Demo restaurant in NYC is proof of life that the cuisine forward scene of Brooklyn is migrating back to Manhattan. Set in the West Village, Demo looks like a simple wine bar and shares a kitchen with a bagel shop. However in reality it’s a budding foodie haven with so much potential. This is the review of a spot to add to your date night, low-key catch ups with friends or when you just want a good bite to eat.
Atmosphere
Demo restaurant in NYC illustrates why we are the most effortlessly cool city in the world. While Demo is in the heart of the West Village, the crowd is a mix of East Village, Lower East Side and Brooklyn. No matter though what enclave people come from, they are neighborhood cool and there to nosh and drink in a commensurately cool place. The decor may be simple with a small bar up front and basic wooden booths and tables, but Demo is something special. You don’t need to even have a bite of the food to know it. It’s clear from the crowd that’s made Demo their go-to spot and unpretentious vibe of the tattooed staff who greet you.
Food + Wine
Dishes are solidly above average and you can tell (and see if you sit at the Chef’s Counter) prepared with care. Demo is still relatively new but there is so much potential it to grow into the excellent realm. The focaccia is a 3 inch high or so slab of doughy bread that comes out with olive oil. You can opt to add accoutrements like anchovy, caponata, peppers and butter. I noticed the diners next to me eating the bread as a course on its own with quiet reverence as they caught up. Also don’t be fooled by the Ritz crackers on the menu. It just happens those Ritz crackers, also on display at the Chef’s counter, are an integral ingredient of the crab casino with guanciale. You can spread the buttery crab on the focaccia or eat it straight out of the shell.
The scallop crudo was simple, clean and perfectly executed, with just the right amount of gremolata on top. I also had a soft shell crab special that was served on rosti with light cream sauce with trout roe that I would go back for in a heartbeat. I hope this review keeps it on the menu as long as crabs are in season. On my wish list for next time is the lobster au poivre. The lobster is pure meat, out of the shell, and in a rich au poivre sauce served with thick cut homemade steak fries. The other dish I saw that looked interesting was an arroz a la plancha. Once again it sounded straight forward but in execution the rice was crispy and topped with mushrooms and cheese.
At the chef’s counter where I snagged a seat, I watched the banana pudding being meticulously assembled with a blow torch for the banana. I’m not a big dessert person but would go back next time. I’m also not a big natural wine person at all, but the German pinot noir was solid. Overall Demo restaurant in NYC is going for a much higher level of cuisine.
Service
Like foodie restaurants that have staff who go onto open interesting new ventures, Demo is from alums of now-closed Contra on the Lower East Side. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in a place where more of the staff is tattooed than not. With that said there’s a street cred it brings to Demo and the culture of the restaurant, which is all about passion. The team is attentive and wicked smart when it comes to food and the wine. It’s pretty special when a team comes together like at Demo restaurant in NYC that is in it for the love of the game.
Overall: 8.3/10
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FAQs
Q: Where is Demo restaurant in NYC located?
A: Demo restaurant in NYC is located at34 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014.
Q: What are the hours of operation at Demo restaurant in NYC?
A: The hours of operation at Demoo restaurant in NYC are as follows:
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Q: Is Demo restaurant in NYC a wine bar or can you get a full meal at the restaurant?
A: Demo restaurant in NYC serves full meals as well as smaller plates that are more than sufficient for a meal.
