I always find that The West Village and The Upper West Side have hidden gems that always leave you wanting more after you discover them. Tapestry, one of the latest restaurants to hit the West Village scene, is prime to be one of the places to go to in 2017 as their worldly cuisine in each of their Indian-inspired dishes is enough for this Harlem resident to head all the way downtown and back just to try the amazing food, bask in its ambiance, and so much more. Here’s why.
Tapestry, which debuted in mid 2016, essentially celebrates Indian cuisine by using its dishes as base but also taking a culinary tour to other countries for inspiration to put in each. Chef Suvir Saran, who was the first ever chef of the first Indian restaurant to be granted a Michelin star, has expertly crafted each dish so that your palette becomes challenged in many wonderful ways in determining what came from where. Also, the food is damn good, but I’ve said that already, right?
The location itself is gorgeous. Simple sophistication in the best way possible, with a sprawling and beautiful bar in the front and a more intimate setting towards the back. I happened to be mesmerized by a lot of the art that was on the walls, that complimented the wood furnishings throughout and really made Tapestry pop in so many ways. It has a calming and inviting element to it, which works perfectly for the chilly weather we are experiencing in Manhattan right now.
Let’s get to the dishes. As I mentioned- they rock. Legitimately this is the best restaurant I have written about in a long time, as the flavor explosions were endless in each dish that I tried at Tapestry. For their Naashta, or Noshing section, the two dishes that I recommend trying are their Hakka Spice Roasted Cauliflower with tomato-spice jam & scallions and their Red Hot Lobster Tail with coconut-tomato curry, chile, cilantro butter toast and coconut jhaag. I have never tasted flavor as much as i have with the Cauliflower they provided. That is mainly because the tomato-spice jam had such depth, and had a similar taste to a General Tso’s sauce that made it a pungent crunch with each bite I took. The Lobster Tail was decadent and so worth indulging in. Cooked to perfection and the coconut-tomato curry was a great dunking sauce for both the lobster and the butter toast. Spicy without being overwhelming.
For their Tarkari (Soups, Salads, Sides & Such), I recommend trying their Avocado & Cabbage Slaw with cashews, chile jam, lime, cumin w/ ginger chicken or Malabar shrimp or their Grandma’s Cornbread Panzanella with cucumbers, balsamic onions, basil, tarragon, chives and cheddar. Both served cold, both foaming with flavor and both great options for ones who are sticking with their healthy resolutions in 2017. One more, on the warmer side, is their Forbidden & Fried, which is forbidden & jasmine rice with sweet & hot peppers, shallots and scallions w/ crab. If this is forbidden, then arrest me for having it. I love the heat that comes from this, especially with the peppers, and this can act as a great side dish to any of the mains that come after.
For their Maasahaari (Seafood, Poultry & Meats), one sticks out more than the rest. The Angry Crab is the standout dish for so many reasons. It comes with inked noodles, garlic, Thai basil & hot chiles, crispy bits, herbs and Parmigiano. This is spicy, so be prepared, however their is an immense helping of Crab nestled at the bottom of the dish that pairs so well with the inked noodles and all the ingredients on the plate. Hearty and satisfying for sure.
I 100 percent recommend Tapestry for this coming weekend and beyond, as they do what many restaurants fail to do in grabbing inspiration from other cultures and blend them into the primary one you excel at. Take the 1/2/3 to 14th, head over two blocks, and experience all they have to offer.
For more information on Tapestry, check out their official site.