Apiary

Apiary is a cute, small restaurant on the lower east side.  Consistent with the restaurant name, the walls are decorated with deconstructed beehives.  While the decor is modern, the tables/chairs are surprisingly comfortable.

While waiting for our table, several of us sat at the bar (Apiary will not seat you until your entire party arrives).  While we are a loud bunch when we get together, we were seated at a bar, at a popular restaurant, not a library or an intimate restaurant.  A gentlemen (I use that term loosely here) seated at a table in the bar area proceeded to scream at us to be quiet (the irony).  Appalled, we asked to be seated at our table in the dining room far away from this man immediately.  To our disappointment, the hostess refused to seat us so we had to continue to sit (uncomfortably) at the bar about 10 feet away from this irrational man.

Despite this early outburst, the rest of the evening was lovely.  Apiary boasts a terrific and diverse wine list, featuring both moderately priced and high end wines.  If you are looking for a white wine to beat the summer heat, order the Apud Sariacum by Phillipe Raimbult bottle of Sancerre.  The bottle was somewhat reminiscent of New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, which tend to be my favorite.  I plan on stocking up on a few of these for my wine fridge at home.

The servers were attentive throughout our meal and brought out an extra dessert, apologizing for the earlier outburst.

Every dish we ordered was perfection.  My only regret of the night is failing to take pictures of the Panna Cotta and Strawberry Rhubarb Tart.  The apology dessert Apiary sent over for the screaming man was a bland Blackberry Financier (the only lackluster dish of the night).  Skip it and go with either the Panna Cotta and/or the Strawberry Rhubarb Tart.



What To Eat:

Start with the Rock Shrimp Chittara.  It is listed as an entree so order it as an appetizer to share (the server had the kitchen split it for us which was a nice surprise).  Each portion was very large.  The bowl was overflowing with homemade chitarra noodles in a spicy, garlic, tomato broth and filled with tons of fresh rock shrimp and clams.





Order the Long Island Duck Breast for your entree.  I loved everything about this dish.  Apiary carved long, thick strips of duck breast (as opposed to small round pieces most restaurants serve).  Each bit was juicy, perfectly cooked, and tender. The duck is placed on a bed of parsnip puree (which I would have liked more of) and farro (which I would have liked less of). 




For something slightly (since there is a butter sauce, emphasis on the slightly) healthier, opt for the Atlantic Merluza.  I had no clue what merzula was and forgot to ask but the preparation sounded tasty so I figured it was worth a try.  This thick fillet of Hake fish resembled cod but was less oily.  The fish was prepared in a savory butter sauce accompanied by lightly roasted asparagus.


Looking for an intercontinental menu with a fantastic wine list?  Check out Apiary (and try not to get accosted by a cranky old man), 

Your foodie friend

Insider tip:  Apiary offers incredible Sunday supper deals and no corkage for wine on Monday nights!