Little Maven — Restaurant in New York

I was on a date with the missus last night and decided to walk around the neighborhood a little to see what was new or interesting. We walked by Little Maven and decided to have a cocktail at the bar, and I'm very glad we did.

First let me praise the service staff here, from Chef Capon all the way down to the bussers, everyone was so lovely. I especially enjoyed our sommelier, she knew the list intimately, and was effortlessly able to translate my request into a stunning bottle of 2013 Rosso from Friuli. I never would have thought to give this wine a shot, but was totally blown away by its elegance. She also made some great food paring recommendations, my favorite of which were the Tuna Cannoli. Our server Lawrence also deserves recognition for taking great care of us and for helping us navigate the menu. Chef Capon stopped by at the end of our meal to chat with us and ask about our experience. He was so nice and humble. It was great to get to chat with him, and I think it shows he really cares about his customers' experience. I also want to shout out our bartender, who made some stunning cocktails for us. He was incredibly gregarious, helpful, and attentive.

As for the food, it was all excellent. If I went back I would probably opt for their tasting menu so we could try a more representative cross-section of the menu, everything sounded so delicious. We tried the spring salad, the aforementioned Tuna Cannoli, and the caviar tater-tots. Everything we both well presented and composed. The salad was fresh, earthy, with the right blend of bright acidity from the vinaigrette and salty umami from the ricotta salta. The tuna was fresh and packed a major umami punch, followed up by some surprising heat on the finish. I could have eaten two or three orders for dinner and been happy. The tater-tots are served as four pieces, each generously topped with osetra caviar, which I was glad to see since they command a premium price.

For main courses we each had a duck dish- I had the dry aged duck and my wife had the duck pappardelle. The ingredients were so fresh and the flavors so vibrant. The presentation of these dishes was lovely as well. Both tasted excellent and paired amazingly with the wine. For dessert we shared the "Cookies & Cream" which consisted of 4 home made chocolate chip cookies served with house made soft-serve vanilla. Both were great, the cookies were particularly decadent. We paired that with a nice glass of Sauternes. As we were getting the check, they also dropped us off a complimentary glass of Cynar (amaro) which was a very nice gesture.

Overall, we had a lovely experience at Little Maven are...

Let's start with the food; Beet salad, just wow. It hits the full palate with a considerable weight - umami and savory and salty and sweet and soft and crunchy ... beyond all my expectations. On a bed of thick Greek yogurt (or as I learned they prefer to call it, "labneh") which altogether marries the mix in a truly fresh way. I expected great, and this went so far beyond what I'd anticipated - it was truly exceptional.

Since I sat at the bar, of course I had a drink. On discussing with the bartender, we came to decide on a take he suggested on the Old Fashioned / a San Paolo (sp?). Not to be confused with the tomato juice San Paulo cocktail. I've long enjoyed variations of this beverage, just call me 'old fashioned', and this version ranks right up near the top. Plus, making it even more enjoyable, the bartenders shared duties in a nicely balanced way. Attentive and responsive, they were exceptional as a team as well as individually. Rare and appreciated.

Seating surrounded the open floor plan, with several cozy comfy booths and plentiful wait staff to attend the healthy crowd. Which leads me to a favorite topic - service. On this, the Little Mavin is on a rare level... I felt truly engaged and surrounded by a sea of smile. Let me go on...

Hospitality is definitely a core capability, and it is done very well at this establishment. Every person was welcoming and inviting. They seemed to be looking for ways to engage and exceed expectations. From the Maître d' to the owner/partner himself - this place gets top marks in customer service, professional friendliness, positive and engaging staff and general conviviality.

What remains to be seen is what happens when the steam picks up... Wait-lists and reservations can change the mood, or they can rarify the air justifiably. I'm sure however this is handled it will be done exceptionally well.

Strongest recommendation - swing by for a drink or a meal....

Wow this some of the best food I've had in the city. The decor is swanky casual. Great place for a work outing. The light is dim, a little too dim to read the menu but I liked the vibe it created. I can at least see the food I was eating.

The wait service is impeccable. They give you new plates between courses, refill your water, and just know how to be attentive and polite. They also have a complimentary coat check.

The menu has plenty of options to choose from without being overwhelming. For a group of 5 we got 3 apps, an entree each, two sides and a dessert. Plenty of food. Also each got a drink. Bill $500.

Everyone was moaning in delight as they ate bites of the food. Standouts for me included the tahini, caviar tots and artic char.

The tahini app is big. Comes with bread and veggies and lots of thick, creamy tahini. The bread was excellent and I love all the pairings.

I never had caviar on tots before. 5 tots for $50. Caviar is slightly salty, and the texture pairs well with the tater tot.

The artic char is a decent size, meaty and cooked to perfection. Very juicy with a crisp skin. The base I think was more tahini and fish roe. Very good.

We got the cookies and ice cream for the table. It's a miso cookie, tastes salty and meaty. Like umami, very interesting. Def needs the sweet and cold ice cream pairing.

My nutty professor drink was outstanding. It came in a fun mug. I thought it would be a bit bigger, mostly ice.

Would definitely come here again for a special occasion, date night, work outing or for taking an out of town friend.

When you make a reservation they take your card down and charge you a fee if you miss the...