Brings superb eating and upscale meals with a Korean impressed flare

Final week, we tried out a brand new Korean impressed restaurant that simply opened in decrease Manhattan, referred to as Restaurant Pearl.  Contained in the restaurant is simply a handful of tables positioned across the eating room.  On first impression, this made Restaurant Pearl’s inside really feel tiny, however as our meal progressed we realized the purpose was to create a really intimate expertise for every visitor.  The décor was very minimalistic with cloth sales space seating, accented wooden chairs and tables that felt such as you have been transported you to a superb eating restaurant in Asia.  And every server and workers member have been extraordinarily pleasant and useful.  And with our server’s suggestions, we have been in a position to pattern a number of the finest gadgets on the drink and meals menu.

    The cocktail menu at Restaurant Pearl is intensive and has one thing for everyone.  Nevertheless, one of many largest focuses is highlighting Soju and Soju cocktails.  For our first drink we tried the Absinthe.  The factor about absinthe is you don’t discover lots of cocktails that includes it and when you do, it’s uncommon to search out one that’s effectively balanced.  This drink was simple with it’s substances and has Absinthe, Easy Syrup, Elderflower, and completed with Peychaud’s bitters.  After we obtained the drink, the very first thing we did was scent the cocktail.  The aroma of fennel was robust however refreshing on the similar time.  The primary sip was very natural from the absinthe however completed candy with a contact of floral which helped break up a number of the intense flavors from the absinthe.   Our subsequent drink was Sojurita which was made with Soju, Lime, Orange Liquor, Easy Syrup, and Szechuan Peppercorns.  This drink was fruity on the nostril and with the primary sip we obtained vibrant orange notes to the drink adopted by hints of lime and acidity to brighten it up.  The soju base of the drink made this drink gentle and refreshing the place a typical margarita is a bit heavier and extra acidic.  This drink is ideal for those who like drinks a bit fruit ahead and lighter.

For our appetizer course we opted for his or her Sourdough Bread with Doenjang butter in addition to the Wagyu Scorching Stone dish.  Somebody as soon as instructed us that if a restaurant makes you pay for bread, then that bread goes to be extraordinarily good.  With this bread, you get two giant items of grilled sourdough bread.  The bread itself was crisp on the skin however so fluffy and pillowy on the within.  The pairing with the doenjang butter gave this richness whereas additionally added a pleasant little bit of spice and taste to the bread.  Our general impression was the sourdough was excellent and effectively baked however the star of the present was the butter that makes it worthwhile paying for the bread.

The Wagyu Scorching Stone was an expertise.  For those who have ordered fajitas earlier than at a Mexican restaurant know what it’s wish to get a steaming plate put in entrance of you.  However with this dish, it combines the efficiency of a fajita with the attract of Korean BBQ.  On the desk is a very popular stone that’s used for cooking your meat. On the facet of the stone are just a few items of top of the range wagyu beef.  You possibly can have your server prepare dinner the primary batch for you however the true enjoyable is inserting the meat on the stone your self and watching it sizzle and prepare dinner.  On the facet are just a few toppings you may add on to your beef like pickled ginger.  As soon as our meat was carried out cooking, we tried it with a small sprinkle of salt.  This meat was juicy and so scrumptious.  You would style the depth of taste within the meat and it burst with umami taste.

For our mains we opted for the Ok Fried Rooster and the Salmon dish.  We tried the Ok Fried Rooster first which was made with cornichon, tomato, nappa cabbage, gochujang glaze, crème fraiche, and served in between two fluffy brioche buns.  Each time we have now the prospect to strive Korean fried rooster, we take that likelihood.  Korean fried rooster is completely different than the American model of it in that they spice their batter with a number of the conventional Korean spices and aromatics that give the rooster a bit extra kick.  With the primary chunk, we instantly discover that the rooster is so crispy on the skin and provides an incredible crunch whereas nonetheless being juicy and moist on the within.  The gochujang glaze provides a pleasant warmth and spice to the dish whereas then settling in to a light sweetness on the finish.  The crème fraiche performs a task by serving to mellow out a number of the gochujang spice making for an ideal stability with every chunk.

The Salmon dish was paired with Kabocha Squash puree and topped with a lemongrass beurre blanc sauce.  The salmon’s pores and skin was so crispy whereas the meat being moist and cooked an ideal medium temperature.  The beurre blanc sauce had a mellow herbaceousness to it which allowed the sweetness of the salmon to shine.  The pairing of the squash puree allowed for a wide range of textures whereas including a unique stage of sweetness to the dish which we couldn’t get sufficient of.

Our lasting ideas of Restaurant Pearl is that it takes an creative strategy to traditional Korean dishes.  We liked the number of the cocktail menu and would come again to strive extra of the soju based mostly drinks.  The meals menu had lots of the classics we might count on to see from a Korean impressed restaurant and we have been so pleased to see that all the substances have been carried out justice and the seasonings and spices used for every merchandise have been spot on.