicy and quite a bit more mild than i was expecting- served with pasta and a tasty gravy with egg yolk reserved for dipping. while this app was well balanced and solid, it was not extraordinary. the buffalo was served in thin slices across a delicate bed of greens- surprisingly sublte flavors for what i assumed to be a gamey meat. the roasted guinea was the winner for the evening- amazingly succulent, fresh (i haven't eaten chicken so fresh since china in 2000), and as flavorful as duck. the hen was served with a persimmion sauce and on top of a bed of spaetzle that was a perfect blend of chewiness and crispness.

all in all, the dining experience was wonderful and warrants a second visit. while not every dish was a hit, the chef shows tremendous promise and talent. the atmosphere was cozy and laid back and the service was fine (not particularly good or bad).. . compliments to the chef!!!