Riingo Restaurant
New York, NY 10017-3301
Phone: (212) 867-4200
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- 3rd Avenue
- Directions:
- 4, 5, 6; 7; S at 42nd St
- Hours:
- Mon-Wed 7am-11am, 12pm-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm, Thu-Fri 7am-11am, 12pm-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm, Sat 7am-3pm, 5:30pm-11pm, Sun 7am-3pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm
Editorial Review for Riingo Restaurant – by Allison Austin
The Scene
Tucked inside David Rockwell's minimalist, sleek hotel, the restaurant is fittingly modern and dramatic, with a swooping staircase, bare lightbulbs hanging from lofty ceilings and plush, curving banquettes. The space, however, is oddly arranged: There's a low-ceilinged dining room upstairs, another more lively one in the rear and an abbreviated sushi bar dug into a narrow hall. Service ranges from excellent to neglectful.
The Food
Marcus Samuelsson and executive chef Johan Svensson emphasize the decadence of Japanese fare, whether in the form of spiced, lush coconut milk surrounding perfectly seared char or a thick layer of melting, honey-glazed skin on the pork belly. Though the fish itself is of high quality, the sushi menu--like the sushi bar itself--seems like an afterthought, as rolls arrive off-temperature and without the usual accoutrements. Desserts, including a tough chocolate pancake and a gritty cheesecake shmear accompanying an otherwise delicious roast pineapple, are disappointing.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkAmong the signature cocktails, the tart kumquat sour made with a traditional Japanese spirit called shochu is outstanding. For wine drinkers, the Sokol-Blosser "Evolution" white ($34), a fresh, light mix of nine varietals from the Willamette Valley, is an easy, drinkable choice.
The ExtrasCheck out Marcus Samuelsson's alma mater, Aquavit.
User Reviews for Riingo Restaurant
07/06/2008 Posted by eater101
We ate here last week and really enjoyed everything. Service was great; we never had to ask for anything, as the waiter and busboy were on top of evertyhing. The food was delicious; the waiter recommended the puffed rice crusted shrimp roll, which sounds weird but was great. He also recommended short ribs, which came already boned, so it was a cube of rich, dense meat which had been pan seared; and the chicken dumplings, which was pulled chicken meat in a wonton wrapper, steamed, with a sour soy sauce called Ponzu. All very good. The entrees were outstanding: a grilled red snapper with curry sauce and string beans, and my friend ordered duck breast, which came with dumplings whose skin was made from tapioca pearls! Interesting and unique. For dessert, we shared the signature dessert, green tea donuts. One thing, don't be scared by the menu. The chef is able to take odd sounding combinations and make them delicious. I've eaten in lots of hotel restaurants, and they're usually pretty mediocre, so Riingo was a wonderful surprise! Plus, everybody was very friendly, from the manager who stopped by to chat briefly with us, to the host, who remembered us on our way out. I highly recommend Riingo! The only down part is the bathrooms; they're unmarked and kind of hidden, so it was a little embarrassing to have to be led to them. But thats a small quibble!!
Pros: food, service
Cons: bathrooms difficult to find
01/29/2008 Posted by myongsun
I had heard good things, and I've been to Marcus's Aquavit, so we were expecting greatness. If you go, be sure to avoid the table we had: in the hallway next to the server's station. Each time they grabbed some silverware, they slammed the drawer closed and we felt it in the back of our booth seat. Plus, we were privy to all their chit-chat about other tables--- not cool. When I ordered a Gibson to start, our waitress was not quite sure what it was. I explained that a Gibson is a gin martini served with cocktail onions. The woman at the next table said, 'I think he's the only man in the world who knows what a Gibson is!". The braised short rib dish was unique: the meat was seared into a block about the size of a deck of cards (but twice as thick). The result is a crisp, carbon exterior--- wonderfully, juicy within. About $140 for the three of us. Will not return.
Pros: fun menu
Cons: experience can vary depending on seating
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