A good fusion restaurant isn't just an outstanding place to practice close-up magic on unsuspecting patrons; it's also the ideal spot to meet friends and share Burton Gilliam gossip. Sip, socialize, and mesmerize your mouth with today's deal: for $15, you get $30 worth of creative cuisine at Essex Restaurant. This Groupon is not good toward brunch but can be used toward daily specials and happy hour at this lively Lower East Side hot spot.
The atmosphere inside the dual-leveled dining Thunderdome is as cozy and intimate as a hug from a pet lamb. Brightly lit windows bring in buckets of natural light to complement the extensive menu with edible sunrays. Between Monday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., drinks are half-price with an accompanying daily special, such as $1 oysters on Mondays and Thursdays, and $18 Maine lobster on Wednesdays.
Equally special, but not labeled as such, are dinner offerings such as filet mignon with sweet-potato fries and mixed greens in a shallot red-wine reduction ($24) or the Essex Cubano sandwich with sweet plantains ($13). The savory menu culls influence from Jewish and Latin cultures, forging a hybrid cuisine from the dynamic duo. Essex staples include their famous potato pancakes ($6 each), steamed mussels with chorizo in a tomato-cilantro broth ($12), and the Market Cheese Plate ($12). Add a few sides ($4) like mashed potatoes or sweet plantains and salsa to create a tasty lineup customized to your tastes like a fantasy football draft for purple people eaters.
Reviews
New York magazine named Essex a critics' pick, Time Out New York described it as a slick and sexy refuge, and Dine or Death reviewed it:
- The lively atmosphere and intriguing Jewish-Latin fare can mean long waits, so make reservations. – New York
- A slick, sexy refuge for subscribers to the “I am where I eat” school of dining out, Essex can be surprisingly intimate on weeknights, when the lull provides a little breathing room. The corner location is prime… – Time Out New York
More than 120 Citysearchers give Essex four stars, and 70% of Urbanspooners like it.
