#24 – TORRES TOTS at PDT

For the third year in a row, I’m going to attempt to eat every single item on Time Out New York’s annual 100 Best Dishes list. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100. Let the gluttony continue…

Whenever guests come to visit New York, I like to take them on a really unique food experience. And that doesn’t always mean a trip to the exotic reaches of Flushing (although those are pretty good too). It was a Saturday night and we spent the night hopping from bar to bar to restaurant to restaurant in the East Village.

The first list items we tried to conquer were the two at PDT, which also happens to be a destination to wow guests. Most New Yorkers know by now that PDT (Please Don’t Tell) is a speakeasy lounge hidden behind a secret phone booth at divey hot dog joint Crif Dogs. Pick up the phone and the wall swings open where a well-dressed host greets you. There were some surprises from our group when this procedure unfolded. There was surprise on my part when we were able to secure a table for 5 people without a reservation.

PDT is mainly known for their cocktails (although they no longer offered the Sixth Street), but they also serve haute dogs inspired by famous NY chefs in addition to fries and tots. The tots, named Torres Tots for Chef Sue Torres (who owns Mexican restaurant Sueños), are quite a far cry from the crispy devils I used to eat at the local bowling alley.

These fried potato cylinders are topped with ingredients you’d find at Chef Torres’ restaurant – Chihuahua cheese, chipotle cream, chorizo gravy, chile de arbol, and scallions. It’s served in a bowl of aluminum foil to catch all the sauce. This grease-less wonder had the bold flavors of medium-spiced nachos with the warm, crunchy texture of beloved taters. Everybody at the table quickly devoured them and licked their fingers clean.

It’s funny that I brought the group here to impress them with the secret entrance and bespoke cocktails, but the tater tots is what left a lasting impression. Either way, I still get the credit (part of it at least, after Sue Torres and Time Out).

Would PDT’s Torres Tots make my Top 100 of the year? This brilliant version of tater tots walks the line between bar food and a refined potato dish and that earns it a 9 out of 10.