I had been wanting to have dinner at The Little Owl, in the West Village, for ages, egged on by the fact that it’s next to impossible to get in. So, after stalking a reservation on OpenTable.com, I finally got my wish on Friday night. So tiny (especially its ladies’ room!), and yet refreshingly not-packed; it doesn’t have much of a bar, so the only people inside, it seems, are the ones at their tables. The service is relaxed but good.
On to the food: everything I tried was excellent, including the bread. The seared-scallop appetizer, on a few greens and citrus segments, would have been enough for me; the scallop was nicely crispy on the outside, and not chewy. There was an amazing salad of arugula, peaches, and figs that I want to have every day for lunch. Naturally, I tried the meatball sliders, which were good, although I may have been expecting something more outstanding, given all the hype–but certainly not shabby. However, for me, the desserts–strawberry-rhubarb crumble with a scoop of mascarpone ice cream, and raspberry-filled beignets served alongside warm nutella–were the stars. I would go back for those two alone; the brunch menu looks great too.
Finally, a word of advice: go during the week. On the weekend, as with many other quaint and tiny downtown restaurants, it becomes populated with sparkly patrons on their way to Meatpacking, which sort of detracts from the low-key charm of the place. Don’t come here to pregame; you will feel uncomfortable and inappropriately-dressed.
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