The Smile - New York

My friends and I attended the special event featuring chef Jay in the kitchen, and it was an excellent evening. The staff provided exceptional service, and the food was outstanding! We are eagerly anticipating the next time he is back in the kitchen.

Sorry to discover that this place has gone downhill. The food was always simple and easily recreated at home, but it’s gone from dishes you might encounter at a stylish friend’s casual dinner party to things you’d get from a home cook who really doesn’t care about food: a mezze plate of bland hummus with dull carrot sticks, a mushy mixture of overcooked quinoa and soggy vegetables with canned chickpeas and a chalky poached egg, etc. I’ve never written a review of a restaurant before but this was really disappointing. And the service was indifferent verging on irritable.

I ordered the sesame bagel with egg, Black Forest ham, and gruyere cheese. Unfortunately, the bagel was stale and I should have asked for a replacement. The waiter did not check in to see if everything was okay or if we needed anything.

This hidden gem restaurant offers a diverse and delicious menu. We tried the special appetizer of scallops with lentils, which unfortunately only had two scallops that were not very fresh. However, the lentils were flavorful and saved the dish. Despite informing the waitress about the issue, she only smiled and did not relay our message to the kitchen. The balsamic roast half chicken was juicy and tender. We will definitely return to this favorite spot in the future.

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve experience! The food was amazing, especially the scallops! Would recommend this place!