NYC Diaries - wd~50

Serious foodies will enjoy this blog entry. wd~50 is a multiple award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers progressive cuisine. It is highly raved about in many publications, by critics, foodies and chefs.

In 2006, wd~50 was awarded 1-Michelin star and has held on to it since. It was also listed as No.45 in San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurant 2010.

The chef and co-owner, Wylie Dufresne, was formerly the sous chef at Jean Georges and in 1999 became the chef at 71 Clinton Fresh Food. Dufresne opened wd~50 (named for his initials and the street address) in April of 2003, on Clinton Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side.


Dufresne's partners in the venture are Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and restaurateur Phil Suarez. 

It says a lot to have one's mentor and well-respected chef put money down in the venture.

wd~50 offers two tasting menus; a 12-course Tasting menu for US$155, and From the Vault, a 5-course Tasting Menu for US$75 that comprises of the restaurant's classic dishes from past menus. Here's a look at the 12-course menu that we went for.

NIGIRI, SALSIFY, SEAWEED, SESAME

LOBSTER ROE, CHARRED LEMON, GREEN GRAPE, CORIANDER-BROWN BUTTER

PHO GRAS

AMARO YOLK, CHICKEN CONFIT, PEAS ‘N' CARROTS

VEAL BRISKET, ZA'ATAR, PLUM, MUSTARD

CRAB TOAST, SAFFRON, KAFFIR-YOGURT, ARARE

SOLE, BLACK LICORICE-PIL PIL, FRIED GREEN TOMATO, FENNEL

SQUAB, TOMATO HUMMUS, PICKLED TURNIPS, TZATZIKI

ROOT BEER RIBS, RYE SPAETZLE, APRICOT

JASMINE, CUCUMBER, HONEYDEW, CHARTREUSE

YUZU MILK ICE, HAZELNUT, RHUBARB, BASIL

S’MORES, BITTER COCOA, MERINGUE, BLACK CURRANT

WHITE CHOCOLATE, GJETOST

My verdict? Amazing starters and mind-blowing desserts. Definitely worth a visit if you are in NYC.

For more information, please visit wd-50.com