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“Jezebel Attempts to Bring Sexy and Kosher Together in Soho”

First time restaurateurs Henry Stimler and Menachem Senderowicz of B&Y Hospitality (British & Yiddish) have opened Jezebel, what’s being sold as a “sexy kosher” restaurant in Soho [323 West Broadway, between Canal and Grand Streets]. As someone with many kosher relatives, I’d say it’s about time someone figured out a formula for kosher that was a bit more fun, a tad more modern and a lot less costly than most. For me, my favorite kosher spots are the Persian restaurants like Colbeh and Bijan in Great Neck. If you haven’t been, go now.

But back to Jezebel.  The restaurant is housed in an 1887 townhouse that has been transformed from the ground up, offering seating for roughly 50 on the first floor and 100 on the second. You can bring the whole mishbachah. Be sure to check out the biblical references, like the rams-horn chandelier.

Now, onto the food. The menu was created by Culinary Director Bradford Thompson. He's not a Jew, but he is a very fine cook. You may remember him from his days at Miss Lilly’s, The Lever House and most notably at Mary Elaine’s at the Phoenecian. His seasonal American menu includes starters such as Fried Artichokes a la Judea with Toasted Lemon Aioli, Roasted Bone Marrow with Parsley, Pickled Onion and Toasted Breadcrumbs, and new dishes like Jewish Italian Wedding Soup with Chicken Meatballs and Lemon Oil. Entrees sound like this: Grilled Cornish Hen with Warm Bread Salad, Olives, and Swiss Chard, and Olive Oil Poached Cod with Basquaise Style Peppers and Parsley. You’ll also find Cote de Beouf (for two) and Seaweed-Salt Baked Whole Branzino, and seasonal vegetable sides like Duck Fat Potatoes with Rosemary and Salt Flakes.

While the meat-focused menu excludes all dairy products, Thompson has created a menu of dairy-free desserts, such as Peanut Butter Bar, Caramelized Banana, Chocolate Glaze, Salted Peanuts and Anise Scented Pavlova, Strawberries, Lime Curd. Bring your lactose intolerant friends, too!

The restaurant has a uniquely kosher wine list, as well as a selection of enticing cocktails by Nick Mautone (formerly of Gramercy Tavern). The 125-bottle list features Old World and New World varietals, such as Goose Bay from New Zealand. Mautone's cocktail list includes seasonally inspired, hand-crafted cocktails like Jezebel’s Kiss, Saffron Infused Caza Dores Tequila, Blood Orange, Black Grapes, and Lavender Bitters. No Manischewitz as far as I can tell.

Jezebel is located at 323 West Broadway, between Canal and Grand Streets, in SoHo. The restaurant serves dinner only: Monday – Thursday 5:30pm – 11:30pm and Sunday from 5:00pm – 12:00am.

Friday night prepaid Shabbat dinners will be coming soon, as well as Sunday brunch. The lounge, where guests can enjoy the dinner menu in full or the bar menu, is open Monday – Thursday until 1:00am, and from sundown until 2:00am on Saturday evenings. For more information, please visit www.jezebelSoHo.com or call 646-410-0717.

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