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“Jung Sik”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Night Out	Asian	Tribeca	Break the Bank	Good

to enjoy a relaxing drink before dinner, or you chose to take to your table, and fall into sumptuously soft seating while perusing the menu. Either way, do have a real drink. Fans of brown spirits must partake of the Melange-Bulleit Bourbon, Mei Shel (Korean Green Plum), and bitters. If you're usually a pink drink kind of gal (or guy), try the Rose of Sharon, an ode to the Korean national flower, which combines Soju, grenadine, and Mockulli (an unfiltered Korean rice wine). It's sweet and tart, balanced and beautiful (just like you, n'est pas?). Their riffs on the whiskey sour and the martini (with salty seaweed water) are also exceptional.

Service is also fantastic, if a bit odd. We had a couple of terrific waiters, captained by an enthusiastic front waiter from Korea. His back waiter was a handsome young gentleman, tall and thin, with brown hair parted neatly to the side and one hand always tucked behind his back. He spoke as though in-character in an HBO period piece, referring to the ladies as "madam" and I believe the gents as "my lord." Seriously, he may have been a butler to a king in another life not quite forgotten.

Example: He served me the incorrect dish at one point during the meal, giving me Craig's salad, not mine. When I got up later in the meal to use the lady's room, he escorted me and beseeched me as such: "Madam, I sincerely hope that my earlier blunder has not interrupted the pleasure of your evening." No joke.  I assured him that my pleasure had not been interrupted. As we were readying to leave, I asked him where he was working prior to Jung Sik, which opened in September. "This is my first position as a waiter, madam," he replied, earnestly, and with a slight British accent (note that this kid most probably lives in Bushwick and has never crossed the Atlantic). "Prior to this, I peddled novelties, which I found to be terribly boring and quite demoralizing. I prefer this." What a character. Casting agents, head to Jung Sik post haste.  He'd be perfect in Sleep No More.

As for the restaurant, like our waiter, it has its charms. I'd say check it out if only to experience the way this chef is approaching a cuisine that really has never been treated to such artistry before. It may not always work, but what does? And there is enough excitement here to warrant an excursion, a couple of drinks, and some fried chicken.

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Posted: November 14, 2011

Other restaurants in Tribeca :
+ Lunchbox Food Company--Closed   + 66: THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED   + Ola-- Closed   + Bouley   + Dominic   + Landmarc   + Pace-- Closed   + EN Japanese Brasserie   + Centrico   + Cercle Rouge   + The Harrison   + Turks & Frogs Tribeca   + Devin Tavern   + Dani-- Closed Now   + Bacaro/Smith & Mills   + The Harrison   + Matsugen, By Guest Reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Forge   + Macao Trading Company   + Harbour   + Review text tbd...   + Mehtaphor   + Brushstroke   + Jung Sik