I love hotels. Hotel restaurants and bars are my go-to spots for dining and nightlife, and who doesn’t love a night of luxury… and not making the bed. For years I’ve walked by The Crosby Hotel in SoHo and have admired its beauty. Long glass windows and a cool, sleek ambiance sum up the spot and The Crosby immediately comes to mind when I think of SoHo’s hottest establishments. The Crosby Bar & Terrace is the hotel’s eatery, and its ambiance is just as awesome as the hotel itself…
My friend and I went for what we thought a late lunch was around 2 PM this week and had a wonderful experience. The restaurant wasn’t too crowded; hotel guests, “ladies who lunch,” and corporate types occupied the tables chatting away over good food and drinks. By the time we finished our lunch, I was amazed by the restaurant’s “scene.” The hotel is London based, so it’s no surprise that “afternoon tea” is the time when the restaurant thrives. The afternoon tea specials including “Traditional Tea” and “Ruinart Champagne Tea” feature pastries, scones, finger sandwiches and more. Unfortunately, these afternoon specialties aren’t too gluten-friendly, but thankfully the restaurant’s A La Carte menu is extensive and full of gluten-free options that will have you amazed. To start, I highly recommend the tuna tartar and burrata with delicata squash (no breadcrumbs). Both appetizers are light and flavorful. For mains, there is no gluten-free pasta offered at the restaurant, but there IS gluten-free bread, and the avocado sandwich on gluten-free bread is a must-order. Unlike other avocado toasts, this sandwich is more like guacamole on toast. For a main course, the grilled branzino is a popular gluten-free order. Lastly, the side dishes all sound incredible and I easily could have ordered a meal of just sides. The fries are AMAZING but subject to cross contamination in the fryer, and the Brussels sprouts with pancetta and apple is borderline phenomenal. The crispy cauliflower (also subject to CC) with chickpeas, raisins, capers, tahini, and spice sounds amazing and I will absolutely order this on my next visit.
The Crosby Bar & Terrace has an extensive wine and cocktail menu, too, making the restaurant the perfect place to grab a drink with a friend or bring your next date. I highly recommend checking this hotspot out… you won’t be disappointed! I, for one, have found myself a new daytime hangout spot!