Hail to the King, a Brit-Run SoHo Bistro

The name may be King, but there’s three women running the show at the new, well-received bistro.

Formerly of London’s revered River Café, chefs Clare de Boer and Jess Shadbolt teamed up with Clove Club’s general manager Annie Shi, before promptly hopping the pond to New York, and settling in the city’s (somewhat more posh) SoHo neighborhood.

Don’t expect blowsy English pub fare like shepherds pie and pasties, however; the menu actually largely focuses on the simple, refined cooking of Northern Italy and Southern France.  Seasonal and daily-changing (de Boer and Shadbolt trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, one of the early innovators of the farm-to-table movement) past starters have included peppery rounds of Saucisson and piles of Zucchini Fritti, followed by Grilled Quail with tapenade and watercress, Provencal Fish Stew with clams and lobster, and doughy Malfatti slicked with butter and marjoram, paired with rustic sides like Borlotti Beans slow-cooked with prosciutto di parma.  For dessert, we’ve spotted Fig, Almond and Brown Butter Tart.

And the congenial eatery might just become a favorite amongst NYC’s vocal, anti-brunch contingent, thanks to the eventual debut of European-style Sunday lunches.  Instead of blueberry pancakes and unlimited Bloody Mary’s, the day-long, civilized spread will consist of a slew of hearty, savory dishes, such as steaming bowls of roasted lamb, wilted spinach and creamy polenta, accompanied by magnums of wine.

Sounds like a feast truly fit for a king (or make that queen).

King
18 King St.
(917) 825-1618
kingrestaurant.nyc