Crown Shy — Restaurant in New York

Dinner at Crown Shy is always a memorable and exciting experience, and our most recent visit truly raised the bar. It was a five-star evening all around, from the food and drinks to the service and ambiance. While the evening didn’t start perfectly on time—our party was late due to a scheduling mix-up—the team’s graciousness turned what could have been an awkward situation into an opportunity to feel genuinely valued. When we explained the delay and offered to begin ordering while waiting for our friends to arrive, the staff was not only accommodating but also expressed heartfelt appreciation for our thoughtfulness. Their understanding and kindness set the tone for what became an extraordinary evening.

Unmatched Hospitality: Our server, Adrien, epitomized hospitality—gracious, knowledgeable, and deeply attentive without ever being intrusive. Adrien’s expert recommendations, from cocktails to dessert pairings, elevated the entire dining experience. The team’s generosity throughout the night was truly touching, especially when they surprised us with additional desserts to thank us for our mindfulness earlier in the evening. It was a simple yet profoundly generous gesture that left a lasting impression on all of us.

Exceptional Cocktails & Wines: We kicked off with the Oro Maya cocktails, a stunning mix of flavors that was both refreshing and sophisticated. Transitioning to the wine list for the main courses felt seamless, thanks to Adrien’s thoughtful guidance. To cap off the meal, an amaro recommended by Adrien paired perfectly with dessert, adding a beautifully complex note to the end of our evening.

Divine Dishes, Perfectly Balanced: The food was nothing short of spectacular, each dish a masterpiece of flavor, balance, and presentation. The complementary pull apart bread with butter was so delicious and perfect, we were floored. We started with the oysters (grapes, elderberry, and kombucha) that were so divine we immediately ordered a second round. From there, the hamachi crudo (citrus and dashi) and the tuna toast (pineapple and chorizo) took the meal to another level. The tuna toast was, without exaggeration, one of the best bites we’ve ever had—we could have easily eaten a dozen more.

For mains, the charred carrots with razor clams and the branzino with squash mole and Brussels sprouts delivered bold, beautiful flavors and textures that reflected the kitchen’s impeccable creativity.

Show-Stopping Desserts: Dessert was, without question, one of the highlights of the evening. We ordered the sticky toffee pudding for two (pecan and apple sorbet), a warm and comforting end to the meal. But the most unforgettable desserts came as a surprise from the team—a gesture of appreciation that made the night feel truly special. The satsuma orange ice cream with honey and toasted marshmallow and the horchata ice cream with chocolate and churros were absolutely dreamy. Both were unique and amazing, perfectly crafted, and left us savoring every bite.

Immaculate Vibes: Beyond the food and drink, Crown Shy offers an ambiance that’s second to none. The curated playlist—90s hip-hop and R&B—added energy and nostalgia to the experience, while the sleek yet inviting decor made the space feel luxurious but comfortable. Everything from the lighting to the table settings reflected a commitment to thoughtful design and guest comfort.

A Legacy of Excellence: Crown Shy is a testament to the legacy of the incredibly talented Jamal James Kent, and it’s clear that his vision is carried out in every detail of the experience. From the immaculate vibes to the extraordinary hospitality and unforgettable food, Crown Shy is a place that doesn’t just deliver a meal—it creates a memory.

We left Crown Shy feeling more than satisfied; we felt celebrated. If it were possible, we’d give this spot ten stars. It’s a true gem in every sense of the word, and we cannot recommend it enough. Whether it’s for a special occasion or simply a night out, Crown Shy guarantees an experience that will stay with you long after you’ve...

Spent my birthday dinner 2025 at Crown Shy and loved every bit of it!!! Split a ton of dishes which is my absolute favorite way to dine because I always want to try everyyyything.

Starting off they served probably what was the best complimentary bread Ive ever had. A nice firm outside with a pillowy soft inside, plus the added surprise of a pistachio filling ummm YUM I love pistachios so that was basically a birthday present right there.

Moving into some small plates, we got the White Bean Hummus with Nduja and Pine Nuts, Veggies to dip. This hummus was great, incredibly smooth and the Nudja was a great twist to it, plus the added crunch of the pine nuts made it just so balanced and honestly kind of a refreshing starter.

Then we had the Gruyere Fritters with Chili and Lime which were kinda like a churro with a cheese filling. These were fine, like they were definitely good but didn’t wow me. Maybe a higher cheese to dough ratio wouldve aligned better with me, but I loved the chili.

We also got the Beef Kibbeh with Labneh and Lavash. This was definitely my favorite starter, the flavors here were so complex I was kinda stunned omg. First of all Ive never had Kibbeh presented like this it was like the filling of a classic kibbeh spread out flat, and some of the Labneh dolloped on top. The Lavash was so crispy and even had a slight acidity to it that was weird but in a good way. Pairing that with the meat was incredible. Like it was not fully savory but not sweet either. This interesting third thing that I don’t recall experiencing with food before. Yum!!!!!

Next we tried the Octopus and let me tell you this was one stellar octopus wow. Ok ill be honest here Ive only had octopus one other time before and it was grilled octopus in Croatia earlier this year which they are known for. But I honestly think I liked this one here much more. It was charred so well and crispy, so that smokiness cancelled out any fishiness that might have been there. Plus the tteokbokki and this beautiful spiced sauce that was so rich.

Moving on to mains, first was the BBQ Eggplant which I also thought was fine. It was cooked well and the pepper sauce was okay. It was just a pretty simple dish which isnt necessarily bad, sometimes you need that to balance out other dishes in a meal.

Last main, and my favorite, the Pork Katsu with Curry Béarnaise and Cherries. Wow, thats how you make katsu!!!! So so so so so crispy and the sauce was fireeeeee. Actually made my tastebuds dance around and party. The cherries were such a fun twist to it too and I wish there were more of them on it so I could have a cherry with each bite.

Moving on to dessert, I got a mini cupcake with a candle for my birthday which was sweet.

The Tres Leches was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I didn’t even know you could make tres leches taste like THATTTTT. WOW. Theirs takes on more of that dulce de leche flavor and has some nuts crushed on the inside and these extra crunchy candy balls of some sort on top of the cream that were divine. Also I’m a stickler when it comes to tres leches and how much the cake is actually soaked. I do NOT want there to be ANY amount of dry cake ANYWHERE and they did a great job here making sure it is soaked well all the way through.

Also tried the Satsuma Orange Ice Cream with Toasted Marshmellow and Honeycomb Candy. Fire. The orange ice cream felt so light and fresh, and I absolutely love honeycomb candy I wish it was more popular in the US.

Ended the night with a cocktail just to cheers to my new year ahead. Got the Melona Milk Punch which was stellar. Tastes exactly like the Calpico Melon iykyk but somehow made completely clear like it looked like a glass of water!

Overall I had a great meal here and would for sure return. Special shout out to the graphic design of all the text especially the sick neon...

As a treat to myself for turning twenty, I booked myself a table at this classy looking joint. You'll learn why I picked it later. Went for the restaurant week deal, can confirm it's well worth it. They sat me where I guess they sit the unattached (solo diners) I noticed too late the guy next to me was outrageously good looking, but anyway. I ordered, and so it began.

First couple courses weren’t my favorite, they start you with this little bread with green onion butter, the bread had this kind of cistrusy parmesan that didn't especially work for me, the bread was a tear apart loaf but personally for brioche, I'm more of a puffy bun person myself. Next was some grilled pears served room temp, which I'm not sure was intentional, but it was decent enough. Came with this nice whipped cheese. Thankfully, greatness was to come because NEXT PEOPLE. Next was the BRANZINO. This thing sang. It was on top of this velvet red mole that I think saved my life with Brussel sprouts that gave it a crunch and a char- and the fish was cooked perfectly, just melt in the mouth, I love love loved it, liked the damn plate clean. It made me feel like honored. Like a king.

Now the ordering of dessert didn't go smoothly. I was dead set on this particular thing- and here you learn why I picked this place. Many moons ago I was perusing the NYT (super academic and intelligent of me, no big deal) back home in Seattle, and I flipped the page to see the most jaw droppingly gorgeous photograph of a Sticky Toffee Pudding. I read the article. I learned they serve it warm, in a little skillet with toasted pecans, and a side of green apple sorbet and cream. I wrote down the name of the restaurant and pledged to myself that someday. That sticky toffee pudding would be mine. Flash forward, they told me I couldn't order it because I was just one person. So I did what I had to, I tacked on a whopping $30 to my bill and ordered it off the main menu, and ALSO of course ordered a dessert from the set. It was very funny. A server brought it all out, looked at me, I guess thought 'this can't all be for that weird, lone child' and took it back before finally confirming yup, they had it right. The set menu dessert was a Satsuma ice cream with marshmallow and honey comb and this thing made me feel like a little kid, it made me feel like Winnie the pooh. It was so light and balanced and sharp and sweet and the honeycomb added this perfect texture, flawless, one of the great desserts of my life. And then the pudding. Oh that pudding. Rich and dark with these smoky amber pecans, that plush pudding soaking up this beautiful toffee sauce, with the tang from that apple sorbet and that cloudlike cream I could've cried right there in front of everybody and I almost did! Because they also brought me this little cupcake for my birthday, which was actually weirdly delicious. So yes, three desserts. I ate them all. It was awesome, and I would do it again. Could not have been happier with that pudding, cannot reccommend it enough (can confirm also, that it CAN feed just one). The staff were all so kind, sweet and wonderful. It made me feel very special. Not a bad birthday. Really,...