Graffiti
(212) 677-0695
224 E 10th St
New York,
NY
10003
40.7294
-73.9862
Neighborhoods: Downtown, East Village
What People Are Saying About Graffiti
The Editor
Justin Hartung
Citysearch
The Scene
New Yorkers are used to small restaurants, but compactness goes to new extremes at this East Village spot. The four tables fill up quickly with dates and intimate groups, and getting to the restroom requires passing too close for comfort to the kitchen stove. Indian prints, newspaper place mats and brightly colored plastic chopsticks topped with animal shapes incite a convivial mood, as does the eternally smiling staff.
The Food
Chef Jehangir Mehta internationally inspired small dishes looks like artful graffiti on the plate. Sweet flavors peek their heads into the menu early and often: Creamy mint sorbet accompanies a Mediterranean-style watermelon and feta salad, and grapefruit "confit" tops pork dumplings worthy of Chinatown. Chewy mango-infused paneer brings a touch of India, while candied chile-enhanced scallops come from an as-of-yet undiscovered territory. The cooking is so adventuresome, in fact, diners might not mind the occasional stumble like a bland halva dessert.
Hits: Diners will take a culinary trip around the world without it feeling like they've been on a tacky bus tour.
Misses: Coming from a highly regarded former pastry chef, desserts are disappointing.
User Reviews
CSMobileUser
March 09, 2009
My wife and I have been here twice over the last year and it is consistently awesome. Besides the delicious food, the cozy confines are balanced by an excellent staff that not only guides your selections but goes to extended effort to make sure that your meal and experience are perfect.
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scotchstr8
February 02, 2009
I have rarely gone to a restaurant I loved and hated to tell someone about it and this is such an instance. If you haven't read any of the other reviews, the place is indeed small and make no mistake you will be cramped. Consider yourself informed. That being said, I want to assume whoever is reading this has an open mind and will not be dissuaded by personal space issues. This is about the delicious dishes you'll be served. My girlfriend and I ordered 5 items from the menu and they were all flavorful. I ordered all vegetarian and she the meat variety. She loved what she sampled from mine and assured me hers were equally delectable. The hosts were very cordial, attentive, and explained the purpose of the ingredients used in each dish. Honestly, if I were a real reviewer, I would have paid attention to what was said, as I find that preparation and execution are separate entities. Even so, the dishes came out great anyway. And that's the rub. I have to tell the miserable public about such a great restaurant. But keeping it all to myself is a disservice to Graffiti. Thank you for a fantastic experience!
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ToadllyFoodz
January 22, 2009
I'm heading to Graffiti pretty much as soon as work as over so I can replace my after work cocktail with this delicious Chocolate Steamed Bun I saw Chef Jehangir make on Behind the Burner. I don't even care if the quarters are cramped, food will eventually lead to comfort and from what I hear the rest of the menu is spectacular.
read full reviewThe Details on Graffiti
What to Drink:
In a stroke of genius, all 22 bottles on the wine list cost $25, and all glasses are $8. The hearty Vaucluse Cotes du Rhone provides a strong backbone for the parade of flavors.
Know Before You Go:
Despite the server's assurances, not all dishes are easily shareable: You might be better off ordering a few plates per person.
The Extras:
Mehta runs a candy-making class for kids the first Saturday of every month--call ahead for details.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Diners Club, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
