Vestry

Summer 2024 Restaurant Week Review

Reservations: Available on Resy up to 28 days in advance. Reservations are readily available, even with short notice.

Experience: Upon walking into the dining room at Vestry you immediately know you’re in a Michelin starred restaurant. The host is unusually attentive, the tables are well decorated, and the chairs, in a bizarre fashion, are covered in fur cloths. When you settle in you’ll notice that the playlist is a combination of 90s and 00s R&B - everything from 112 to B2K. As a millennial I thoroughly enjoyed it but it struck me as odd given the space and the clientele. It gave me the feeling that Vestry was, unsuccessfully, trying to stay relevant and attract a younger crowd.

Food: Despite an obvious identity crisis, the food at Vestry does not disappoint. Often times RW menus are meager at best, but Vestry wisely took the opportunity to preview the highs of their menu. The stand outs included the Parmesan Milk Bread with Seaweed Butter, Saffron Girelle Pasta, Warm Summer Corn, and Corn Polenta. The Spice-Dusted Long Island Fluke was flavorful but dry, and the Smoked Amish Chicken was very salty (and I love salt!). The Jasmine Panna Cotta was good but overpowered by the very sweet honeycomb on top. Finally, the Homemade Cheesecake, served in the shape of a block of cheese with a mouse staring at it, was playful and unique, but we had to destroy the mouse immediately because who wants a mini rodent on their dinner table? The cheesecake has a bit of a funky aftertaste, but I kept going back for more.

Who to Bring: Vestry is a great restaurant for a high-end work dinner and would also be adored by parents. It wasn’t very loud (although it was a week night) so it’s likely a great option for an intimate date. I wouldn’t recommend a large group, primarily because of the price point.

What to Wear: Wear the dress! As a Michelin stared restaurant feel empowered to dress up here. They do have a dress code (“smart casual”), so keep that in mind and keep it elevated.

Clockwise from left to right: Parmesan Milk Bread with Seaweed Butter, Small Seafood Platter, Saffron Girelle Pasta, Warm Summer Corn, Spice-Dusted Long Island Fluke, Smoked Amish Chicken with Corn Polenta, Homemade Cheesecake, and Jasmine Panna Cotta.