THE PLACE: Claud is a cozy upscale wine bar owned by a team that has since opened up some other well-regarded sister restaurants all around it. Upstairs is Penny (the seafood haven) and a few blocks north is the brand new Stars, which is a more intimate space with a greater focus on the wine. Claud is as much about the food as it is about the vino and the food could not be better. The restaurant gained lots of notoriety when it opened in 2022 and judging from our recent meal, it’s definitely not resting on its laurels.
THE DISH: It was hard to choose one dish between the sizzling red shrimp with garlic and olive oil, the luxurious rice pudding, and the super simple and shockingly complex Bamboo cocktail (with sherry, vermouth, and bitters). But I went with the main showstopper here – the juicy Pork Chop with Smoked Onion Jus. I haven’t had a perfectly cooked pork chop like this in quite a while – melting off the bone and dripping with flavor. It was hard to see the meat since it was slathered in a sweet smoky onion sauce that was reminiscent of refined barbecue, but the flavor was all there. The cooking at Claud is clearly still top-notch and makes me want to just move into this block of restaurants. If only the rent weren’t so damn high! Price: $47
| CLAUD |
| 90 East 10th Street (between Third and Fourth Avenue), East Village (917) 261-6791 |
| claudnyc.com |
