This intimate eatery packs a punch. Starting with hearts of palm and tuna poke, biting into spicy proteins and vegetables, and finishing with decadent local desserts that mix fruit, nuts, puddings and sauces inspired by Hawaii.
The tuna poke (“poe-kay”) is such a great start to a meal. It’s chilled and spicy, tender, and cut into small bites. Marinated in a delicious tart sauce, with sesame seeds, pickled jalapeños, seaweed and macadamia nuts. Great to share, but I was greedy and got one all to myself. So good!
One of the most talked about entrees here is the spaghetti. I KNOW HOW IT SOUNDS! But wait – this isn’t your good ole boxed carb. It’s actually made with butterfish, mentaiko (roe of pollock and cod that is commonly found in Japanese cuisine), chili, and a generous garnish of aonori (type of seaweed). It’s crunchy and spicy, and chunks of fish are all over the bottom of the plate. Very satisfying entree for sure.
To round it all out, the king’s Hawaiian bread pudding is fantastic. Served warm with rum raisins, and balanced with a scoop of pineapple ice cream. Shareable, but the spaghetti portion is just right to have this dessert by yourself if you’re hungry.
You could get a nice, filling 3-course meal for about $35 pp. They also offer wine pairings for $35 pp, which gives you 3 glasses each, handpicked by an in-house connoisseur. Pretty good deal for some excellent wine. My meal included a German Riesling, an earthy red from New Zealand, and a Spanish Rioja. Perfectly paired.
Check it out on 1st Ave between 7th and St. Marks.
Foodies of Gotham 