Dinnertable
“We browsed through the menu, and decided to get the lasagna bolo for two as our main to share, the short rib tartare, and the shrimp crudo dish.”
“Scallop Crudo: 5 stars
Tender raw scallops, the chili breadcrumbs give good texture and uni adds a pop of flavour.”
“We ordered the montauk pearl oysters, garlic pretzel, and of course the lasagna bolo for two.”
Dinnertable
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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I'll just start off by saying this place is great! For anyone that doesn't know Dinnertable is like a reverse speakeasy of sorts. There is a bar in the front, and then there is a curtain in the back that hides a little restaurant. There's no real signage or anything for it, so if you don't know it's there, you probably would never guess.
My friend and I talked about going Saturday night. We weren't really sure what the wait would be like, so we decided to get there around 8, since we assumed there would be some sort of a wait, and we could just put our names down and grab a drink out front at the Garrett. So we showed up about ten to 8:00 and were actually seated right away. The place is pretty small. There's one long communal table, maybe 2 or 3 two-top tables, and then some seating at the bar which faces the open kitchen where you can see them cooking. The place wasn't too crowded at 8:00, but as the night went on the place filled up. Our waiter came over to ask about our water preference, and explaind the menu a bit. It was mostly smaller plates, with a few big ones. He suggested we get two little plates, two big plates, and share everything. We browsed through the menu, and decided to get the lasagna bolo for two as our main to share, the short rib tartare, and the shrimp crudo dish. I am generally not a fan of meat that is tartare or carpaccio (aka raw) but my friend wanted to try the short rib tartare, so I thought I'd give it a try. No regrets! It was really good. It was 4 crackers/toasts with a generous portion of the short rib on top. It says there was horseradish in it, but the taste was not that strong, which I liked. The shrimp crudo was also really good, a nice refreshing dish. Then the lasagna bolo came out, which was amazing! It was so cute; it came out in a dish with about 5 rolled up lasagnas, and plenty of ricotta cheese. Seriously, so good! After all that food we were stuffed, and couldn't possibly eat dessert.
Overall everything was great! The food was top notch, as well as the service. I will say the drink selection compared to the bar it's attached to was slim, but I went with a glass of Rose so that wasn't an issue for me. Since the menu isn't huge, I might wait a bit for them to change it up, but I would definitely go back!
Truly one of my top 2016 restaurants in NYC! This place is a hidden gem, quite literally, as it's in speakeasy mode, hidden behind an unmarked door. After walking through the Garret (which is also a gorgeous bar), you'll find some curtains near the back. There are two sets of curtains, so take a chance and peek in 🙂 You'll find a switch to your right that says "ring for food." (seems like it used to be a button…unless I was imagining things, I think it's a switch now!!!) Flip it, and voila!
Once you enter, there is a shared table for 10, two 2-tops, and a bar counter that will seat about 5 people. That's it, super small, but incredibly cozy. Feels like someone's home, especially with the open kitchen format. I had made a reservation earlier that day for 7:30pm and was seated immediately. But even if there is a wait, the Garret is right outside where you can grab some drinks in the meantime. I wish we had gotten the 2-top tables as I was with my bf (perfect place for date nights, casual or fancy!!!), but it was fine sharing the long shared table with other parties. The waiter was extremely attentive and came by to get our drink orders and to give us an overview of the menu + specials. He recommended that we share everything – We went with these:
Sicilian Red Shrimp Crudo $14 (fresh tomato, buttermilk, basil)
Very small portion, so be mindful if you're sharing with more than one other person. It's basically 4 pieces of the shrimp crudo on top of the freshest tomatos and some additional sour notes from the buttermilk. The basil really brightens up the entire dish, but I thought overall the dish was slightly too salty. Still delicious though, remember to pair each bite with some of the tomatoes, that'll help with the saltiness!
Smoked Shortrib Tartare $13 (horseradish, marble rye)
I believe they make the marble rye in-house, but it's a great vessel to eat your tartare with 🙂 The tartare might be cut into bigger chunks than the usual tartare that I see, but it's flavored so masterfully that it doesn't really bother me. Each bite really comes packed with flavor!
The Dumplings $16 (potato, pecorino, poppyseed)
OUR FAVORITE DISH OF THE NIGHTTTTT!!! There must be a reason why they are called "THE" dumplings hehe. Not only is this dish soooo pretty, but it also tasted insanely delicious. They look like little ravioli's in the shape of a paisley (twisted teardrop). Each dumpling was plump with a warm filling that was so so so so good. You could literally eat an entire plate of these by yourself! I need a recipe for these ASAP!
Lasagna Bolo for Two $38
I love lasagna, and this was a great rendition of it. It's not the usual lasagna with the top to bottom layers, but rather a curled up lasagna shaped like a rose. That allows for much more crunch to develop since there are so many edges exposed, which I loved!!! There are about 5 "roses" and two pieces of focaccia bread. Remember to scoop up all the cheesy tomato meat sauce with the bread after you finish eating the roses! I would have loved this even more if the entire dish had come out piping hot.
I honestly wanted to order more just to try more dishes, but this was plenty of food! For a speakeasy/fancy restaurant and for the experience that you get, I felt like the prices were really reasonable. Food is definitely top notch!!!
First things first, I cannot wait to come back here. The three chefs were awesome. I came here alone one night and sat at the bar (as I was in the city watching after my father who was going through open heart surgery at Mount Sinai). Quickly became friendly with the three chefs cooking on the other side of the bar. It's all history from there. I tried most of the menu, all of the cocktails and was blown away by it all. Firstly, these chefs were not only cooking the food, but they serve at the restaurant, explain how everything is cooked and prepared to the customers and do the cleaning at the end of the night too. I am thoroughly impressed and hope upper management recognizes them for their hard work.
I forgot to write a review originally, so apologies if I forget anything or leave anything out. The menu has a range of dishes, no real appetizers or entrees just a small list of choices that also range in size; smallest serving up top to the largest at the bottom. The dumplings I'd give a 4.5/5. So delicious I can't wait to eat that again. The Cold smoked short rib tartare was nothing short of unbelievable and my favorite menu item 5/5.
I can't express enough the fact that you will enjoy your time here. All the food is fantastic, and the drinks stiff while being extremely well crafted cocktails. I will mention it gets a little pricey if you order multiple menu items plus all the cocktails I had, but hey, there's nothing I love better than treating myself!! Keep up the great work.
KenScale: 8.5/10
New York City has no shortages of speakeasy bars with secret entrances and intimate vibe when you get past the door. I have my favorites, including the original Raines Law Room, Angel's Share and Dear Irving. Then there was also The Garret, a hidden West Village bar on top of the Five Guys. It was not so secret as the relatively small space can be really filled with people who have heard about this place with the extra benefit of eating Five Guys burgers if they get hungry from drinking. Recently, the team behind the bar opened a second spot in the Alphabet City (called Garret East) and, surprise surprise, there is now a hidden restaurant inside it! Can this be a gimmick designed to draw more crowds who would be happy to munch on snacks without thinking much about the quality of food? Words on the street indicated that this was a serious dining spot, so I was certainly intrigued. On my recent visit with a couple of dining companions, I had a lot to like about this restaurant.
The overall food at Dinnertable leans on the Italian side, focused on small plates largely designed for sharing. I appreciated that the kitchen was putting together a nice mix of creative plates without overthinking it. Montauk pearl oyster with vermouth and Tasmanian peppercorn would be nice appetizers everywhere, and smoked short rib tartare with horseradish and marble rye was also quite delicious, with very nice texture of tartare that wasn't overly heavy on seasoning. I wished there were more of scallop crudo and chili breadcrumbs with uni on the floor, but the dumplings with potato, pecorino and poppyseed were absolutely spot-on, with a very nice balance of flavor that really shows the kitchen is caring not only about putting together nicely plated dishes but dishes that are well-executed too. The highlight of the meal came in the form of lasagna bolo for two. While I enjoyed lasagna that my mom used to cook for me in my childhood, I haven't had the dish in a long, long time. The one at Dinnertable is a show-stopper, with rich, decadent flavor of baked pasta that you can enjoy with bread. I was looking over my shoulder at my dining companions to see if anyone was full so I can snatch the second one (there were five pieces for three of us). The only downer for this otherwise pleasant meal was the cappellacci pasta with braised veal, guanciale and black garlic. We ordered this after enjoying the lasagna hoping for another winner, but it turned out a little too aggressive on seasoning. The desserts were more on the simpler side, and while taco cioccolato of espresso gelato and hazelnut felt pedestrian, I did really like the refreshing touch of Amalfi "sgroppino" consisting of Sorrento lemon sorbet and prosecco granite.
The restaurant takes only limited number of reservations for larger groups online, so the best bet is to show up early and hope for the best. We were lucky to be spared an hour late (after showing up slightly after 6 p.m. on a Saturday evening, when Garret East was already packed with people) thanks to last-minute cancellations. There are concise wine and cocktail selections that you can complement your meal with. The intimate dining space is certainly another aspect of the restaurant that will make for a satisfying experience. I would really like to see how this kitchen evolves over time; the right mix of creativity and execution is what makes Dinnertable a gem in the Alphabet City.
Dinnertable is everything I had hoped it would be. Disregard the twentysomethings babbling over cocktails, and step all the way to the back, past the curtain, press the button and the door will slide open to reveal the coziest of dining spaces, filled to the brim with excited eaters (soon to be you!), warm conversations, and good food.
We sat at the communal table, tucked between two sets of duos (duo duos?) who both did not have to pay for their meals (they know the right people, and we sadly know no one), but I will say that it is worth the price you pay if you do not know anyone also (you're such a loser!).
We tried:
– the potato dumplings with pecorino, and ours was far too tart to be enjoyed (the drizzle of vinegar? overpowered everything), so would skip next time
– the smoked shortrib tartare which was super tasty and fun to eat, with crisps of marble rye and the added kick of smoked horseradish – yum!
– the lasagna bolo for two which is just about the most DELICIOUS thing I've eaten in some time (and we all know I eat a lot. round faces gotta stay round, amirite). I just have no idea how they make it, and why I don't need ANY TEETH to eat it, as each bite of that bolo-beauty completely MELTS in your mouth. Like ice cream. But LASAGNA. Is your mind-bolo-wn?
– the choco taco because you just have to. It's like $6. It looks amazing. It tastes good too. I wish the taco was crispy, but who the eff cares, inject all the sugar and calories in me now and let's not taco-bout any diets!
Knowing that Dinnertable exists is completely reassuring for me as I get older. I know that when all my teeth have fallen out, I'll still have that bolo waiting for me. Life is good.
YOLO for the Bolo. Let's begin with how exciting this restaurant is the fact that it is a speakeasy and you need to go through a bar in order to get in. I am obsessed with speakeasies. Seating at roughly 14 people or so, it looked like the inside of a home. 1 long table, two 2-seaters, and the bar. It was the perfect size for a date night.
Given they were known for their Bolo for 2, that was of course ordered and I was torn between the Shrimp Crudo and Short rib tar tare. I ended up ordering the Short rib tar tare and was blown away, and I mean BLOWN away. There were so many flavors and an extra crunch to it other than the crisps of marble rye. MMM I can't even right now.
Now onto the bolo, oh man. I personally am not a big fan of lasagna but had to order it because of the hype and it was just aimeizing. Every bite MELTED in my mouth. It was not too cheesy, super soft, and just right in every bite. The bits of meat went so well with it too. I can't even right now as I am typing this review. Service was spectacular and I expected none less from this place. If I can give 6 stars, I honestly would.
I would come back and try the rest of the menu- I am thinking the crudo this time and the dumplings! I love you dinnertable, I really do. Please never close down.
I made reservations to dinnertable a few weeks in advance and was still only able to nab a 5:30pm reservation on MDW Sunday! I did notice that if you play around with Resy a day prior, some of the coveted reservation times do tend to open up as people cancel their reservations last minute. Also, I think the whole communal table is open for walk-ins, so definitely give it a shot!
At 5:30, we were one of three groups dining that evening. We decided to forgo the drinks as we just spent the entire afternoon day drinking, and instead focus on food. We started with the scallop crudo (divine), shortrib tartare (delicious – please do not mistake the edible piece the tartare comes with as a bone like we did. The chef had to come over and let us know we could eat those pieces!), the burger (juicy and def hit the spot) and the dumplings. I'll have to admit, I was not blown away by the dumplings, especially when they were so highly regarded by my fellow Yelpers. They came off kinda sour and just not what I was anticipating. I badly wanted to try the lasagna rolls but we were too stuffed and trying to stay away from heavy carbs #weddingdiet
We just HAD to top off our meal with the chocolate taco. SO FRIGGEN GOOD. I savored every single bite of that chocolatey hazlenutty deliciousness!
The only downside I can think of is that given its' location (basically a room hidden behind a door at the back of the Garret), I basically held in my pee the entire meal because I felt bad for making the staff open the door back and forth for me. Not really a knock on them, but just something to be aware of!
All in all, a great meal and super service!
Well I now feel unbelievably cool and as if I'm apart of some elite society after visiting this secret restaurant. Yes I am going to be selfish and not detail how to get to this place, and instead just speak about every other amazing part of this place that isn't the entrance.
The space is very small, but works perfectly for an intimate gathering. The decor is as if you just stepped into the sweetest old Italian lady's kitchen, but don't let that fool you. That sweet old Italian lady is blasting Bob Marley, Biggie, Lauryn Hill, and Outkast from the speakers. It's the coolest old Italian lady kitchen you'll ever be in. We sat at the communal table, so if you don't want to be too close to strangers then this isn't the spot for you, but be open minded and accept the community!
The drinks were very delicious and unique. We ordered the montauk pearl oysters, garlic pretzel, and of course the lasagna bolo for two. The pretzel was served with a goat cheese and was done perfectly. Guaranteed you'll never have another pretzel like it! The lasagana came out still bubbling from the oven and was a bolo filled with cheesey goodness. Will have you rethink you're traditional, horizontally layered lasagna dish.
This is definitely a beautiful place and one that I'd probably share with only a select few of people, even though i want to tell the world!