NORWOOD – NYC
241 West 14th Street, New York NY 10011
Rating: 7.5
Back Garden Lanterns
Norwood is a private club right near the meatpacking district. It is a brownstone building that is converted into a homey space for parties or relaxing in the dining room or one of their three bars. The decor is an eclectic mix of artsy pieces that make every room interesting to sit in.
On Thursday night a bunch of my friends and I got together to celebrate the arrival of our friend’s cousin who is spending the summer working in Manhattan from Milan as well as sending a friend off to Africa on a medical research program. We were kindly hosted in the enclosed back garden which brick-walled, lined with ivy and beautifully decorated with white lanterns and small white lights. Each table is lit by just a single column candle which casts a warm glow and also gives you a bit of a feeling of sitting around a bonfire.
The food is actually very good at Norwood. The menu is a bit of a mix and includes everything from bistro fare of burgers and oysters to pastas to more of-the-moment dishes like quinoa salad.
To start I had half a dozen oysters which were served on a gorgeous oyster plate. Whenever I am served oysters on these vintage-styled plates it feels very “Great Gatsby” to me.
Oysters
As my main course I had the quinoa salad because I am still in my obsessive quinoa phase. What made this dish even more appealing was that it was topped with a few fried squash blossoms and an avocado mousse. Healthy (ish) and delicious.
Quinoa Salad with Fried Zucchini Blossoms
I also snuck a bite of my neighbor’s roasted beet and grapefruit salad which was fresh and colorful.
Beet & Grapefruit Salad
One of our sides was fiddlehead ferns which don’t show up often on menus. They were nicely cooked and tender with a slightly bitter and buttery taste.
Fiddlehead Ferns
Lastly, I had a bite of the short rib ravioli which was truly excellent. The filling was rich and they were topped with a creamy sauce.
Braised Short Rib Ravioli
Norwood is a very nice place to have a fun dinner away from the craziness of the meatpacking district.
Friends
Leave a Reply