Crave Ceviche Wine Bar

After barely being open for a month, Crave Ceviche Wine Bar has already developed a following. This pocket-sized restaurant was packed to the brim with people pouring out onto the sidewalk last Thursday evening. Chef Todd Mitgang takes ceviche to another level, offering up innovative selections such as arctic char with truffles, strawberries, caviar and sea salt or lump crab with wok fried okra. The fish in the ceviches are cured in anything from champagne to sherry vinegar to grapefruit with thai basil. And to my delight, there was nary a martini glass presentation to be found. The menu really dazzled me as dishes played with ingredients inspired by Italian, Thai, Middle Eastern and of course Latin American cuisine. A killer yellow fin tuna BLT was speckled with pancetta while a calamari salad came with shitaki mushrooms, crispy kimchi, and ginger scallion oil. The dishes were not perfect, the caper crusted wild salmon had a slight fishy taste and the crispy kimche could have been more delicate. However, Crave is doing well for such a newby. I’m sure they will tie up some of the loose ends. The wine list contains a nice variety of wines from Spain, Chile and Argentina with some American selections in the mix. We started with the house sangria which was a “Fall” sangria, infused with cinnamon and cider before ordering a Chardonnay from Navarra. The entire place was held together by one girl who was doubling as hostess and waitress for every table. She did a fantastic job for us and seemed to be keeping other guests happy as well. I hope they get her some help soon though!

Crave is a welcome newcomer to the “culinarily challenged” Turtle Bay/Upper East Side. I cannot wait to return.
Crave Ceviche Wine Bar: 946 Second Avenue
Cuisine: Eclectic, Latin American, Seafood

Filed under Latin American, Restaurant Reviews |