UPTOWN
808 Lexington Ave.
Between 62nd & 63rd St., NY
Tel. (212) 207-4555
By Angela
What an unexpected treat Fig & Olive was. Apparently this restaurant has received accolades for its use of figs and olive oil to draw crowds and bring a unique approach to food. But, as I have just started to, once again, eat out, I was unaware of the growing appreciation for this locale when I dropped in to eat - I was drawn in by the outside of the restaurant. It is a sunken treasure on a busy street. You might miss it if you are not looking.
The walls are filled with food art and there are herbs in the window. The floors are wood and the atmosphere is inviting. There are three sections in which to eat. There is a communal tasting table, a dining area in the back and tables along the side. As you enter, you can tell that they are confident of the quality of their olive oil - their selections are lined along the wall as you enter and are available for purchase should you be so inclined.
I found the restaurant inviting if a little snug. We could hear the conversations of the people near us and the general din was obvious. That is the only criticism I have and, in the scheme of things, truly unimportant when considering all there is to love about this little gem. This place truly deserves its stars.
Okay. Where to start? This is a tasting kind of place, especially for lunch. The tasting menu includes a selection of olives, marinated vegetables, crostini, cured meats on toasted bread, cheeses, carpaccio and other sharing dishes. They also offer soup, salad, pasta and main dishes. I went with my sister. We were fascinated and wanted to try everything. But, knowing better, we agreed to try a few things from the tasting menu. We ordered three crostini (salmon, olive tapenade and manchego cheese), a mixed charcuterie and a shared dish of seared quail and figs.
They have a fairly extensive list of wines to go with the meals and we each ordered a glass of our favorite type. I must say, I found the waiter very helpful in selection of both the food and the wine. Not only was he able to make recommendations, his recommendations were actually based on personal knowledge. BTW - don’t you hate it when you ask a waiter for a recommendation and they haven’t eaten the food at the place where they work? What is the purpose of working there if you can‘t be informative about the menu?
While we waited for our food we watched and smelled other things as they were brought to the various tables. Everything looked good and smelled delicious. What can I say…. everything WAS delicious! The meats were fresh and tasty, not fatty. The breads were lightly toasted, not rock hard. Their specialty bread, olive fougasse bread, was soft and light. The quail was tasty and the figs were a delightful addition, not too much. The wines were full bodied and went well with our food.
All in all, the meal was very satisfying. My “beef” - I was left with a desire to come again and try other things on the menu. Oh well, the plight of us food tasters, having to come again and try other probably delicious foods. Anyway, we cleaned our plates, lingered over our drinks and agreed this was a place to come back and try at dinner time. Everything was sooooo good we were almost sorry we had to leave.
So, if you are looking for a place to try with a twist, stop by. The atmosphere is inviting, the seats are comfortable, the waiters are helpful, the wines are yummy and so is the food. And although we were able to just walk in off the street for lunch, I am sure they are filled for dinner. So, if you want to try them for dinner, do make reservations. You can even make them online. I thought the food was well worth the price of admission.
Miscellaneous things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
Their hours are Monday to Sunday
11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
$$$
There is a location in the meat packing district:
420 West 13th Street
Between Ninth Ave. & Washington St.
Tel: (212) 924-1200
And, they will soon be opening a location in midtown:
10 East 52nd Street
Between Fifth & Madison Ave.
Tel. (212) 319 2002
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