Saturday Splurge: Bohemian (Manhattan, NY)

Image via flickeflu.com

Nothing is easy in New York. You want to throw a party? Well guess what, slick? You get to carry all that food and wine not only all the way home from the grocery store, but up the 4 flights of stairs in your overpriced walk-up building. You want to ride your bike in Brooklyn on a sunny spring day? Please dear God, wear your helmet, and good luck finding a bike lane. You want to get to the airport without paying an arm and a leg in cab fare? Ah ha ha! (that's my evil laugh)... looks like you'll be riding the train, then transferring to the bus. The bus will make twenty thousand stops (literally) and if you're lucky (not likely), there won't be any screaming children involved. 

Why must you be so damn hard, sweet city of mine?

After experiencing all these things firsthand, it was no surprise to me to find out that in my fair city existed a restaurant so secret that the phone number is not even advertised. If you're lucky enough to find the number (and also lucky enough to secure a decent reservation time), you will be asked to name someone who's eaten there before. 

They have a list.

They check it twice.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

You must work for your dinner.

Image via quiteallright.blogspot.com

Bohemian is housed on Great Jones Street in the bottom level of Andy Warhol's old apartment building. It shares a front door and address with Japan Premium Beef, a small specialty butcher shop, but don't make the mistake of calling the butcher shop for the reservation number, as they will most certainly know nothing of which you speak.

If you get the chance to visit Bohemian, you will find yourself in the tiniest of rooms - about the size of a large living room - and in keeping with the laid back, friend-of-a-friend vibe, you will actually feel like you're dining in someone's house. Although you might assume the environment to be stuffy (after all, it took years to find the phone number), the staff is warm and gracious. They treat you like family, and for me, that's part of the appeal of this restaurant. Since you worked so hard to get in, they make sure you enjoy every last bit of the experience.

Now while I could go on and on about the amazing Japanese food Adam and I had here for his post-birthday dinner (at 9 pm on a Tuesday at the bar, mind you), I'll just let my pictures do the talking. 

We started with some very lovely cocktails.

Pickled cucumber with bonito jelly

Whole branzino with roasted vegetables and cippolini onions

Uni mushroom croquette

Oysters with apple vinaigrette

Ikura caviar with uni rice bowl

Short rib sashimi

Now while I can't just give you the phone number (though I am open to bribes), I WILL allow you to reference my name as having been there before.

Good luck and Godspeed!


BOHEMIAN
57 Great Jones Street
New York, NY 10012