Contento

If you live in NYC, you have easy access to lots of buzzy restaurants; however, you don’t always live in extremely close proximity to those buzzy restaurants. Contento has been getting rave reviews and was recently included in NYT’s 100 best restaurants list (which just adds to all the other similar lists they’ve made since opening in 2021). Just because you live close to someplace doesn’t mean you just pop over all the time, especially when you’re not talkin cheap eats. That meant we were were waiting for a celebratory occasion to enjoy a restaurant we’ve been hearing so much about. Contento is high end but feels neighborhoody, which means it was the perfect vibe for our anniversary.

We each started with a cocktail (a Manhattan for my beau, the Nearest Green with bourbon, cucumber, matcha, and elderflower for me). I loved my drink and could literally drink it like juice (it wasn’t very strong and the flavors were fresh) – and just look how pretty! Also, not sure what the nuts were (or what they were spiced with), but they were addictive.

For our meal, we did some sharing. Splitting felt appropriate for an anniversary meal…but also there were just so many things we wanted to try and this was the best way to do it. We started with a dish that was new for spring: the scallop cevice with a trio of corn, spring onion, rocoto leche de tigre veluté, and seaweed. It was such a composed and lovely dish. I really liked how the scallops were served whole, vs. chopped as you often see in ceviche. The broth was light and bright and just made me so ready for this warmer weather. Also from the small plates side of the menu was the pork belly on top of a bed of forbidden rice with almonds and a tamarind glaze. We were also considering the white asparagus because it felt so seasonal, but I wanted to save room for dessert and nobody was willing to sacrifice that pork belly for some asparagus. We made the right move. The pork had a perfect sweet and sticky crust and was so hearty. We then split the ribeye for two which came with a chimichurri and herby watercress salad. Flavor was on point (and I loved that salad), but I found my ribeye to be just a smidge too fatty. Yes yes, I know that’s where the flavor comes from, but I said what I said. For dessert, we got the passion fruit panna cotta with poppy seeds and it was the perfect way to end the meal. Slightly tart, slightly sweet, completely satin.

And I can’t fail to mention the wine program. They have an extensive list with some accessible price points. The sommelier walked us through the list (which includes an entire section dedicated to wines with social impact) and steered us to a wine that perfectly complemented our meal and met our preferences, even though I was terrible at articulating them. Much of this restaurant’s buzz has derived from their commitment to inclusivity and I agree that it’s something that should be highlighted (and done by more establishments); but they would be high on my list of recommended spots based on the food alone. I’ll be back next time I have something to celebrate…like a letter opening.