Pearl Street Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

If you loved Penny but didn't love the frosty, snooty AF clientele (and staff, let's be honest), head on over to this dead zone of DUMBO for its much more casual cousin.

Tucked away in a rundown strip mall of sorts, Pearl Street is all exposed pipes and fragile items balanced precariously on top of one another in a kitchen smaller than some Easy Bake Ovens. Much like Penny, the entire seating area is a U-shaped counter, so everyone has a view of the action. Unlike Penny, the overhead speakers blast Zeppelin, Chris Cornell and other rockers you hung posters of in your college dorm.

The prices are Manhattan-level, as are the portion sizes, but so is the quality. Here's how we spent our dough:

"Sea-cuterie" for Two: This came with a half dozen oysters, large shrimp, tuna crudo, cured salmon, and homemade toasted brioche. Nicely presented and fresher than daisies on a spring morning.

Golden Osetra Caviar 'Frito Pie': A gimmick, but a deliciously fun (and expensive) one. Open that wrapper and dig in to Kaluga caviar, creme daisy, egg yolk custard, and garlic chips. Common sense tells me this was not worth $52, but I don't really regret splurging.

Seared Diver Scallops: Perfectly cooked and interestingly accompanied with sultana raisins, toasted hazelnuts and cauliflower cream.

Gambas Al Ajillo: Picture two large shrimp, shells on, braised in a broth of smoked paprika, garlic and sherry fino. Familiar, savory, comforting, and delicious.

Maitake Confit and Toasted Farroto: If you're worried about portion sizes, get this to fill up. It's a big dish and loaded with the richness of faro and cream, complemented by the wet crunch of perfectly crisp maitake.

In sum, Pearl Street might not impress affluent Manhattanites who are used to the Pennys of the borough, but it's worth a visit if you want the quality with blue jeans and a...

Pearl is a 10 seat spot in Dumbo that I happened upon while looking for a spot to go before dinner at St. Anna Warehouse that I added to my hit list and I'm glad I did!

I feel like the scallops from Pearl are haunting me. I swear they were the most perfectly cooked I've ever had. They were deep golden brown and incredibly crispy on a sublime cauliflower puree with soused raisins and hazelnuts

I think tiny restaurants might be my new favorite thing. Eating while watching and chatting to the chefs while they cook (the latter only if they're have the time) adds another level of delight to dining out.

And that's how the chef shared his technique for cooking scallops that I've tried twice since I ate there. I still haven't got it right. 😭

I guess we'll have to go back!

There's a, reasonable for NYC ($95), 8 course chefs tasting menu that we decided not to have.

We like to pick exactly what we want and to see the fun version. But we did order the Sea-cuterie which included: A fresh twist on shrimp cocktail with yuzu Mayo and roe. Oysters with a choice of three sauces Tuna crudo and cured salmon.

We had a couple of seasonal vegetables specials including a very pretty tomato salad.

We also had a Maitake mushroom dish and the Lady Edison ham platter.

All very good, washed down with a gorgeous looking Sancerre rose.

I liked that while the food was well thought out and executed it was not overly clever or fussy.

We will...

I visited Pearl Street Raw Bar & Restaurant over Thanksgiving weekend with a friend who discovered it through a Reddit thread on the best value tasting menus — and wow, what a find! From the moment we walked in, we were met with warmth, genuine hospitality, and an impressive depth of knowledge from the entire staff. It’s rare to encounter a team that’s so passionate about what they do, and it showed in every detail.

But let me tell you — as incredible as the service was, the true star was the food. Each dish was a work of art, prepared with thought, precision, and heart. I’m still daydreaming about many of the plates weeks later, but the PB&J with foie gras? Pure genius. It was the kind of flavor experience that stays with you long after the meal is over.

The intimate, cozy space fosters connection — with the people you’re dining with, the staff, and even other patrons. It felt like being part of a shared experience rather than just a meal. And as a music lover, I have to shout out their playlist. It set the perfect vibe, enhancing an already magical atmosphere.

If you’re considering going, stop thinking and just go. Pearl Street Raw Bar isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience you’ll be raving about long after you leave. 10/10, highly recommend, and I can’t...