THE STANDARD GRILL.

I've had a series of "MEH"-restaurant experiences over the past few weeks and began to think to myself - Is this it? Have I gotten over eating!!?!? Well fear not, dear reader, you will not be subjected to COMIC BLOGGING for the rest of your lives because my past two dinners have proven acceptable enough to re-prompt my interest in food blogging.

The Standard Grill has long been on my list. The restaurant is truly magnificent - the windows let a spectacular amount of sunlight pour over the mixture of quaint, luxurious, and quirky interior. Plush, traditional, mahogany-colored leather seating mixed with simple, checkered place mats and a floor made entirely of pennies...it's like a picnic with the Kennedy's! I absolutely loved the atmosphere and vibe.


The friendly waiters whisked over a small serving of radishes and some crumbles of Parmesan cheese. Now that's different (OK, yea I saw the radish thing at ABC Kitchen...but the nuggets of cheese?? Brilliant).

We were also ASKED if we would be interested in a bread basket...since when did restaurants inquire about the necessity/desire for a bread basket!?!? I guess too many models and skinny bitches have run rampant through these Meatpacking District streets to warrant a fair warning that CARBS MIGHT TOUCH THIS TABLE!!!!!!!


I started off with the Chilled Avocado Soup - a salty, cool puree of avocado with chunks of peeky toe crab and small scattering of soft croutons. Usually I am against overt saltiness in food, but I actually really enjoyed this sodium-filled concoction. Extremely rich in flavor and textures.

For my main course I had a salad-like mixture of Chilled Lobster, White Beans, Celery, Green Goddess Dressing, and Caviar. How gorgeous is this dish!?!? All the components were well-dressed and worked together to create a refreshing entree. Absolutely lovely.


The Shaved Grapefruit Ice dessert is simply perfect if you need a little sweetness after dinner but don't feel like rolling home in agony and guilt. The shaved ice is SOFT (I don't know HOW they do this) and tastes like REAL grapefruit. Underneath is a tart layer of actual grapefruit chunks and a lightly sweet syrup to accentuate its natural flavors. A cooling and invigorating way to end a meal!!!

My meal at The Standard Grill was certainly a success. All dishes were perfect for a hot summer's eve and the scene was hip but not overbearingly so. Definitely looking forward to a return trip, especially for brunch!!