New York / January 26, 2010 / dinner

Winederlust Rating (details below): 8.8 out of 10 / Winederlust Worthy: Yes

I hadn’t eaten at En Japanese Brasserie in several years, during a New York Restaurant Week where all I remember is that
we were served tastes in a Bento box and we saw Zac Posen. This time around,
Jay had just eaten at En the week before and raved about the yumminess of the
food, saying we needed to go back – and soon!

I was pleased to see that this year’s Restaurant Week Menu offered
more than the usual three-course appetizer, entrée, and dessert. But before
diving in, we started with a half-dozen Peace Passage oysters from Washington
State. They were phenomenal – juicy, creamy, huge, and delicious. I could have
easily eaten a dozen more.

Peace Passage oysters.

But off we went to En’s signature starter, fresh
homemade tofu in soy sauce. It was airy and light, and I also could have eaten
more than the four spoonfuls we were offered.

Homemade tofu.

Next we had hijiki (black seaweed) with soybeans, dashi, and
soy broth and daikon radish and tofu in a dashi broth, both light and tasty.

Hijiki with soybeans, dashi, and soy broth and daikon radish and tofu in a dashi broth.

Then we moved on to the main course, a choice of miso-glazed
grilled black cod served with onigiri (Japanese rice ball), daikon radish, and
miso soup; stone grilled Kobe-style rib eye steak; or vegetable tempura. Both
Jay and I opted for the black cod, which melted in our mouths.

Miso-glazed grilled black cod with daikon radish.

Onigiri (Japanese rice ball).

Finally came dessert, the most standard part of the meal – a
single scoop of tangerine ice cream, with a consistency more like a sorbet.
Though it was a pleasant end to a delicious Restaurant Week meal, I would have
preferred a taste of their green tea crème brulee – I’m a fanatic when it comes
to any desserts containing green tea. Next time!

– by Liz Humphreys, Winederlust Eater in Chief

Winederlust Rating Details (out of 10):

Food: 8.5 (preparation, presentation & taste)
Service: 9.0 (helpfulness, attentiveness, knowledge & pacing)
Place: 9.0 (location, view, decor & vibe)

Price Range: $$$ (Pricey)

Essential Information: 

En Japanese Brasserie / 435 Hudson St., New York [map]

Direct Line: (212) 647-9196

Website: http://www.enjb.com/

Open Monday-Saturday 12-2:30pm, Sunday-Thursday 5:30pm-11pm and Friday-Saturday 5:30pm-12:00am. Reservations needed, with some walk-ins at tables toward the front.