Apiary
60 3rd Avenue
See map here
Reservations recommended
(212) 254-0888
Last weekend called for a celebration. It was my mom’s birthday—an excellent excuse for her to have someone cook for her instead of doing the work herself. However, restaurants near our home in New Jersey did not suffice—the occasion warranted a trip into the city for a nice, sophisticated dinner in the East Village.
Apiary is located at 11th Street and 3rd Avenue. The atmosphere of the restaurant is chic and elegant with a modern flair. Once I opened the menu, I knew we were going to face some tough decisions. In the end, our choices were perfect.
I started with the Apiary Green Salad—a simple salad of fine herbs, shallots, and red wine vinaigrette.
For my main course, I knew right off the bat that I wanted the Salmon with Caramelized Leeks and Whole-Grain Mustard Sauce. The salmon was cooked to perfection.
My mother raved about her Hamachi Crudo appetizer. My brother could not stop eating his Berkshire Pork Chop, which sat on a fluffy bed of mascarpone polenta.
Also, I will never forget the amazing smell of the brown butter and poppy sauce served atop our friend Eileen’s Swiss Chard and Ricotta Ravioli.
Even with the scrumptious appetizers and entrees, we still made room for dessert. We shared an assortment of desserts—a creamy Vanilla Panna Cotta, a warm Apple Tart, and our unanimous favorite—the Blackberry Financier. A financier is a small French cake similar to sponge cake, and traditionally flavored with crushed almonds. The warm blackberries inside sent us over the edge. If you go to Apiary, you cannot leave without tasting this dessert.
Before facing the cold weather, I ordered one last thing—tea—and you should do the same. Forget about sugar and cream. Instead, you will be served a complimentary “artisanal honey service,” a small tray featuring three different honeys to stir inside your tea. It was so fancy and so delicious, the perfect conclusion to a perfect meal.
If you’re bored in the city over Fall Break, or if you are looking to get out of Morningside Heights later this semester, venture to the East Village for a night at Apiary!