wd~50
New York, NY 10002-2401
Phone: (212) 477-2900
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Between Stanton Street and Rivington Street
- Directions:
- F; J, M, Z at Delancey St-Essex St
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 6pm-11:30pm, Sun 6pm-10pm
Editorial Review for wd~50 – by Allison Austin
The Scene
There's simply no pretension here. The dining room, with its terra cotta-colored walls and exposed beams, feels nicely worn-in. And the personable, easygoing servers know their stuff.
The Food
In contrast to the deluge of restaurants serving safe, familiar food, chef Wylie Dufresne's dishes make you think. When Dufresne serves foie gras topped with anchovy and dotted with tiny bits of crunchy chocolate, it's an education in breaking food down to its essential flavors to see how the building blocks--fat, salt, savory, clean citrus, edgy vinegar, etc.--work together. Much of the cooking challenges diners to break with their food-pairing constructs: Yes, daurade paired with a barbecue-like sauce can work. Fine ingredients elevate all dishes, but particularly the lamb loin, which is among the city's best. Desserts are stellar, especially the parsnip cake with dreamy coconut-cream cheese sorbet.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkThe wine list features offbeat bottles from Austria to Greece, along with smart French varietals, most ranging from $30 to $475. Around six signature cocktails are offered, including the Royal Blush with fresh cherry puree, champagne, vodka and lime juice.
User Reviews for wd~50
04/25/2008 Posted by itoitoito
easily the worst meal ever. nothing was good. $125 for the tasting menu had us feeling completely hoodwinked as we walked out. service was great. the decor is downright silly. the bad italian modern light fixtures made me nauseous. the food has no soul whatsoever. take one look at wiley, and it's hard to see any soul in the man. DO NOT EAT HERE.
02/22/2008 Posted by kneering
Came here and was surprised how casual the space was given the extraordinary prices. The tables are very close together, too.... not a lot of privacy. I had heard the food was "weird" so I was prepared to be surprised. Bottom line, yes, the combinations are crazy. But when you eat all these unlikely flavors together the food is actually really good. The presentation is top notch. This is a foodie haven. The desserts are the best! I'm glad I tried it but it is very expensive so not sure if I would come back. It's not likely I will crave octopus but hey, you never know.
Pros: Culinary experimentation at its best
Cons: Expensive, unimpressive ambiance
