From Italian to American cuisine, all the way down to out-of-this-world flavors from its slew of eclectic food trucks, very few places on earth could probably rival the gustatory paradise that is New York’s Flatiron district. But while a meal at Eataly or Eleven Madison may sound nothing short of tempting, it’s also a 14-hour flight and a visa away (at best).
Well, you don’t have to cross the Pacific anymore to get a taste of the finest New York fare, thanks to Flatiron 1771 Restaurant and Bar. Conveniently located at Uptown BGC, this hip dining destination curates dishes that bring the New York experience to the table. One look at the menu and you’ll see a melting pot that marries the history and culture of New York with the 1771 Group’s “no-borders cuisine.”
Here are some of its signature dishes that you definitely have to try out.
Jetset starters
When one thinks of New York, a number of different influences fused harmoniously together come to mind. And they all make it to Flatiron 1771’s menu. For starters, there’s the Spanish-inspired Chorizo and Cheddar Croquetas, which are crunchy on the outside and sinfully gooey on the inside. Tasty as they are, the croquetas find competition in the Potato Skins Platter that comes in either smoked salmon, beef brisket, and tuna – savory bite-size treats that will make you order seconds.
Pizza, pasta, perfection
New York may be as American as it can get, but its cuisine, especially that of the Flatiron district, is renowned for its smorgasbord of Italian influences. This leads us to try the bestselling Four-Cheese Pizza in béchamel or tomato sauce, baked generously with mozzarella, cheddar cheese, Parmesan, plus blue cheese to take it up a notch!
While definitely tasty, the pizza is given a run for its money by the decadent pasta dish, Truffle Carbonara with Chicken Skin Crackling. The truffle oil brings a refined savory taste to the pasta, as the chicken skin, which is crisped to perfection, adds an indulgent flavor. You will find yourself nibbling on the toppings almost instantly. But be reminded that the best way to eat this dish is to take a forkful of pasta, top it with the crispy chicken bits, and find heaven in every bite.
More than the meat of the matter
One of the resto’s highlights is the Seafood Jambalaya. This Creole rice dish is packed with sausage, bell pepper, onion, and celery, topped with shrimp, squid, clams, and mussels. Flavorful with a hint of spice, this dish completes the Flatiron 1771 menu with its unique taste. Plus it’s made up mostly of rice, so for us Filipinos, that’s always a plus.
Steakation
And of course, there’s the piece de resistance – the Prime Rib Steak. Using only US Choice CAB prime rib steak, the meat is browned according to preference. We go for medium rare, but those with more Asian tastes would probably need to go for medium. Medium rare or medium, the steak is nothing short of a revelation. However, what truly sets the dish apart are the toasted bits of fat that line up the hot plate. They add a salty kick to the juicy steak, which meshes well with the Filipino palate (that always craves for something saltier or sweeter than Western fare).
Bonus round
At this point, I guess we’ve established that restrictive dieting should be momentarily set aside if one is to truly enjoy the full spectrum of the Flatiron 1771 menu. Naturally, we saved room for dessert
Flatiron 1771’s intense double brownie burger definitely rounds up the entire experience. To say that it ends the meal on a sweet note would be a bit of an understatement. With two servings of ultra-moist brownies and a scoop of coffee ice cream, this beautiful dish is definitely worth the calories – especially after trying a series of intensely satisfying, savory dishes.
Dishes aside, Flatiron 1771 was also recently renovated. The restaurant added the outdoor bar, which offers a different mood. There, one may unwind with cocktails inspired from the different facets of New York. The Big Apple is blended scotch with apple juice and lemon juice, and a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon for texture. If you prefer a more calming concoction, Christopher Street has Earl Grey tea-infused gin with lemon juice and soda water. Popularized by the ladies of “Sex and the City”, the Cosmo is a vodka based drink with Cherry Heering and cranberry syrup mixed with lemon juice and egg white. Wall Street is bourbon-based with coffee-infused rosso vermouth and chocolate bitters.
With all these said, Flatiron 1771 proves itself a dining must-try for friends, family, and basically anyone who wants to hang out in a place where Manila and Manhattan meet in the form great food and good drinks.
For more information on Flatiron 1771, please visit www.flatiron.ph. Like and follow @flatiron.ph on Facebook and Instagram for all the updates.
