![]() ![]() ![]() Johnny proudly told me that his father is no newcomer to the restaurant world, having been the Head Maitre D’ at Sparks Steakhouse and Mr. Instead, the father and son duo reopened with a higher-end concept which has been wholly embraced. They originally opened a Mexican restaurant called Santa Fe in the same location, but discovered that the neighborhood did not have a strong need for casual Mexican food. We spoke to Johnny Musovic, who owns Sojourn with his father, Sami. ![]() Despite being thoroughly full, they made sure to have enough room for the warm, fluffy churros served with Mexican chocolate dipping sauce. Among the many menu items that Olivia’s family tasted were the zesty arugula salad, crispy fish tacos, and Kobe beef sliders. The restaurant not only has a large selection of wine, but also keeps some of their grapes in barrels rather than bottles, a more environmentally friendly method of storing and serving it. As for beverages, the cocktail menu is sophisticated and diverse. Using this innovative way of ordering, each party can essentially create their own tasting menu. For example, when Olivia went with a group of seven family members and ordered the chorizo croquettes, the waiter said he would bring out two orders at three to a plate. Along with the friendly staff, warm ambience, and delectable, seasonal food, what makes Sojourn stand out is its approach to courses: all menu items can be ordered as sharable tapas, with just the right number for the table. She and her family had discovered the restaurant, tucked behind a residential-looking doorway, right before Thanksgiving and had visited two more times by the New Year. Olivia, a member of the Manhattan Sideways team, was excited to return to Sojourn. The name, which means “a temporary stay, ” hints at the fact that visitors can expect a full dining experience. Sojourn calls itself the Upper East Side’s “sexiest restaurant, ” and it is hard to argue: the color scheme, in coppers browns and reds, gives the restaurant a warm, intimate feeling. My favorite time to dine at Nice Matin, however, is on a warm weekend morning when their elaborate brunch menu is offered, and I can sit outside. ![]() The restaurant has seasonal cocktails, such as hot toddies in the winter and Campari cocktails in the spring. It had summery passion fruit foam that complemented the mint and dark rum. He brought out a San Tropez, Nice Matin's take on the mojito. I met with Danny, the General Manager, who shared their elaborate cocktail list that had classics with a twist. In 2003, he partnered with Simon Oren to open Nice Matin, a venture that earned him the title of "Best Chef 2003" from New York Magazine. After attending the Culinary Institute of America, Andy worked at Parker House in Boston and at the Sign of the Dove on the Upper East Side, where he was promoted to head chef. The chef and owner of Nice Matin is Andy D'Amico, who has since gone on to develop other restaurants around the city, including 5 Napkin Burger. At any hour of the day or evening, the restaurant is filled with people both from the surrounding neighborhood as well as from the Lucerne, the connecting hotel. Above the doorway, there is an arrangement of baskets and fruit with handwritten signs and prices in euros, emulating European markets. We tried the house dressing and it was great having it on the side to add as little/much as we wanted.The inside of Nice Matin is like a bright carnival ground with three central pillars decorated with lights, wide spaces between tables, and colorful art on the walls. Just as with Mura, the staff is really accommodating in that you can have the dressings on the side in case you don't like it. The build-your-own was also fun we chose octopus and shrimp tempura with both being a good portion and tasty. The former had a perfect amount of heat which we confirmed by our 9 year old daughter's aversion to it. We also tried the spicy love poke bowl, and a build your own one. The broth for both was so flavorful and rich- definitely had a "wow" factor. We also have been going to nearby Naruto ramen for years, and found Mura's Tonkatsu Ramen and Shoyu Ramen to be so good that I'm predicting it might give Naruto a run for its money. We've been going to Mura for years, and were so excited to try their new ramen and poke location which is across the street from Mura. ![]()
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