This particular post is merging two different outings on one place and that’s the Little Owl. I decided to write about this place all in one shot since it develops a fuller picture on their lunches (and I do admit that I’m missing out on the dinner portion but I have yet to find a person or friend to eat there with me).
On a side note, if you would like (and I know you want to after seeing the food porn two posts ago) to read my burgers and shakes article from Gotham Digest, I suggest you to click here.
Back to the Little Owl. I remember reading from Grub Street’s post that the Little Owl was serving lunch. To me, that’s a huge deal since I can’t find any friend who can and willing to eat there for dinner. Don’t ask me why but it happens to be that way. Since Helen’s interning nearby (always up for good food) and it’s her last day there [insert wailing cry] we coordinated to have a bittersweet lunch there.
The Lunch Menu
Reading the entire menu, everything sounds delicious but what I felt a bit carnivorous that day that I urged Helen to share their signature meatball sliders and a burger with me. We added something not as meat-intense by throwing in the ricotta cavatelli since she asked me, “What is it?” (It’s a cylindrical-shaped pasta with ridges, by the way.) I ordered it for the sake of answering her question by seeing it and trying it.
Bread & Olive Oil
After ordering our food, we’re graced with plates of sliced bread and a fruity olive oil. The bread’s fine but I do like the olive oil more.
My Share of Ricotta Cavatelli & close up
We’re technically served one long plate containing our shared appetizers (in other words, the kitchen split everything neatly for us) of the ricotta cavatelli and the sliders. Since I brought my macro lens only, you’ll get individual shots. Anyway, the cavatelli was really good. The slightly tangy tomato broth infused with the salty, slightly smoky bacon bits made it a really tasty sauce that we mopped the remnants with our bread for this light, faintly chewy pasta. The fava beans add a slight crunch to the dish.
Meatball Sliders
The meatball sliders were incredible. What’s so memorable about them were the delicious garlic buns (as I found out from a friend of mine, Kathryn told 
me there’s a recipe so you can make it at home).
The buns tasted so foccacia-like that I was swooning over it like a madwoman. The meatballs were delicious and juicy that its juices were dripping down my hand. I wish I was motivated enough to cook. Baking is another story since I love sweets and tend to make them more often. I’m diverting from the subject here…
After finishing our appetizers, we’re presented with the cutest little things in the restaurant. No, I’m not talking about babies or pet-able animals. I’m talking about this [points down].
Awww…!
These tiny condiment bottles were given to us since we ordered the burger and our waiter asked if we would like any ketchup or mustard. I don’t really mind having all of them, so we just said, “We’ll have each of them, on the side please.” So, we’re given these newborn condiments. Too cute.
The BURGER (halved)
Since we told our waiter from the beginning that we’re splitting everything, the kitchen even halved our burger so cleanly that I would never get that kind of cut on my own. So, we get the innards shot of a medium-rare burger right from the start. Awesome. The plus is that tastes as good as it looks. Juicy burger that’s well seasoned and the over the plethora of toppings that would spew out if you pile it on (as you see from Helen’s incident here). Did I mentioned there’s cheese and BACON in there. Yeah, that’s an awesome burger. The spiced fries were a tad crisp and very well seasoned but I wished it’s crispier.
The check
We ran out of time and have to skip dessert. Helen had to make an important phone call to her supervisor so, we really had to go back to work. We asked for the check and amusing to us, they use gently worn paperbacks as the check holder. It’s cute and useful.
Things around me at the bar
I went there on my own last week again since I was dying to try their dessert. The last time I went there with Helen the neighboring table had the most luscious looking crisp that my mind screamed “I WANT!” so I had to go back. I didn’t have reservations during that time and I’m eating alone, I don’t mind eating at the bar.
Pork Cutlet; different views
Innards
I ordered the pork cutlet since the waiter described this dish different from any other restaurant because it has scrambled eggs with it. Unusual as it sounded, I ordered it for the sake of curiosity. It tasted very good. The thin, breaded, fried pork cutlet was slightly crisp and very tender. The tomato sauce lightened the dish by bringing the tart, bright acidic flavors of the tomato. The scrambled eggs with what seems like romaine lettuce and chunks of potato work well, despite the fact it’s a bit too wet due to the greens. Not bad but I like the burger more.
Dessert Menu
I finally got what I came here for DESSERT. I kind of wished I wasn’t eating alone so I could have split desserts and get to taste more since I was indecisive between two or three desserts. But I made the decision of sticking with what I wanted in the first place, the crisp.
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, close up
The good thing is that the kitchen was flexible with the gelato (it’s from il laboratorio del gelato) flavor you want to top the crisp with, which I chose pistachio, since they ran out of vanilla. Eating the pistachio gelato alone, it tasted very good and buttery which is the essence of pistachio, but I wasn’t too thrilled with the slightly gritty texture of the nut. As a whole, the crisp was delicious. I loved the sweet and tart flavors of the strawberry and rhubarb with the butteriness of the topping. Just don’t let it sit out too long (like I have with taking a ton of photos of it) before the topping gets a bit mushy from the filling’s moisture content.
Sinatra has my check
I was full and I had to go back to work so I asked for my check. Again, it’s presented with a paperback but it’s about Frank Sinatra. I really like this idea.
Address:
Little Owl
90 Bedford Street
New York, NY 10014
I’ve heard so many nice things about the Little Owl that it’s definitely going on my list of places I must visit if I ever travel to NY! Beautiful photos!
Hey Tina,
I had lunch at The Little Owl too when I was in New York! Lovely place… Will be blogging about it soon =)
By the way, I’m linking you to my blog =)
So the thing to do is get the sliders as an app, then get the burger as an entree? :)
Su-Lin: Thanks for the compliment! As for Little Owl, you must go there!
Danny: Sliders are a MUST. The burger in one seating if you’re feeling carnivorous. But you must try either if you’re going there more than one time or you can try both if you’re going there with a friend or two.
Going to the Little Owl would be a stretch for me ( living in Louisiana) but awhile back I made the sliders from that article. I didn’t make the garlic buns but everything else was a huge hit, this recipe is definitely a keeper :)
Forgive me for asking, but what’s a “slider” – just a mini-burger? I only ever see them mentioned in American food blogs.
Nice photos as always ( ^_^)b
Chicken Fried Gourmet: Ah, I wish I would feel motivated to make those sliders… I’ll do it someday.
Rich: Yes. A slider is a miniature version of a burger. Thanks for the compliment.
Great post, WE! I’ve always found that Little Owl is booked up, so I’ve never gone.. let me know if you want to hit it up for dinner! It looks GREAT.
dbdtron
I have to say the apps and desserts look more interesting than the mains. I would love to try the sliders.
Have you had the burger at Market Table? Same ownership as Little Owl.
Here’s my Market Table review. I wrote it a while ago, sorry for the slightly blurry photos:
http://nycfoodguy.com/2007/11/08/market-tables-burger-makes-good/