ZZ’s Clam Bar

Last updated on February 13, 2016

click to view slideshow
click to view slideshow

Located in NOHO, right next to Carbone, behind a dark door is a cozy bar/ restaurant that only host 12 seats. If you didn’t look closely, you could walk right passed it and not realize there is a restaurant there. Other than the bouncer outside, the tiny little blue neon sign “ZZ’s” on the window, is the only indication of the place. Why would a restaurant need a bouncer you might think, but once we settled down into the room, we totally understand the need.
The small dimmed-lite room is a treasure box with lots of gems. There is a glamorous antique chandelier hanging atop; antique looking chairs pairing with marble top table. During the course of dinner, we were also told every pieces of silverwares and dinning wares are antique. The bar is equipped with a ice tub countertop. With all the bottles on the shelves and unnamed bottle of odd shapes and height tuck in the ice tub, it looks like a treasure island itself. But of course, guarded by the genius mixologist.
Everything on the cocktail menu are so temping, but at $20 a pop, we only each ordered one cocktail. We both agreed we’d have to come back, even just for drinks, and that we would sample everything on that cocktail menu.

Uni toast
Uni toast

We had heard that dishes are small bite size, and that the beef carpaccio is a whopping $105, so we have to choose wisely. The uni toast each have 5-6 thick, sweet, rich, deliciousness on it; sprinkled with chopped garlic and chives. However, the garlic was a bit too much for my taste.

Lobster Ceviche
Lobster Ceviche
Lobster ceviche came on top a huge bowl of ice. Lobster was soaking in a coconut bath with slices of avocado. A perfect balance of fresh and creamy richness. The jalapeño gave it an extra little kick.

Beef, uni carpaccio with lobster and caviar
Beef, uni carpaccio with lobster and caviar

The beef carpaccio by itself could be a little salty, but when it paired together with the sea urchin’s sweetness, the lobster’s fresh and crunchiness, and atop the airy crispy toast, it is a little piece of heaven. Oh, we found bits of clams on it as well. Bonus!!! Although it did came with a very, very steep price tag, it was worth every penny of it.
The cocktail, beef carpaccio are on top of our list to come back for. And next time, we will definitely try the tuna carpaccio with foie gras. (Dec, 2014)

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