We hosted a client dinner at Crop Bistro this week and were thoroughly impressed. I wasn’t familiar with the restaurant which has been open since 2007 and since 2010 in this new location.
The food was killer with amazing attention to detail in both taste and presentation. The clients we were with are well-known in the chef scene so we got a personal tour from Steve Schimoler, owner chef, of the place.
The restaurant was painstakingly remodeled by Steve and his team. The location was originally built for the aristocrats of a bygone era to stash their money.
The basement was complete remodeled too. The vault was converted to a private dining room (and might be featured in an upcoming superhero movie). The rest of the basement features a food science laboratory for experimentation in food and beverages.
One of the key features of the test kitchen is the state-of-the-art water system. Not only does it filter and process the water with reverse osmosis. It also has the capabilities of adding chemicals and minerals to the water to duplication popular waters from around the world. This means Brooklyn pizza and Paris croissants are at your fingertips. I am totally looking at one of these for the home…however I have to imagine they are piles of money to purchase. The great water also makes great ice cubes. They are even experimenting with duplicating ice cubes from locals around the world. The first was of Scotland for a Scotch tasting.
The appetizers, main courses and desserts were all incredible. Very well executed and amazingly fresh. I got excited when I saw the selection of liquors at the bar. This included a good selection of bitters too. I had two drinks. The La Peche Bu and the Maker’s New Fashioned. Both were incredibly sweet. The La Peche Bu didn’t have much going on past the light peach flavor and sugar. However, the Maker’s New Fashioned has much more body. The Cherry Chipotle Cure featuring Fee Brothers bitters was really the spice of the drink and was pleasing. But I would have liked it with less sweetness. I heard no complaints from the other guests drinks so I might have made poor selections.
I highly recommend the place and will be going back again especially for the food and amazing service.