After a exhilarating walk on The High Line. What? You ask, what's The High Line? Yea, I get that often. It's a spectacular new park built on the old railroad high line on the West side of NYC. Make a point of going there. You will love it.
Anyway, back to the restaurant review. Spotted this place the other night while walking down Hudson Street. It is fairly unassuming from the outside. But step in and you will be transformed. Pulsing lounge music fills the air, at the moment it was one of my favorite bands, Gotan Project, a new age Tango band, out of Paris. The sparkling interior of deep reds, yellow rich wood and brick, engulfs you like a womb. The staff in casual urban attire are immediately at your service.
Created by Zak Pelaccio, chef of 5 Ninth, Fatty Crab is a small restaurant that to my taste is perfect in every way, except for one thing.
The staff are very well trained and passionate about the experience they are about to present to you. The wine list is quite diverse but almost entirely devoted to wines that go well with the exotic Malaysian, Pan Asian foods served here.
A woman sitting next to us suggested a Hungarian wine which we loved. A Somló Juhfark that is reviewed here.
To start we were offer offer a complimentary oyster shooter, Conway Cup oysters from Prince Edward Island, Canada. They were in Malaysian spices and exotic juices. A perfect start to the meal.
The menu is focused and the bright waitstaff will happily guide you through the array of small plates meant to be shared, explaining options, suggesting better combinations and rendering faithful descriptions of the dishes.
This seemed like the most authentic Malaysian food I have ever tasted.
We started with the steamed buns, veggie version. They also come with Pork. The bun was soft and fluffy like sponge cake. The vegetables perfectecly stir fried with a delicious sauce. For dipping a bowl of tamari like sauce with a ball of chilli sauce in the center was served.
We also tasted the Rendang beef ribs which was a special that night. So tender and delicious, again the sauce was outstanding ebullient with Malaysian flavors.
To round things out we tried the Barramundi in braised coconut and a multitute of spices and a simple dish of Baby Bok Choy partially drapped in a rich soy ginger sauce.
We were also served a delicous sponge cake like dessert. On the house.
We will be back.
NY Mag Review
Fatty Crab West Village
643 Hudson Street
(between Horatio and Gansevoort)
New York, NY 10014
ph: 212.352.3592
fax: 212.352.3598
Sorry, no reservations.
Monday - Wednesday Noon to Midnight
Thursday - Friday Noon to 2AM
Saturday 11 AM to 2AM
Sunday 11 AM to 12AM
Brunch served
Saturday and Sunday
11 AM to 4PM
No Reservations Accepted
Oh yeah, the one thing I did not like? The markup on the wine is very high.
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
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