Mercer Kitchen
New York, NY 10012-3218
Phone: (212) 966-5454
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Mercer Street
- Directions:
- N, W at Prince St
- Hours:
- Daily 12pm-3pm, 6pm-1am, Cafe open daily 7am-2am
Editorial Review for Mercer Kitchen – by Citysearch Editors
The Scene
Though the fickle winds of celebrity restaurant-going have since directed A-listers to newer, more alluring spots, Jean-Georges' downtown eatery has still managed to remain a dining destination. The upstairs lounge is bright and open; the restaurant lies beneath in a large, open, brick-walled basement. Diners lounge on lavender banquettes beneath a ceiling of antique glass sidewalks.
The Food
The Provencal-inspired cuisine takes a more minimal route than in Vongerichten's other kitchens, but the clarity and brightness of flavor still inspires. Yellowtail tuna carpaccio, lightly dressed with a hint of mint, sings of summer, and crab salad partnered with sweet-hot mango mustard and greens hits all the right flavor notes. Entrees, across the board, are quite good. And dessert--especially a stellar version of the ubiquitous molten chocolate cake--shouldn't be missed.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
When to GoBe careful where you sit if it's raining--the antique glass sidewalk leaks sidewalk schmutz into the restaurant. The restaurant remedies this problem by hanging upside-down umbrellas to catch the drips.
Look GoodA space in the restaurant can be converted into a semi-private area.
The ExtrasThe cafe serves breakfast fare and coffee.
User Reviews for Mercer Kitchen
07/23/2008 Posted by rachelz3
MK is one of the restaurants that decided to use Restaurant Week to strut their stuff. Lunch - 4 adults and 2 strollers (use the Mercer door for the strollers or wheelchairs), well accommodated. Raw Tuna Pizza - wonderful unique and worked perfectly. Figs and prosciutto with mozzarella- simple and perfectly matched, the mini cheeseburger was the best burger I ever had in my life, and roasted chicken with mashed potatoes delicious comfort food. Lovely to see the chickens roasting on the rotisserie. I will say the french fries were just average, and the chocolate dessert also pretty commonplace,the strawberry rhubarb was nice but needed some of the chocolate from the chocolate dessert (like a little souffle with a warm chocolate center) to be better. I do wonder if I would have loved it as much if I was paying full price. Lunch took 2 hours, perhaps due to the cakes? I tried one of their home made sodas, it tasted nice but it was just syrup and seltzer. I arrived early and they were charming about giving me a place to wait, and they had made arrangements for the strollers I had mentioned in my reservation. This put me at ease.
Pros: What they do well at, rocks
Cons: Some things just average and still high priced
03/10/2008 Posted by natt2000
I went their last night and the food was so bad i thought i was going to get sick right then and there. meat, fish, vegetables covered in thick gooey sauces. hey... buy good quality produce and you do not have to cover it in sauce!!!! JG is over. Tired of hearing praise for someone who thinks gooey sauce is cooking...i may sound mean but i am tired of paying big bucks for bad food from famous names. Place was so dark i couldn't even find my mouth. The wait staff are too young and inexperienced... do not know the difference between pinot noir and pinot blanc. Location was good once but NYU has invaded. Everyone get out of my city and go back to where you came from!!!!!!
