LORE — Restaurant in New York

Warm interior, with friendly staff—and a seemingly interesting menu. LORE had the makings of a nice neighborhood restaurant with perhaps enough appeal to cajole non-Slopers into visiting.

That said, I think LORE suffers from three main issues: 1) an identity crisis, 2) execution, and 3) high prices.

The menu has shades of Indian, Korean, Middle Eastern, and perhaps other cuisines. That said, I’m not sure it pays homage to any of them well enough. So what’s the point? If I wanted to experience elevated or “new” for these cuisines, I’d go to Semma, Haenyeo, or Shukette, respectively.

Food: -Fried Delicata Squash (chili crisp, black lime yogurt, pumpkin seed) -Hen of the Woods Mushroom Uttapam -Sea Bream Ssam (butter head lettuce, kimchi, mint chutney, hot red chutney, malabar spices) -Brussels Sprouts

Cocktails: -Dirty Vodka Martini -Dove (blanco tequila, peas, lime, faccio brutta centerbe) -Cohen (mezcal, campari, meletti, cynar, bitters) -Sappho (vodka, baklava, lemon, bubbles)

Fried delicata squash was fine. But the heat was a bit overwhelming. Brussel sprouts were also just fine, but several of the sprouts were over-roasted (just kind of crumbled).

The uttapam was essentially a plate of mush. Kind of confused about the execution on this dish.

And the sea bream was a 1/4-lb filet with lettuce, herbs, kimchi, and a few chutneys to make lettuce-wraps. I believe it was ~$36 (excluding tax and tip).

Look, I’m sure it’s more expensive than ever to run a restaurant these days. But a quality market like Pierless Fish, for example, sells sea bream/daurade retail (as in, to customers like me) for $17.50 / lb—or about $4.38 / .25-lb.

If I’m paying $30 - $40 for fish at a good restaurant, it can’t be for 1/4-lb. That’s pretty unacceptable.

The cocktails were solid, with the Dove and Sappho standing out.

Bill came to about $155 plus tax, and tip (left 20%)--or about $200 total.

I don’t think I would return, or recommend the restaurant to friends. There are too many great restaurants in NYC to spend $100+ /...

This restaurant was excellent. First of all, the service was excellent, personable and the Lore team did everything they could to make our dining experience fulfilling. For instance, we queried with a staff member why there was no masala chai on the menu since my husband is an avid fan. 15 minutes lo and behold, 2 cups of chai were given to us. Apparently, the member or staff relayed my husband's query about masala chai to the Chef and he personally made some for my husband!!! And the chai did not disappoint with my husband claiming it was a really good chai!!!

Now turning to the Chef, Jay Kumar. What a lovely person who established a rapport with my husband since they both have beards and interested in watches. But Jay was lovely regardless speaking to all our friends on our table

The food was amazing. My husband and I ordered the dosa and the delikata squash as starters and we loved both. For our mains we ordered the mushroom uttapam and the butter less butter chicken. Both were good but one of our friends ordered the sea cream which looked good too. We also ordered the roasted rainbow carrots which our whole table loved. And Jay was generous enough to send us the Brussels sprouts and fries. The Brussels sprouts were delicious.

For dessert the 6 of us decided to order one ganache cake and to our surprise, we were given two. This dessert was good but next time I will order the semolina pudding.

What I liked about Lore was there was no time pressure on us to vacate the table and we were the last to leave.

I cannot wait to go back and the brunch menu looks good.

Lore deserved the recently awarded bib gourmand for good quality and cooking and it deserves a michelin star in the not so distant future. Well done Jay Kumar...

I discovered Chef Jay while diving deep into Hodinkee's YouTube videos, and when I realized I'd be in NYC, I knew I had to meet the man, taste his food, and chat about watches. Chef Jay did not disappoint. I brought my entire NYC family, a group of seven, and we experienced one of the most epic nights.

Every bite was unapologetically delicious, surpassing even the Michelin-starred restaurants I've been to. Chef Jay's brave, bright approach to elevating classic South Indian dishes took us on a global culinary journey, defying stereotypes and reigniting my pride in our rich culinary heritage.

The cocktails were another highlight of the evening. Each drink was crafted with precision and creativity, offering a perfect blend of flavors that complemented the meal beautifully. From classic concoctions with a twist to innovative new creations, every sip was a delight.

The service was impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who made us feel welcome and well-cared for throughout the evening. They were gracious, warm, and perfectly in tune with the rhythm of our dining experience. Their recommendations were spot-on, and they were more than happy to accommodate our dietary preferences.

Chef Jay and his team provided an experience that was both globally inspired and distinctly Indian, unapologetically pushing the boundaries of culinary art. It was an evening filled with laughter, incredible food, and great conversation, making it a night we won't soon forget. Chef Jay has truly created a dining experience that defies expectations and celebrates the rich tapestry of Indian cuisine on a global stage.

And, yes, we talked watches...