Category:
Seafood
Neighborhoods: Midtown West, Flatiron
I came here on a blizzardy day when many people were shoveling their cars out of their snow carapaces but all I had on my mind was devouring sweet, briny seafood freed from its shells. I had a brief 15-minute wait for a table when I arrived at 6:30 pm--enough time to have one of their house drinks at the bar with a friend.
My Spring Forward cocktail ($12), John Dory's riff on a Gibson, was so refreshing and ungodly good I almost wished our time at the bar were longer so I could savor another one. In place of the traditional cocktail onion garnish, it comes with a twig of spring onion that really highlights the herbaceous flavors of the icy cold bath of Plymouth gin. If you like Gibsons, you will love the Spring Forward.
When our "table" was ready, the hostess led us from the bar...to another bar--practically a copper railing near the window where we perched ourselves on stools. Sam Sifton complained a lot about the long waits at this no-reservations establishment but I don't think his NY Times review mentioned exactly how tiny, cramped and dark John Dory Oyster Bar is: Like one of the smaller rooms at Webster Hall but with an odd playlist of '80s tunes and less slutty outfits on the patrons.
The food redeemed any discomfort in our seating arrangement, which it well should with April Bloomfield at the helm and the prices they charge for her talent. The dishes are meant to be shared and for the two of us, our server recommended a total of 2-3 selections from the raw bar, crudo and bar snacks, plus 2-3 choices from the small plates list. Here's what we had:
- Nantucket bay scallops crudo ($14) - My favorite dish of the meal; the scallops were so fresh and pristine, they were like tender clouds that just melt in your mouth and burst with the flavor of the sea air on a chilly night.
- Razor clam ceviche ($11) - Another hit; whereas the scallops were largely naked, the razor clams had a lovely dressing that helped tenderize their delectable meat.
- Escarole salad with anchovy dressing ($8.50) - Zingy and refreshing; even my raging carnivore dining companion said this was one of the highlights of the meal.
- Oyster pan roast with uni crostini ($15) - Beautiful, plump oysters in an intensely rich, creamy broth; definitely tasty but the allure of the first few bites soon wore off. On the other hand, I wish there was more of the buttery uni slathered on the crostini, or at least an option to order just the crostini without the pan roast.
- Chorizo stuffed squid with smoked tomato ($15) - An ambitious dish that tasted of complexity and technique; the squid sits on a layer of creamy white beans but I think I'd reached my rich-creamy-buttery threshold by this point and I ate it out of duty more than joy.
Parker House rolls ($4) - Three hot, buttery rolls that were irresistibly soft and pillowy inside; I loved the sprinkle of coarse salt on the crusty top layer.
- Eccles cake ($8) - A bizarre dessert of boozy currants wrapped in hot, flaky pastry and served with a sliver of stinky blue cheese; I didn't love it.
If you're looking for a wine recommendation, I thought the Chenin Blanc paired really well with most of the dishes.
I would definitely go back to John Dory Oyster Bar to have another Spring Forward cocktail (or three), the scallops and escarole salad, then order more prudently to round out the meal. But first I have to save up some more clams.
Categories:
Mediterranean,
Turkish
Neighborhoods: Kensington, Flatbush
Listed in: This Is Why I'm Fat
Listed in: Yelp Elite Events
Category:
Dry Cleaning & Laundry
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category:
Local Flavor
Neighborhoods: Williamsburg - South Side, Williamsburg - North Side
Listed in: Yelp Elite Events
Listed in: This Is Why I'm Fat, Places Where I've Had Good…
Category:
Local Flavor
Neighborhoods: Midtown West, Koreatown, Midtown East
Listed in: Yelp Elite Events
Category:
Barbeque
Neighborhood: Fort Greene
Category:
Diners
Neighborhoods: Hunters Point, Long Island City
Listed in: This Is Why I'm Fat
Listed in: The Plush Life
"food-obsessed word nerd"
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Review votes:
2008 Useful, 2021 Funny, and 1764 Cool
Brooklyn, NY
Yelping SinceJune 2009
Things I LoveVietnamese sandwiches, Scrabble, zebras, bad puns, really plush toilet paper, gin, fresh laundry, earnest efforts, hushed whispers, handwritten notes, incongruity, pleasant surprises, grapefruit, warm pretzels. the unobvious
Find Me InA good mood till I get hungry.
My HometownBrooklyn, NY
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I'm thinking of hypothetical names for my imaginary businesses and pets.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsThey help end world hunger.
The Last Great Book I ReadLolita
My First ConcertDepeche Mode
My Favorite MovieAnnie Hall, Manhattan, Chungking Express, Tampopo, Breathless
My Last Meal On EarthAn insane meal prepared by the original Iron Chefs or my mom's kimchi chigae
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I once took the SAT for a friend, just for fun
Most Recent DiscoveryRicotta-stuffed tempura squash blossoms, Back Forty
Another buzzkill: The murky sea swamp smell that wafted over to the bar; it made me want to hurl.
Note to John Dory management: Please bring back the bartender who worked the night of January 27 and give him a raise.