The National

Ravenous (yet again) and in search of sustenance near Grand Central, I decided to give The National a try. I had been eyeing the restaurant for about six months when a Blackboard Eats coupon arrived in my inbox for The National.  The National receives very mixed reviews despite it's famous chef Geoffrey Zakarian.

The National feels like someone stole a Parisian neighborhood bistro and transplanted it into bustling midtown NYC.  After a long day, it was rewarding to slide into the soft,  wide leather seats.  Equally rewarding is the wine menu, with reasonably priced wine and bubbly from all over. The wide range of dishes on the Nuevo American inspired menu ensures there is something for everyone.

The server kindly granted our requests to refill the fresh bread basket, noting our favorites and bringing back only the bread varieties we preferred.  Even though I have heard grumbling about the service at The National, I thought our service was attentive and friendly.  I asked for the chorizo and bacon in our dishes on the side and the server obliged with a smile. 

Zakarian successfully uses familiar ingredients, like scallops, and morphs them into a beautifully presented, unique tasting dish.  Also, the split dining room affords a choice between dining in a trendy, loud room or a more laid back, quieter room. 

What to Eat:

Diver Scallops.  The succulent diver scallops are marinated in a light onion broth and topped with fennel and bacon (the bacon is on the side in this pic).  The scallops were incredible fresh and tender.  This dish is perfect with a glass of wine if you are looking for something quick and light.





Grilled Octopus

Another fantastic quick and light option is the octopus.  The octopus is surrounded by a few interesting ingredients, like pickled celery and piperade.  The piperade, a Basque sauce combining pureed peppers, onions and tomatoes, along with the beans and chorizo (also on the side here), created a Mexican fiesta in my mouth.



 
Get there early because by the time we arrived at 9pm, the restaurant was out of their well known "Ugly Burger".  None of the entrees we ordered stood out as exceptional so I can't recommend one but if I go back, I would probably pick a special or the Halibut. 

Looking for a spot to meet someone for drinks and appetizers before catching a train back to suburbia?  The National is worth a detour,

 Your foodie friend