The Breakdown
Location: 115 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10016
Cuisine: International
Items: 1 salad, 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 side dishes, 3 cocktails, 1 Dessert
Best Dish: Buccatini Carbonara and our new favorite tequila cocktail the “El Aviador”
Price: $135 with 20% tip
Overall: Nature inspired decor promotes a relaxed comforting atmosphere in this “Curry Hill” gem. A cozy space, perfect for a dinner with friends or a relaxed date night. A quiet laid back in one of the worlds noisiest cities, so leave the loud adults and rambunctious children at home. They wouldn’t appreciate the ambient lighting and soft jazz anyway.
Surrounded by a swarm of NYC’s best Indian and middle eastern restaurants lies The Three Hens. A flavorful slice of Americana featuring a heady assortment of classic American cuisine with a global flair. The dishes in this east side eatery range in influence from European to Asian, but all maintain a standard in quality and freshness. The seasonal menu for Three Hens consists of only seasonal vegetables, organic eggs, and locally sourced goods wherever possible. The floor to ceiling windows that cover the bulk of the space mimics the openness of a sidewalk cafe without all the pollution.
We started our evening out with a round of specialty cocktails,” The Bourbon Cream Soda” and the “Spicy Cola”. The venue features a full bar with a mixologist who can mix whatever you like, but it’s always best to go with the specialty or suggested cocktails wherever you dine. The Bourbon cream soda contains no cream soda and instead recreates the flavor and texture using Bourbon, Benedictine, Ginger ale and Egg Whites. This is one surprisingly smooth mixture that packs just enough punch. The Spicy Cola is a feisty rendition of the tried and true “rum and coke”. The mix contains a black cherry vodka, spiced rum, and Fresno Chilis.
Next up we sampled a simple arugula salad drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette and served with warm Bucheron cheese tomato confit and dried cranberries.
We couldn’t resist the temptation of the lamb ribs appetizer. The ribs are glazed in a sweet spicy sauce and served on a bed of delicious saffron rice. Portioned to share this was a great start to the evening. The ribs were juicy and succulent, and the glaze just lightly sweet with a little kick.
The Lamb Burger is a serious must have. The texture and juiciness of the lamb is a surprising rival to the Infamous Kobe Beef. This isn’t just any old burger, the meat was moist and the buttery roll a perfect complement. Served with a generous helping of white or sweet potato fries and spicy citrus mayo, it was one great burger. You simply have to give it a try.
If you have only one pasta dish this year let it be the “Buccatini Carbonara”. The hollow spaghetti-like noodles did an amazing job of soaking up the rich creamy sauce. The sauce is accented by bits of crispy prosciutto and Parmesan. An amazing and filling concoction you will dream of long after the last bite. This dish came highly recommended and for great reason, it is simply divine.
Though most of the dishes available come with a complimentary set of sides you may also want to compliment your meal with some additional morsels. We opted for the sautéed spinach and mac and cheese. These simple staples are prepared to order and embody the freshness and homestyle cooking chef Stephan Smiley strives for.
We followed the pasta with another cocktail. “El Alviador” is a surprisingly light tequila mixture. As someone who rarely drinks tequila in anything other than a quick shot glass, I was pleasantly surprised by this aromatic stunner. Silver Tequila, Créme De Violet, June Elderflower, Lemon Juice combine into an attractive and refreshing drink. It is only served by the mixologists at “The Three Hens”
We ended our evening with a helping of the Tiramisu. The traditional confection is a rich, creamy chunk of pure pleasure.
Having been open for just a few short months the space has undergone transformations that most don’t experience for several years. The cuisine gets better every time as each chef adds his/her unique spin to American comfort food. Chef Smiley’s menu is filled with delectable edibles that must be experienced. A sampling of familiar favorites served with the flair of a world traveler. Smiley has been classically trained in French, Italian, Mediterranean, American, Pacific Rim, Caribbean, Southwestern, Mexican/Spanish, and California cuisines and it shows in the interesting and often surprising pairings on the menu. All in all “The Three Hens” is a great space for a quiet dinner with polite conversation, delicious food, and great cocktails. While it may be fine to bring the children I would leave them at home. The menu has tastes for even the picket palate but this is a more grown-up dining experience. The food here is made to be savored not smothered in ketchup and played with. Drop on by have a cocktail and enjoy a more mature night on the town.
5 comments
Read about The Three Hens….. http://t.co/FxtCyKPO
Read about The Three Hens….. http://t.co/3y22wvPr
Review: The Three Hens Restaurant: The Breakdown Location: 115 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10016 Cuisine : In… http://t.co/CaBwfEC1
Review: The Three Hens Restaurant: The Breakdown Location: 115 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10016 Cuisine : In… http://t.co/VYGaYfzn
Review: The Three Hens Restaurant http://t.co/G52TZRQX #JohnSimonDaily
Comments are closed.