C’est magnifique!
A dinner reservation had to be made for a recent Friday night in New York. We thought, why not go romantic? Almost immediately, JoJo came to mind. I didn’t know very much about it except that it was a Jean-George Vongerichten restaurant, it was on the Upper East Side, and it was supposed to very romantic. And was it? From the intimate townhouse entry, to the quaint bar that greets you when you saunter in, to the narrow, dimly lit dining room, it exuded romance.
We were escorted to a table towards the back of the dining room, and as we looked around, my partner leaned over and said that it actually reminded them of the seductive bistros of Paris. Later, we learned that JoJo had been open since 1991, and while the décor might have been a little dated, there are restaurants in Paris that had that similar faded charm that we couldn’t help but fall in love with.
Jean-George is known for replacing traditional meat stocks with vegetable juices, fruit essences, light broths and herbal vinaigrettes. He has taken some very traditional dishes and added his own dramatic flair. We started out with warm pea soup and a fresh heirloom tomato pie. Both tasted delectable and flavorful without being overpowering. If you are looking for a delicious and reasonably priced wine, try the 1996 Rioja, which was smooth and full bodied.
We took some risks with our entrees by ordering the codfish with roasted vegetables and while it could have been gamy, it was prepared to perfection. The lobster with fresh shucked corn melted in our mouths. We actually could have shared a main course, but we wanted to sample a variety of dishes. We barely had enough room for the warm, dark chocolate cake filled with hot liquid chocolate. This signature dish is a “must have” at JoJo.
We recommend that you go to JoJo for a romantic evening out, share some delicious wine and food and just enjoy each other’s company. We also recommend sitting at the most romantic table in the restaurant, number 13. It is a corner table in the very back of the restaurant. Don’t forget to tell them that twodaymag.com sent you!
JoJo is open for lunch during the week with brunches on Saturday and Sunday.
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