Tatiana
AMAZING
Believe it or not, I was able to get a reservation at Tatiana! They go live on Resy at 12pm, for those who don’t know, which I did not until I finally checked haha. I was expecting this restaurant to be on my list of walk-in-only spots because of its immense popularity, so I never even checked for the reservation logistics. I am so glad I attempted to just make a reservation because that requires much less planning and stress!
The restaurant is both funky and comforting with great music blasting, low lighting but bright accents, and warm and friendly staff!
I started with our waitress’s recommendation for a drink: the Panchito. This drink is made with Pisco 1615, acid adjusted pineapple, cinnamon grapefruit cordial, lime, and angostura. It was really good!! Based on the ingredients, I believe it’s inspired by a Pisco Sour, which I have literally never had, but apparently I need to try it because this was bomb. It was really balanced, smooth, fruity, light, and refreshing!
For the small share plates, my friend and I went with the Crispy Okra, Fluke Crudo, Crab & Oxtail Patties, and Egusi Tortellini.
These patties felt similar to empanadas and were just stuffed to the brim with oxtail and crab! I didn’t taste much crab. I think it might’ve been a little overpowered by the oxtail and the sauces, but it was delicious nonetheless. The two sauces were aioli-style and teriyaki-esque. They both added some more bold flavors which were tart (the white sauce) and salty-umami (the brown sauce). Super flaky pastry and meaty interior!
The Fluke Crudo was super fresh, the avocado was still firm (hate a mushy avocado, so I appreciated this), and the mango sauce was probably my favorite part of this plate. It was super flavorful, fresh, and bright. Overall, I’d say if I went back, I’d abstain from the fluke and try something else, but it was still good.
The Egusi Tortellini was super crab heavy which I really loved!! Got a lot of bang for your buck with this one. The crab and tortellini sat on a bed of a spicy tomato sauce which was really deep in flavor. The tortellini pasta itself was cooked perfectly and stuffed to the brim with a hint of sweetness. The whole dish went together really well with the sweet and tender crab, stuffed tortellini, and kick from the tomato sauce. I would definitely get this appetizer again.
This was probably my favorite appetizer of the night! I have never had okra before and I fear I won’t be able to have any okra again if it isn’t cooked like this. When it arrived on the table, I thought that it would be soggy, but I was mistaken. It was incredibly crispy!!! It was covered in a honey glaze which was incredible, and not too sweet because it had a spicy kick at the end. The tartar sauce made it feel like I was eating fried fish, and the dish was completely balanced with all the flavors.
This seemed like it might be a small entrée when it came to the table, but the shrimp are actually HUGE and there is so much meat, even in the heads. I was not expecting it to blow me away with flavor the way it did. The sauce felt similar to a curry and was creamy, rich, and hearty. It was incredibly indulgent and I could not stop having the sauce, which I’m sure is why they included the big fluffy slices of brioche. The brioche might look like it has the consistency of a crouton (my fear), but it was the SOFTEST crusty bread I think I’ve ever had. It soaked up the sauce perfectly. The shrimp itself was cooked to perfection too. It was tender with a bite, really fresh, and again, had so much meat. I would 100% recommend this to anyone going here.
Side note: I originally wanted to get the Short Rib Pastrami Suya, but the prices are not available on the online menu, so when I got there and saw it was listed for $120 I had to abstain—SADLY. I would’ve gotten it if my friend was going to have some, but since she wasn’t, I decided to forgo it! Next time I come though, the suya will be had. That was one thing that was recommended to me as a must-get, but I had to not go for it this time for these reasons so I wanted to explain haha.
For dessert, we got the famous Bodega Special; it is a dish composed of a cosmic brownie, powdered donut ice cream, and sorrel. The rumors are true: it’s insane. The brownie was still warm, and it was super chocolatey and dense. It was the perfect level of density for a brownie (fudgy and a bit cakey!) and tasted like it was made with dark chocolate, so not too sweet. The ice cream seemed like it was stuffed into the donuts somehow, so it felt a bit like mochi. The entire dessert was really well-composed and balanced. A perfect end to a delicious meal!!!
Tatiana is definitely a must-dine. The location is perfect if you want to make an entire night of it and see the lovely American Ballet Theatre perform at Lincoln Center’s Koch Theater or Metropolitan Opera House, literally like 100 feet across the way. But even if you’re just going for dinner, you will not be disappointed. The restaurant space is warm and stylish, the food is insanely flavorful and inventive, and the vibes are high!