It’s official; restaurants in NYC will open their indoor spaces at 25% capacity starting September 30th! And NYC mayor De Blasio has extended the outdoor terrace permits for the whole year. This is big news!
I don’t know how restaurants will manage winter, but let’s wait and see.
Since restaurants opened on the streets, we have tried a few of them. Le crocodile, the new Wythe hotel bistro in Brooklyn, was the first restaurant where we resumed our family brunch tradition since the lockdown.
As well as the tents on the street, Le Crocodile has a lovely covered patio, which allows the restaurant to stay open during rainy days. It was a big advantage, as restaurants were not open indoors in NYC during the month of August.
We were seated on the patio; it was like being in the garden with all the green plants and flowers. It felt good to be out while feeling safe.
A sanitizer dispenser is placed on several walls for the patrons to use. The tables are separated following the social distancing rules, and the clients are asked to wear their facemasks when going to the restroom or leaving the premises.
The waiters are also wearing facemasks and gloves. The whole staff is taking the rules established by the NYC health department very seriously to keep everyone safe.
Being in a French bistro, we were bound to start with French pastries: the croissant and almond croissant; and a hint of America: the maple cream doughnut. Both croissants were fluffy and crunchy and the doughnut was delicious. The maple cream was smooth and light. That was a good start!
I recommend the Eggs Benedict if you like Hollandaise sauce. The poached eggs were perfect and the sauce generously covered the eggs lying on the jambon de Paris (ham) and English muffins.
The aubergine with pistachio tabbouleh and salsa verde was a smart choice as well. Although Le Crocodile is a French restaurant, it doesn’t mean they can’t go off the beaten track and be more creative with Mediterranean flavors. The long Asian eggplant was smoked and laid on a tabbouleh made of pistachio and green hummus on the bottom.
The Jonah crab with avocado and yuzu kochu dish intrigued me, so I decided to try it. It was a refreshing dish with a hint of Asian taste. The salad was made of crab chunks and served on a bed of avocado cream. The buckwheat pancake was slightly spicy, enhancing the overall flavor.
The dinner menu at Le Crocodile looks quite attractive as well. On the dessert list, they have a dish called Hotel Room, hmmm I’ll have to plan an outing to find out what’s behind the name.
#staysafe #wearamask
Le Crocodile
80 Wythe Ave,
Brooklyn, NY
📞 718-460-8004
Price range: $$$
Monday – Friday: 10:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5 – 10 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11 am – 3 pm, 5 – 10 pm
