le turtle: review

I knew I had to check out Le Turtle immediately...the review on Eater was just too provocative.

So I got a swank 6pm reservation for me and my son. We took the Q and wandered up from Canal through Chinatown. I have no idea what this space was before: it could have been a fish market. It's now quite funky and bearded men bustled about. The bus-girls wore baggy overalls and seemed terrified of making a mistake.

The lobster dish was very interesting. Very fresh lobster, perfectly cooked, all carapace removed, served in a creamy sauce reminiscent of...Cinnabun!

We got to meet the chicken then eat the chicken. They bring it out, smoking and whole, on a bed of hay, feet curled. Then they take it away for a good ten minutes to cut it up. This is the best tasting chicken I have ever eaten, and I've had poulet de Bresse in Bourg-en-Bresse.Insanely tasty and juicy with severely crisp skin, I found myself eating the neck and even the pope's nose: all good.

Desserts were delicious: a kind of chocolate ice and a hazelnet cake with ice cream.

Wine by the glass was an excellent Fleurie, reasonably priced (relatively).

Service was excellent, especially our down-to-earth waitress: no hipster attitude there.

I asked to keep the cute pink pen and they gave my son a souvenir pencil with little rocks in it. Nice!

Le Turtle

177 Christie Street

Grade: A

quality eats

This quirky eatery has a great location. Across the street from Umami Burger, it's near NYU, the B, the Q, etc.

I'm not sure what was here before, but they have converted it into a cozy, modern space.

Wines by the glass were affordable and excellent.

I loved the caesar salad which was anchovy and raw-egg–free.

The hanger steak was cooked to absolute perfection.

This is a steak house with smaller, more affordable steaks.

The french fries were from planet perfection. This is very important.


Quality Eats

16 Greenwich Ave.

Grade: A