Wallflower wants to be your friend. But unlike the mousey loner that can't find a dance partner at prom, this Wallflower has got everything going for it. From the moment you are warmly welcomed to each each lovely dish that graces your table, the candlelit West Village charmer—a sister venue to the East Village's The Eddy—has no reason to be shy. The waitstaff is poised and gracious while rattling off the menu's seasonally-focused offerings, yet the tiny nook's close quarters breed an air of intimacy throughout.
A succinct food menu, overseen by executive chef Derrick Paez (Daniel, Spice Market), touts prices that are a good indication of portion size. At the heart of the program is a four-course tasting menu ($68), which comprises two for-the-table courses, an entree and choice of dessert. Here, the most intrigue concentrates around vegetable elements, and though they are less flashy than their protein and starch counterparts, seek them out.
On a recent night, the entree of grilled turbot arrived somewhat overcooked, but was saved by an accompanying duet of starches (purple potatoes, chickpeas). A duck confit, however, was splendid, its succulent, rich meat cut with bright blood orange and paired with sunchoke and swiss chard. A side of roasted carrots with harissa was gutsily seasoned and likewise impossible not to finish.
Desserts are just three in rotation, with standouts including the hard-to-resist honey-poached pear built with gently spiced pears cooled by vanilla ice cream. Here and there, there might be an imperfection, but at Wallflower, it's all part of her charm.
BY: TIME OUT COMMUNITY REVIEWER DEBORAH FENKER