Kutsher’s Tribeca is a Kosher Jewish-American restaurant we frequent in Tribeca.  They serve amazing pastrami sandwiches and matzo ball soup among other classic specialties.  We’ve visited on a few occasions which are detailed below.

4/7/2013

Kutsher’s Tribeca is a huge hot spot at the moment.  Restauranteur Jeffrey Chodorow of Mr. Chow fame has partnered with Zach Kutsher of Catskill’s resort fame.  It is a tremendous success thus far. They have a lively bar scene with plenty of space and unique cocktails as well as a huge modern dining area. From the look of the clientele, the concept has appeal for all ages.

The decor is ultra modern yet very casual and relaxed.  There are interesting ceiling and wall treatments throughout.  There are banquettes, large format half moon-shaped booths and round tables.  We’ve noticed many large groups and families there.  But the front room has a nice sized bar with communal tables so they are set for cocktail drinkers as well.

We decided to skip the entrees and eat just about every ‘For the Table’ offering and then some.  We came out stuffed to the gills and really enjoyed the experience.  From items I saw pass by, I would say it would be worth going back to try the house cured and smoked meats as well as a killer looking Matzo Ball Soup.

I’d also go back for cocktails at the bar with some Duck Schmaltz Fries.  They were a bit too heavy as part of a meal.  The ‘Bug Juice’ with vodka, house-made fruit punch, grapefruit bitters and a splash of soda over frozen punch cubes was outstanding.  The cubes were traditional red punch, but the soda was very subtle.  The cocktail menu is filled with clever twists on classic Catskills favorites like a ‘Cherry Lime Ricky’.

Our favorites were the meatballs, duck/chicken liver pate, pickled veggies and duck schmaltz fries.  The duck and chicken liver pate was out of this world and came with a little piece of duck liver on the top.  The pickled veggies had some great flavors, particularly the cherry tomatoes.  I’d also get those at the bar.  They provided a nice fresh contrast with the pate.   And as I mentioned, the duck schmaltz fries were so rich.  They’d be great with a beer at the bar without any other food!

We got the pickled herring two ways just for nostalgia’s sake.  We both preferred the traditional  pickled onions and cream version over the updated wasabi version.  Our potato latkes were over-fried, almost blackened, which ruined the subtle taste of the caviar.  And we paid an extra 9 bucks for that, which was a bummer.  They were also available with apple compote and sour cream.

Many of our photos were particularly bad and I’ve since deleted from the review.  When I look back on the iPhone 3S pictures I am thankful for regular upgrades!

[Overly] Crispy Potato Latkes with Sour Cream & Three Caviars • 18

Milton’s Short Rib & Brisket Meatballs with Caramelized Onions and Creamy Horseradish Sauce • 11

Chopped Duck & Chicken Liver with Matzo, Rye and Pumpernickel • 11

Pickled Veggies – Kirby Cucumbers, Green & Cherry Tomatoes, Fennel, Red Peppers • 9

Pickled Herring Two Ways with Pickled Onion & Cream, with Wasabi, Yuzu & Pepper • 11

Duck Schmaltz Fries with Horseradish Aioli • 7

Special Daily Veggie – Brussels Sprouts

We’ll likely go back to Kutsher’s again and again, particularly because it is close to our home.  Look for more reviews to come…likely after the hype dies down.

4/7/2013  Update

We’ve been back to Kutsher’s twice since our first review, both times may have been even better than our first.  We took our own advice and decided to sit at the bar the second time around.  We sat right in the window and ordered up some bloodies and pastrami sandwiches.  Gorgeous and delicious!  My one rub about the bloodies is their lack of ‘tomatoiness’ because of using fresh tomatoes, which is just a personal thing.  We each had 1/2 of one another’s sandwiches.  To get a taste we ordered a classic pastrami on rye and a reuben grilled with cheese.  Note the giant size of the reuben!

The Gazpacho Mary

vodka, house-made gazpacho, fresh horseradish and celery foam • 12

  KT Pastrami

house-cured, smoked and hand-sliced on rye • 17.50

The Reuben

pastrami, emmentaler, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on rye •18.50

Our last visit was for brunch and no cocktails, so I took the opportunity to try out the house made Cel-Ray soda, which was unique and really great.  Basically it is a celery-flavored soda.  Steve re-ordered that killer pastrami sandwich.  Interesting change happened with the size of that sandwich, but it was still plenty big enough.  We enjoyed the fries too.  They’re battered.  And I went with the Matzo Ball soup I’ve been wanting.

 The Whole Megillah

chicken, matzo balls, egg noodles, carrots, celery, chives and dill • 19

If you haven’t gone to Kutsher’s Tribeca yet, it is time.  This establishment will be around for a long time.  It was just as busy today as it was in January 2012.

http://kutsherstribeca.com/

186 Franklin Street – Tribeca