Local Spot Review - Colors Restaurant
As you may already know, Colors is the restaurant that was recently opened by former employees of Windows on the World at the World Trade Center. The restaurant is a co-op, meaning each employee of Colors also has an ownership interest. Mr. Ji and I, not being of the Easter ilk, checked out Colors this past Friday evening.
The memory of Windows on the World holds an extremely dear place in the Ji family household, as it was the location where Mr. Ji and I vowed to be together until the end of time. We wed at Windows just seventeen days prior to the awful day that was 9/11. More than 70 Windows employees were lost on that day, some of whom had worked at our wedding. And so, it was with great sentiment that we went to Colors.
The menu at Colors is based on a collection of family recipes from the restaurants very diverse group of workers. It is eclectic, interesting and it has something for everyone. We started at the smallish but beautiful dark wood bar. The bartender was very friendly and mixed a luscious cocktail. I had the Lychee Martini. Yum-my. Mr. Ji had a perfect Saphire and tonic and the smoked tuna appetizer. Another yum-my.
We moved to a table for dinner. The restaurant is dark and sophisticated. The service is friendly and competent. (When you make a reservation be sure to request one of the booths.) I was disappointed to find that the lobster roll appetizer that I had read good things about, was not on the menu. Apparently the menu changes depending on which local ingredients are available. I followed the waiters suggestion and tried the fried oysters for an appetizer. Having only tried oysters on one other occasion, I was going out on a very long limb. Honestly, the slimy buggers do nothing for me. But I was working on the veritable assumption that all things fried are yummy. I was initially overwhelmed by the strong fish taste but somehow came around to liking the buggers. They were presented nicely atop a mustard (?) green and parmesan concoction. Mr. Ji had the Colors house cured duck breast appetizer. He said it was de-lish and we'll have to believe him since Ji doesn't eat duckies.
For the main course I had the scallops with an oxtail accoutrement. Normally, I don't eat oxtail either but I tried some and it was very tasty. Had a nice spice to it. Mr. Ji had the steak and gave it two thumbs up. For dessert we had the donuts with dulce center and raspberry dipping sauce. Good to average. Be careful that the dulce center doesn't dulce down the front of your shirt friends. Next time I'll try a different dessert.
A few nota benes here: wine list extensive but not too extensive and good range of prices; brunch just started recently and there is a coupon, for those of you into that sort of thing, on the website www.colors-nyc.com; located at 417 Lafayette Street, dial 212.777.8443; the restaurant is a bit pricey but what isn't in NYC?
Mr. Ji and I will definitely return to Colors. Perhaps we'll see you at the bar. Order me a Lychee Martini if you get there first. Mwa!
The memory of Windows on the World holds an extremely dear place in the Ji family household, as it was the location where Mr. Ji and I vowed to be together until the end of time. We wed at Windows just seventeen days prior to the awful day that was 9/11. More than 70 Windows employees were lost on that day, some of whom had worked at our wedding. And so, it was with great sentiment that we went to Colors.
The menu at Colors is based on a collection of family recipes from the restaurants very diverse group of workers. It is eclectic, interesting and it has something for everyone. We started at the smallish but beautiful dark wood bar. The bartender was very friendly and mixed a luscious cocktail. I had the Lychee Martini. Yum-my. Mr. Ji had a perfect Saphire and tonic and the smoked tuna appetizer. Another yum-my.
We moved to a table for dinner. The restaurant is dark and sophisticated. The service is friendly and competent. (When you make a reservation be sure to request one of the booths.) I was disappointed to find that the lobster roll appetizer that I had read good things about, was not on the menu. Apparently the menu changes depending on which local ingredients are available. I followed the waiters suggestion and tried the fried oysters for an appetizer. Having only tried oysters on one other occasion, I was going out on a very long limb. Honestly, the slimy buggers do nothing for me. But I was working on the veritable assumption that all things fried are yummy. I was initially overwhelmed by the strong fish taste but somehow came around to liking the buggers. They were presented nicely atop a mustard (?) green and parmesan concoction. Mr. Ji had the Colors house cured duck breast appetizer. He said it was de-lish and we'll have to believe him since Ji doesn't eat duckies.
For the main course I had the scallops with an oxtail accoutrement. Normally, I don't eat oxtail either but I tried some and it was very tasty. Had a nice spice to it. Mr. Ji had the steak and gave it two thumbs up. For dessert we had the donuts with dulce center and raspberry dipping sauce. Good to average. Be careful that the dulce center doesn't dulce down the front of your shirt friends. Next time I'll try a different dessert.
A few nota benes here: wine list extensive but not too extensive and good range of prices; brunch just started recently and there is a coupon, for those of you into that sort of thing, on the website www.colors-nyc.com; located at 417 Lafayette Street, dial 212.777.8443; the restaurant is a bit pricey but what isn't in NYC?
Mr. Ji and I will definitely return to Colors. Perhaps we'll see you at the bar. Order me a Lychee Martini if you get there first. Mwa!
posted by Ji @ 5:30 PM
3 Comments:
At 1:31 PM,
Anonymous said…
Mr. Ji says:
Colors was excellent. It really took me back to the quality of the food that was so distinctive at Windows. There are many great places to eat in New York City, but Colors is an authentic evening of fine dining without the pretense. For that alone, I'd pay extra. Highly recommended.
At 2:10 PM,
Anonymous said…
I'm sold...I'll make sure to go there soon. All of the reviews that I've read have said that the food is decent.
Some of the criticisms of the restaurant include that the menu is too eclectic.... some diners subscribe to the belief that a restaurant can't excel if working on too many styles of cooking.
I think it depends on the skill of the kitchen.
At 3:18 PM,
Anonymous said…
Mr. Ji says:
I think by "too eclectic" these authors are suggesting that the menu is "above the station of the workers" and that since some hot-shot chef was not unveiled by the New Yorker or some other pretentious NYC mag, they've gone too far.
I wonder what the story would read like if the owners (rather than the workers) had started a restaurant with an international menu. No I don't.
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