KenScale: 8.5/10 Visit: September 2024 [Note: After some deliberations, I have decided to upgrade all restaurants receiving 8.5 or 8.75 KenScale to five Yelp stars from four.] Now married for over seven years, my wife Jun and I have been to all kinds of restaurants throughout our culinary journey and admittedly at this point, it would be a little challenging for a new restaurant to blow our minds away (in a good way, obviously). That is why when we visited New York City since moving down to the DC metro area three years ago, we would usually stick with our favorite restaurants we know well instead of venturing out to new ones. One new place that I have really wanted to visit since last year was Foxface Natural, which has opened up as a relatively unassuming restaurant in East Village (before blowing up after critical accolades like the three-star review from The New York Times' Pete Wells). Not surprisingly, the restaurant had my attention with the kangaroo tartare; more importantly, I wanted to see if Foxface Natural would offer the kind of novel experience that would stimulate and inspire our palates spoiled from all kinds of finer things we had eaten. The restaurant delivered on that mission with some really fascinating dishes we hadn't encountered at other places. We were supposed to be joined by a long-time foodie friend who unfortunately was not feeling very well that day and had to cancel. When he texted me with the sad news, he asked if we were going to order the kangaroo tartare. When I told him we were on the fence, he practically begged us to give it a try. I'm very glad we ended up listening to him, with the raw kangaroo surprisingly not as gamey as we had feared, and with the charred eggplant puree providing a wonderful complement to the meat. The other starter dish was just as interesting. Jun remarked she had never seen pickled skirt extracted from a scallop until now, when it was added to the pork ear underneath salsa verde and pil pil sauce (originating from the Basque region). The textural combination between the chewy pork ear and the scallop skirt was quite ingenious, although Jun was not fully sold by the combination of these ingredients. What she wholeheartedly endorsed, on the other hand, was the BBQ Boer goat, a beautifully smoked meat accompanied by polenta beignets and sour orange sauce. As for me, I am a more duck breast than a confit person, but if I had had one like a phenomenal plate from Foxface Natural, I would've been easily convinced to change my mind. The dry aged duck confit had a more or less perfect texture, and was even more addictively delicious with a side of green rice and aji amarillo sauce that provided just the right amount of spicy kick. Even the dessert section at the restaurant was not ordinary. Our server highly recommended apricot and Sichuan pepper (!) sorbet with mochi cake and apricot pudding; the sorbet was fortunately not as spicy as we had feared and the sour and spicy blend demonstrated the high level of creative energy behind the kitchen. Getting a reservation at Foxface Natural is difficult, especially given the modest size of the dining space designed around one long counter along with a small number of high tops and tables. I highly encourage advance booking, especially if you are planning a dining group larger than two. The minimalist décor of the restaurant also quite worked well with the overall vibe from the food and friendly service of the staffs who seem to really take pride in the restaurant but do not act like they rule the culinary world. I was also pleasantly surprised by the wine list at the restaurant, with a lot of interesting bottles from all over the world. In my personal experience, when I see at least one German pinot noir (which is still hard to get in the States compared to the more acclaimed whites from the country) from a wine list, I see that as a sign that the restaurant takes its beverages very seriously, and Foxface Natural had three on the list. I'm really glad we finally made the trip to Foxface Natural, and I hope the restaurant sticks around for a long time. It will certainly be added to a very selective list of restaurants we would like to visit anytime we visit NYC. read more

There is no doubt that Foxface has a great wine program. Every glass of wine I had at Foxface was a hit and were well paired with the prix fixe, but dishes on the prix fixe were hit and miss. The codfish fritters amuse bouche was a great start to the meal, but the sourdough was underwhelming for a place that started as a sourdough bakery. The raw bar on ice was delightful, but the halibut crudo seemed to lack a key piece of the flavor puzzle. The standouts of the night were the kangaroo tartare and the white asparagus that featured unique flavor combinations that I rarely get elsewhere. On the other hand, the BBQ Boer Goat and Local Fluke were safe choices that were good but not amazing. At least the desserts ended the meal on a high note (especially the candle provided with my Tahini Gelato for my birthday, shoutout to the service staff!). Aside from the food, the staff are very personable and the ambiance is lowkey and intimate. You can find little tributes of their namesake fox all around the bar giving the place an elevated casual but quirky vibe. In the grand scheme of things, for $95 for a prix fixe and great wine pours, Foxface delivers decent value compared to other prix fixe and wine pairings in the city. While Foxface is by no means affordable, the wine speaks for itself. read more

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I've been on a perpetual search for gooseneck barnacles (percebes) since at least 2017 when someone whose judgment I trust said that they were mindblowing. I missed the season BOTH times I was in Portugal and never saw them on the menu in the US. So imagine my surprise when I came to Foxface for a different reason (the reason being that I LOVED their old sandwich shop) and there they were as an option for prix fixe! They were a crowd pleaser (so visually odd that they attracted attention from the couple next to me, and we ended up sharing food!). I'd say they're like more tender razor clams with a slightly more oystery (oceany?) taste. They didn't need the sauce they came with per se - even simply boiled as they were - but the sauce was delicious so I used it anyway. Beware when you pinch these open - they'll squirt you! You need a bib. These were the appetizer. The rest of the meal was hit/miss (actually not really miss, more like home run/base hit). Amuse bouche: fried pork belly bites with pickled oysters on top. Pork belly was pretty strong - even overpowered pickled oysters, which is saying something! Raw bar: hiramasa pastrami with preserved lemon and horseradish cream on rye caraway crackers. This needed a thousand percent more preserved lemon and horseradish. Otherwise, the flavor profile was as follows: caraway seeds. Also the fish was a bit chewy. This was my least favorite dish. Main: BBQ boer goat with fermented hot sauce. This was excellent, cooked fall-apart tender, and the hot sauce was super complex. Dessert: sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream. Also excellent, but then, when isn't sticky toffee pudding excellent? As a dink, I had some kind of nonalcoholic fermented berry wine thing from Denmark, and I appreciated having that option as a non-drinker. read more

Foxface Natural - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite dining experiences in recent memory. We're talking: stellar wine list, BUTTER, the best shrimp I've ever put in my mouth (is every other shrimp I've ever had just rubber garbageprawn sourced from the fiery depths of an inconceivable oceanic hell?), ...thoughtful sourcing, informed but fun service, and a general disposition that makes you think "whatever is happening here is cool and unpretentious and therefore I am cool and unpretentious also please feed me more crusty bread STAT." After reading much of the press and coverage of Foxface's iterations, I was GAME for anything - pun obviously and painfully intended. Much to my delight, the tasting menu the night I arrived was very fish focussed. I think the prix fixe here is a no-questions-asked-must-do. It's a better value and you'll get to sample double the dishes if you're on board to share with your dining mate. Since the menu changes daily, I am not going to go into the specifics of each dish. The important thing is that everything felt perfectly situated against one another. It's the sign of a restaurant who, pardon my French, knows who the fuck they are and what they are good at. In the case of Foxface Natural, it's making proteins shine - NOT through wacky flavor additions or fancy bullshit, but by deepening the relationship with the main they are working with. The oysters were served with an oyster foam and sprig of dill. The shrimp were served with a sauce whose main ingredient was...shrimp. The dessert goat cheese was served with a whole goat bleating at me as I ate it. The last part might be a lie but I was a little drunk at this point given my half downed bottle of (incredible) Baías e Enseadas. I truly regret not getting the name of our server but they had incredible hair, glasses, wine recommendations, and knowledge of this menu. Would not have been the same experience without their expert guidance and immediate understanding of what I wanted before I understood myself. I knew I was looking for a restaurant without a sign, but if you're a more casual diner than my maniacal ass, you should know there's no sign out front guiding you in - simply look for the bamboo windows slats. I will be following along on the Foxface journey moving forward and can't wait to frequent this spot for special occasions moving forward. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the team here for a special night! read more

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I went since I was interested in the kangaroo tartare but they didn't have it on the menu :( I enjoyed my experience here, so I'll be on the lookout for the kangaroo tartare and return once it's back! The stands out for me were the seafood fritters with pork pate and the halibut. The pork pate was the star of the seafood fritters and was really tasty and unique! The halibut... omg the sauce was insanely good. We ate every last drop of that sauce. We used the sourdough bread to soak up the sauce. The halibut had a nice, seasoned crust and paired with the sauce was so umami and delicious. I'm not sure how to describe the dish in terms of flavors, but just trust it's so good. I've never had halibut made like that before. I've been to countless Michelin stars restaurants that always garnishes their dish with sauce/puree, and nothing compares to Foxface's halibut sauce. The sourdough was standard and classic. It came with a variety of pickled veggies all with unique flavors. The octopus bolognese was probably the most letdown dish of the night for me. I didn't really taste the octopus flavor in the pasta itself. The pasta sauce was kind of lacking in general. It did come with a side of octopus tentacle that was dressed in a chimichurri-like sauce that was really good. It was tangy and the octopus was tender. (Not pictured) we also got the pork hearts, which isn't gamey at all (I'm really sensitive to gamey food, i.e. lamb is a no go for me) but still had that pork heart flavor. I don't know how they do it! There was this zesty white sauce that came with it, that elevated the dish further. I wish we got more of the white sauce. However, I'm not the biggest fan of hearts, so I wouldn't reorder this. The young coconut sorbet was a slight disappointment for me since I wanted more of the young coconut taste, but it was sour. There was a sweet potato purée at the bottom which was unique and paired nicely with it. read more

Newest addition to fav NYC wine bars! Their food is absolutely amazing and deserve all the hype. Try the kangaroo tartare!! No gamey flavors at all and tasted super similar to beef just not as fatty. Excellent tagliatelle - super light sherry sauce with pops of ikura. Fluke is The olive oil, garlic, & parsley sauce is simply delicious. Makes you want to lick the plate clean. SO GOOD 와인바 좋아하면 여기 강추! 디쉬들이 그냥 미쳤다 처음 먹어보는 캥거루 고기는 생각보다 소고기랑 비슷한데 조금 더 담백? 한 맛이구 거부감 없이 먹을수 있음. 파스타도 심플한 와인 소스에 이꾸라를 넣어 밸런스가 굳! 베스트는 넙치요리 마늘 & 파슬리 소스가 너무 맛있어서 수저로 계속 떠먹게됨. 분위기도 잔잔하고 예약도 빡세지 않아서 자주갈듯. read more

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I visited Foxface Natural for the first time to experience their New York New Wave wine evening. I usually lean towards more traditional/classic restaurants but has read so many good things about Foxface that it had been high on my list to try. I saw that they were hosting a special dinner offering 7 NY produce focused courses paired with 7 Finger Lake wines so that sounded like the perfect opportunity to check the restaurant out. The building from outside is pretty inconspicuous (I actually walked by and had to walk back) but once you enter the staff are really welcoming and it feels quite cozy, despite it having a more clean and modern esthetic. I was sat at the bar and I have to admit that this was one of my favourite bar set up's that I have experienced. As mentioned the menu was made up of 7 courses and, personally, some stood out for me more than others. Most of the dishes were well executed but some were definitely a little outside of my comfort zone (namely lamb tartar) however, the venison was very underdone. I had just assumed this was how venison should be served and didn't enjoy it due to personal preference so didn't mention anything at the time. I have since been told by several people with more experience with this protein that it is not how it should be served so I really wish I had said something at the time. The stand out dishes for me were the Red Shrimp Roll (delicious and so well seasoned), the sunchoke (which paired beautifully with the wine that was served with this, a real case of the dish enhancing the wine and vice versa) and the Girella. As well as the venison another disappointment for the evening was the panacotta, for me this was not as set as it should have been and was just generally a bit underwhelming. I also have to comment on the service. As a solo dinner they have really perfected making you feel looked after without being overbearing or rushed. I really enjoyed my interaction with all of the staff and they really seemed keen to get feedback on dishes. I don't know if I would return to Foxface Natural, it definitely made me realise I am more of a traditionalist when it comes to dining. I did enjoy how it pushed me out of my comfort zone and I tried dishes that I never normally would. I think if you like slightly more adventurous/exciting combinations then this would be your perfect spot. I did leave having enjoyed my evening and being very pleased that I had moved out of my comfort zone slightly. read more

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Completely blown away by this meal. Very interesting far as ingredients but equally just as tasty! The service was impeccable. You can tell that they put thought behind every dish. We of course had the kangaroo tartare and pork tongue which was equally delicious. The sea scallops were REALLY good and always a must. We had a pasta with caviar and it was sooo deliciousssss and clams. read more

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Huge love to the chef! The food was spectacular! It's challenging to get a table since the restaurant is on the smaller side but they're happy to accommodate. We came wanting to get on the waiting list and were asked to reserve via Resy. When we showed up 2 hours later the table was ready and I was really excited to eat here:) Everything we tried was excellent. My favorite was bluefin tuna crudo. Not only was it beautifully plated, the flavor palette had depth and unexpected elements. I wouldn't think fermented tomato would go well with raw fish but it was perfect. Also, my first time trying fermented tomato - sweet soft and chewy. Another first for me was trying raw kangaroo meat. The tartare was a very unique flavor - I liked it! I just wish it didn't have the chewy parts..like a thin tendon of sorts. Although it was very finely chopped there were pieces still connected to each other. Sourdough with homemade pickled veggies and butter was a perfect starter except when we got to our entree I think we ordered too much food altogether. Homemade butter was very unique..reminded me of sour cream. And I can never say no to anything pickled so I loved the small spread. Roasted fish was my least favorite but still very good. By the time we got to the fish we were already pretty full. It seemed a little overcooked and mushy but we slowly cleared the plate anyway because of the seasoning. I can't wait to try more things here! And maybe pop in for lunch at some point. Oh I almost forgot. Minus 1 star for the music. It was so random, it didn't fit the vibe of the food and ruined the ambiance. Maybe the goal is to juxtapose fancy menu with casual music but it's NOT A VIBE. Every other song was so bad that it became distracting. They can absolutely benefit from hiring a DJ to curate a fitting and cool playlist. read more

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Food was absolutely delectable, that of a fine dining restaurant in a casual and friendly setting. I wanted to go to a restaurant different from our typical sushi omakase or steakhouse. And THIS WAS IT!!! Servers and the manager were all knowledgeable and checked in on our meal frequently. I had a great Cabernet franc that went well with the meal and was recommended by one of the waiters. It was so good, I think I drank a whole bottle to myself. The food was some of the best I've ever had and I'll be dreaming about the crispy pork head with pickled oyster and caviar for a long time. My other favorite bites were the Maine uni pasta and the young coconut sorbet. The main course, wood oven roasted Hawaiian Uku fish was new to me, but soooo good too! This is a restaurant you cannot miss! read more

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Really interesting spot with a constantly changing menu and lots of locally-sourced seafood. Service gets an easy A+, and the food was great as well. A refreshingly unique dining experience read more

Foxface Natural - Montauk white fin tuna - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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This place has a very unassuming storefront but hides a cozy and unique restaurant. The staff was very attentive and talked with us consistently throughout the night, but did not keep up with the water refills (partially due to the small size of the cup). They also forgot to give us the sourdough until we asked for it (though we weren't missing out on much as the sourdough was not all that sour and the butter was pretty salty). My friend and I shared most dishes so this is essentially 2x prix fix. The white wine I got was nothing noteworthy, tasted like a slightly acidic white. The on ice platter had a decent amount of seafood on it--the oysters were meaty and refreshing with the foam while the razor clam had a fragrant oil drizzle on top. The surf clam sat in a delicious fresh green sauce and it was a sizable amount of seafood too. The kangaroo tartare was the highlight of the meal: it had a gamey tougher meat drizzled in a sesame? oil and garlic and garnishes and it came with a bread that tasted like a pita chip. This was topped off by a spinach puree that sealed the deal. I would come back just to order this. The sayori was also top tier--it was sweet, boneless, and fried beautifully. Next came the aged duck which was cooked to perfection, but was too salty to me. I could definitely tell it was dry aged as the flavor popped out, but the gaminess and saltiness was too much for me. The sauce helped neutralize it a little though. Get the sorbet when you come and probably the toffee. I appreciated the cheese dish because I have never had crackers and cheese for a dessert but it was really a mini charcuterie with cooked cherries as a topper. They worked well together (especially after I found out I as supposed to eat the rind for the cow and sheep milk taste), but it was a hassle to put together. The coconut was refreshing and had a lot of Asian influences in the sweet potato and chips that tasted like dalgona. This was definitely one of the most unique restaurants I've been to in NYC. read more

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This East Village bistro has been trending on Instagram lately, featuring a variety of natural wine and side dishes. The owners are a married couple who used to be software engineers before switching careers and opening their own restaurant. Many big names in the industry have visited this restaurant to thank friends for their seats @Xiaomao_Mo to take a look today The store is small and the bar is walk-in, but not necessarily available. The setting is beautiful, but the heavy metal death music in the store is really tough The menu basically changes daily and has a lot of unusual ingredients. Each course is moderate in size, and three starters and two main courses are enough for two people. [Surf Clam] Two ways, the first is flavored with homemade xo sauce, the second is Mexican-style chili. Personally, I prefer the xo sauce to make the shellfish taste sweeter. 【Market Salad】 The dressing is sour and refreshing. 【Kangaroo Tartare】 Yes, the first time to eat raw kangaroo meat, unexpected in New York can eat no imagined strange taste, eat and beef tartare is not very different, with cracker unexpected love! 【Rhode Island Fluke】 The fish is lightly seasoned with olive oil and cooked. The fish is tender and juicy. Baked potato + olive oil is really simple and delicious! [Aged Quail] One of the signature dishes, I never eat quail normally, but the taste of this one is really good, the meat is soft and tender, the skin is crispy with the flavor of juice and fat, very delicious. read more

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Great food and value for a delicious food experience. Prix fixe is $90 or so and totally worth it (but I think the whole party needs to be involved). Restaurant was loud due to poor acoustics but typical for nyc but great wait staff. We ordered some of their house made bread which was phenomenal. Their kangaroo tartar was delicious . It wasn't gamey and well seasoned. Sorry Roo. Their surf clam done in different ways was probably one of the best things done there. Highly recommend for good value and the adventurous palate read more

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Really cute eatery which feels like a wine bar but the food is really the star. Seafood-leaning menu in fixed or a la carte options. I always choose a la carte and we were happy with most of the dishes. Very unique style of cooking with fresh, high quality ingredients and excellent presentation. Would go back again. Food: 7/10 Sevice: 6/10 Vibe: 7/10 Value: 7/10 read more

Foxface Natural - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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"No Karens Allowed" Had a wonderful dinner in this hidden gem buried in Alphabet City. Newer place that has received accolades from the New York Times and other critics. This establishment strikes the balance of being unique and experimental without being pretentious. What's to cheer - Really tasty, unique flavored dishes. Entertain your tastebuds! - Personable, genuine service. Explained the dishes in refreshing detail with recommendations - Varied wine listed well matched with the menu - Intimate atmosphere and contemporary decor What's to jeer - hard to think anything. Perhaps not everyone will like the more edgy music read more

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Came here a while back after I heard that they closed their sandwich shop and converted over to a sit down restaurant+counter. Been really meaning to try their food because their sandwiches seemed so varied and interesting and I wasn't let down here either. We got several things to split, including a few half servings. Hiramasa Pastrami- got a half serving and it has a nice slightly smoky flavor, and paired well with the lemon and the rye crisp. Scallop-served to us two ways. One was with buttermilk and some cucumber sauce that had an almost prickly tartness to the beginning that mellowed out with the dill in the sauce and the sweetness of the scallop. The other was as a single bite with some scallop roe and coral on toast over a seafood flavored emulsion that was much richer than the other way it was served. I really enjoyed the contrast overall! Pork Ear- I REALLY enjoy pork ear and this is a great rendition of it. It was soft, chewy, and fatty, with that identifiable slight crunch in the middle from the cartilage. I think the pairing with the herb based salsa verde is good, but at times the bitterness from that and from the char on the pork ear made it just a tad too bitter. Maybe adding a sweet component liked a reduced vinegar with honey would be good too! No singular right way to pair things, that may just be my preference but I still really enjoyed this dish overall. Kangaroo Tartare- the kangaroo in this intrigued me so I got a half serving and it's not too different from steak tartare overall. It has a slight gamey taste to it that I can't really identify, though not in a bad way. The spices in it tasted a bit like curry and the charred eggplant was creamy though I couldn't tell you what it was if I didn't look at the menu haha. Glad I got to try it though, very interesting dish. Girella Pasta- I think overall, this might be my favorite dish of the night besides the pork ear . Between the aesthetic look of the dish and all the components, this dish is great on every level. They pour the broth into the purée on the bottom of the dish when they bring it out to you so that they mix together and become this perfect accompaniment to the ravioli, and the ravioli itself has the perfect texture with a good amount of fish filling. Great dish, love, love, love. Boer Goat-They smoke the goat for 16 hours so it kind of develops a bark near the edge and tastes kind of like how BBQ does. The meaty bits were balanced off with a good amount of charred fat and the tomato helps cut everything without being too much while the potatos get all that delicious meat jus runoff. Also a very well balanced and delicious dish. I really enjoyed my overall experience here. Even though I never got to try their sandwiches, the service here is nice, the food is good/ great, and I'm really glad that I got to try their cooking! Hopefully I get to try their sandwiches eventually down the line if they ever end up making em again but till then, I hope this restaurant does very well because it's very good. read more

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A wonderful meal and a wonderful experience. We did the smaller of the tasting menus and it was delicious. Favorite bites included the kangaroo tartare and all of the raw fish dishes. I didn't care for the dessert, the fig leaf gelato, but it was still interesting. The plating was a 10/10 and the uniqueness of the dishes and flavor combinations was as well. That was the most exciting part about the restaurant, for me. The staff was very knowledgeable and gave us of wine pairing suggestions, as well as stopped to ask us about the dishes and tell us more about them. The only negative was that we were there to celebrate our wedding anniversary and no one mentioned it, despite it being on our reservation. Usually, places do something to make it special. But also, we didn't book it on that expectation, we just wanted to go to the restaurant. So although it was a slight bummer, it didn't greatly diminish an excellent meal or the attentiveness of the staff otherwise. read more

Protein, forward, protein-forward. You get your money's worth with the $90 tasting menu. You will be served SO much protein coming from the land, air, and sea. Eat with an open mind. While at first I didn't want to think too hard about the fact that I was consuming a pig's ear, towards the end I began to realize that the point is probably that you should be thinking about the animals. The kangaroo tartare tasted milder than I'd expect (also, I looked up nutritional facts for kangaroo and it's chock-full of nutrients). By the time the grilled fish came around, I was already in a food coma. The dessert was alright; I felt like the mochi cake could have been softer/chewier and the combo of apricot and peppercorn tasted like I was eating perfume, but everything else was delightfully new. read more

Wow! I was really impressed by this new restaurant/wine bar. My friend and I had a wonderful dinner here last night. The recently renovated space is airy and modern. The food menu is unexpected and super creative. They also have an extensive wine menu. We started with the Salt Cod & Montauk Fluke and the Hiramasa 'Pastrami'. They were both delicious and beautifully presented. I particularly enjoyed the later - loved the rye crisp. Next, we had the Market Salad and Girella Pasta (seasonal special). We were blow away by the pasta, both the presentation and mix of flavors.. the light pea broth and the blood sausage filling were amazing. For our main, we shared the Aged Quail, which was super flavorful and tender. I also loved the flavors of the side veggies that came with it. To finish our meal, we shared the Timut Pepper & Buttermilk Gelato. It was a very unexpected yet refreshing combination of flavors. The staff and owners (...I believe?) were all very welcoming, informative, and made sure we enjoyed our meal. I would definitely recommend checking it out! read more

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I don't think any particular dish blew me away, but I enjoyed the top notch service and inventive dishes. The tasting menu price is reasonable given the effort and unique ingredients. Surprisingly, the best dish of the night was a surprise addition on the house (due to a misfire), a summer inspired creamy tagliatelle with a heaping portion of ikura. I would love to come back to try the raw bar. read more

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Delicious food and unique ingredients. The service was attentive but not over bearing. Really enjoyed everything we ordered. Look forward to going back again to see what new dishes they have in store as the seasons change. read more

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I would eat many things again: bluefin tuna, hiramasa pastrami and the fluke. The kangaroo tartare was surprisingly good and tasted pretty much like beef tartare. The goat was so tender, extremely well done. But it was goat. I didn't enjoy the taste but quality wise, it was very well done. Service was great! Staff is super friendly and attentive. The restaurant is small so you have to plan well in advance. read more

Went here for my anniversary & it did not disappoint! Every course was delicious & unique. The portions were generous as well; you won't leave hungry. Staff was professional & knowledgeable. The ambience & decor is simple. Would definitely go back! read more

3.5 stars They're doing some really interesting things here, but unfortunately it's not super up my alley. It's a tad heavier than what I usually go for. Portions are generous which is refreshing compared to most upscale spots. Sourdough - Fluffy large pieces of sourdough with some house made pickles and cultured butter. Personally not worth $11 to me. Squid (with black aguachile, fermented tomatillo, crispy berkshire pork ear, pickled ramp) - This was really interesting and my second favorite dish of the night. The pig ears added a nice textural contrast to the squid. Kangaroo tartare - Their signature dish for good reason. Really unique flavors (no, it does not taste like beef tartare) and the carrot coriander purée dolloped on the side was a delight, I could probably have just eaten that purée straight. Sweetbreads tortellini - Very creamy filling but too rich and heavy for me. Smoked Wild Boar - Also too heavy / rich for me. I don't think I'm a huge fan of smoked boar - it's not dry but it's not quite as tender as other meats (and it doesn't have much fat to help make it tender). read more

I had the pleasure of dining at Foxface Natural the other day and was thrilled to taste Chef David Santos' creative fare once again. The cozy restaurant featured several smaller tables, as well as a large counter with comfortable stools. I was dining solo, so a seat at the bar worked perfectly. When I say "bar", I should note that the restaurant exclusively offered an eclectic list of natural wines and local beers. The owners, Sivan and Ori, were constantly engaged, willfully offering suggestions on how many items to order, backgrounds on the dishes, and much more; their passion for what they do was obvious and enabled diners to feel more connected to the experience. The sommelier was also very knowledgeable and a complete sweetheart. The rest of the staff was similarly terrific. Now getting down to my selections for that evening. I adored my glass of organic, biodynamic Domaine Du Facteur Vouvray Extra Brut, which possessed the ideal level of sweetness and acidity, making it very easy to drink. I also love Vouvrays, but it was a real treat to try my first sparkling one. Later, I found my glass of sulfate-free Domaine Kox Cremant de Luxembourg to be a heartier sparkling that was definitely drier than the Vouvray; I still enjoyed it, but was partial to my first glass. When it came to the food, I started with the Kangaroo Tartare. I had tried kangaroo about 20 years ago and had remembered liking it, so I was intrigued by the idea of sampling it again. Their raw version was very well-seasoned, and it was served with spiced Sardinian flatbread, as well as a mousse made from charred eggplant. Topping the crisp flatbread with a smear of eggplant and heap of the tartare made for a bold bite. Next, I had the Girella Pasta, which was a gorgeous ribbon that was stuffed with a golden tilefish filling. The noodle spiral was floating in a tarragon broth infused with a seafood sauce. The pasta was almost too pretty to eat, but its delicate tastiness could not be overlooked. I also decided to try the Rhode Island Fluke Crudo, which was my favorite of the 3 items. The tender slices of fish were topped with fermented tomatoes and cured black olives, all sitting in a smoked olive oil. The aromatic and artful dish was packed with a briny ripeness. Lastly, I could not skip dessert, so I selected the Watermelon Gelato. The bright pink scoop was served with cubes of compressed yellow watermelon, a feta cream, chopped pistachios, and sprigs of mint. The sorbet might have stayed intact, but I melted into my seat, in awe of how delightful the dessert was. The sorbet was seasonal, refreshing, and not overly sweet. From the service to the unique and ever-changing menu, Foxface Natural was a gem! The food might be unusual for some people's palates, but dining here was an adventure worth exploring! read more

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Best restaurant I've been to in a while. I've tried the sandwiches from when they had the sandwich shop but didn't think much of them. The staff was warm and very helpful - they thought we ordered too much and offered to do a half sized kangaroo tartare so we can still try everything. The surf clam two ways (one with aguachile and one with xo sauce & fermented beet) was delicious- strong flavors that didn't overpower. Kangaroo tartare- I didn't think this tasted too different from beef (maybe less sweet) but was not disappointed at all with the spices, eggplant and how this all came together. Maine uni - chunks of raw uni, paired with the saffron pasta and tomato uni butter sauce. So decadent and one of the top dishes of the night. Aged quail: could say maybe this was the most perfect quail I've eaten. Tender as it was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Boer goat: the goat was not very gamey, and that melted eggplant stole the show. On top of that they serve a lot of awesome wines. And with a daily changing menu, I will be back for my next adventure soon. read more

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A very weird tasting menu with full of surprises. Highly recommend getting a resy for this location, it's a very warm and cozy restaurant with not a lot of seating. We loved everything we got. Highly recommend trying the fluke and the foie gras. Servers were very attentive and knowledgeable about the food as well as the sources of the seafood read more

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Had a really good experience here, and this is probably one of the best new restaurants I've been to in a while. I enjoyed trying some new foods like the kangaroo tartare. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the dishes here, but some flavorful standouts were the bluefin and kangaroo tartare apps. The fluke was also very filling - we got the large, and would recommend that for around 4 people. It's a pretty small restaurant, so I think would be an ideal spot for parties of 2-4. The owner also took the time to come to each of the tables and talk to us about the food. Their menu seems to rotate often, so I'm really excited to come back and continue trying more of their dishes / the wines. read more

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small intimate spot with impeccable service. you're given a run down of the menu prior to ordering, then a description of each when plated. I appreciated the cadence of dishes serviced. they offered the perfect amount of time between each dish sourdough - satisfying with amazing butter. was greedy for more bread, since a lot of the dishes lend themselves to dabbing mantis shrimp- so these we did not like. we were expecting large grilled prawns of sorts, but instead they were basically $25 shells with no meat or sustenance. this was a major let down and I feel like we just burned money with it unfortunately. when the waiter asked us how we liked it, I directly asked how do you even eat this and they were like yeeahhh idk tbh lol. when we ordered, these we were only given the description that it would be an earthy flavor, but not that it was so small we'd be eating similar to crab were you just suck whatever you can out of a shell. feel like a heads up would've been nice if they're taking the time to give a menu run down kangaroo tartar- so unique, fantastically warm and cozy. actually reminded me of a thanksgiving stuffing flavor profile and not mineral as it was described prior to ordering. the eggplant accompanying it was beautiful and tasty along with the flat bread which was a lovely salty crunch fish- small size, which was still a big portion for 2. it was really heavy on garlic. we gobbled it up but the garlic did have a few acrid burnt pieces that weren't my favorite. it was very fresh and cooked well. would've loved something to dip in the sauce. the potatoes were a nice touch but super decadent and the dish overall felt a bit heavy. all in all- the service was just truly the stand out. appreciate the creativity. wish there was more veggie options to break up the intense flavors and offer a little relief. upper end price wise of where I choose to dine read more

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Foxface Natural was one of those restaurants where after seeing a few pics of the food, I knew I had to go. Seeing interesting sourcing such as percebes, ama ebi and japanese fish like madai and kinmedai; this is an instant draw to me, especially when served in a fun casual atmosphere. My mom was apprehensive at first when seeing the menu, slightly taken aback seeing kangaroo. Her plan was to only order the fluke, but after seeing me order a wide array of dishes from the menu, she indulged in each one, and to her surprise, throughly enjoyed them all! Highlights for me were the homemade malloreddus pasta in a tomato uni sauce. A terrific shaped pasta that I have not heard of before provides a great medium to serve a sea-rich uni tomato sauce. Kangaroo tartare- soft, mild meat seasoned with warm spices and charred eggplant. The charred, slightly bitter eggplant offers a nice contrast from the sweet warm spices of the kangaroo. A very enjoyable tartare and first time trying kangaroo Montauk Fluke- Perfectly cooked, local fluke served with loads of olive oil, garlic and parsley. Sliding right off of the bone, a greatly enjoyable dish. We were given a tiny cup of warm water and lemon slices to clean our fingers after picking apart the fish. In my case, this was much needed, as I was breaking apart the spine of the fluke to consume each morsel of marrow/spinal fluid. Truly delicious Finally, the service was also great. After asking for a suggestion of wine, and deciding on one. I was still brought over two bottles to try, and upon selecting, was given a very generous pour. The second glass i selected was great, a light pinot noir rose, reminiscent of tschida, my favorite wine maker. Foxface natural is a restaurant I will continue to visit to see how they develop. Their unique sourcing alone is enough to set them apart, but the composition of these products and andservice commands the attention of adventurous diners! read more

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This was an extraordinary meal with exceptional service. Highly recommend. Guy sitting next to me at the counter, another solo dinner (this place allows solo dinners to make a reservation -- how civilized!) was a local who had been there several previous times and said it's the best meal in NYC. He's not wrong. The beautifully prepared and presented courses, the attentive service, the cozy space (about 10 counter seats and about 20 table seats), added up to a lovely evening. You have option of either set price, multi-course menu (which I did) or just choosing whatever you want a la carte (as the pair of friends on the other side of me did, with their drinks and four shared appetizer portions and no entree). If I were to change anything, it might be to offer a smidge more choice for red wines by the glass (you have the choice of two), or at least make one of those two a full-bodied Cab for those of us who may look for that. It's a very special place and a truly memorable experience. read more

Loved my experience at Foxface Natural. The restaurant had very chill vibes. We did the price fixed menu and the seafood tasting. Every single dish was a 5/5. The pacing of the meals was perfect and the additional wine pairing was perfect. read more

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Good overall experience: contrasting rock/alternative music with an otherwise cozy ambiance and good food with top ingredients. Service was also very good and personal. We ordered the "Maine Uni", "Berkshire tongue", "Kangaroo tratar", "Golden Tilefish", "Boer Goat", & "Prickly Pear Gelato"; also a very nice French orange wine. Why not 5 stars? Two things: 1) the "Maine Uni" had superb ingredients (sea urchin, tuna sashimi, and a crunchy vessel filled with eggplant) but did not work as well together as the flavored masked each other 2) the "prickly pear gelato" sounded grand in paper, but the lime-mezcal curd tasted like only like egg. Would recommend but not necessarily repeat. read more

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The food here is not only interesting and unique but incredibly flavorful and delightful. From foie gras donut holes to elk and their classic boar, I love every visit. Plus the staff are so friendly and walk you through every bite. read more

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One of the best meals I've ever had, and certainly the best one I've had in New York. It's a cliche to talk about a tasting menu as a "journey," I realize, but when you do, it lets you admit that sometimes the course of the meal can have its ups and downs. But not here. Every single dish was stellar. Not a single "miss." Not even a bump in the road. Indeed, it's hard to pick a favorite bite -- perhaps the sauce that came with the clams and asparagus that was made with butter, ramps, and clam juice. Or perhaps the squid -- I've eaten a lot of squid, but never had anything quite as perfect and delicate as this. The kangaroo tartare was amazing -- I'm a little wary of tartares, truth be told, but the texture here was quite different than beef and the spices were lovely, as was the accompanying carrot puree. The goat was great -- so tender, also with a delicious sauce but still recognizable as "goat." I loved that about all the ingredients here -- there wasn't really any attempt to disguise some of the "weird" ingredients by overpowering them with other flavors. Even the white asparagus gelato was still so apparently white asparagus. Service was great. Not too intrusive as sometimes tasting menus can be, when servers sigh out their rehearsed speeches. Really cannot say enough good things about this place. I mean, even the Australian punk rock music in the background struck the right chord. read more

Tl;dr: One of our favorite new places of 2024. This is an aggregated review, we've been here 3 times in the last few months and it's been great each time. The menu is constantly changing but the Kangaroo tartare is something we order every time we're there. Service is friendly and the food is innovative without being pretentious or stuffy. It's definitely a place we recommend. read more

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My family unfortunately scattered round the world was able to meet in NYC and wanted some place someplace new to eat. They are all foodies. I saw this place on Social Media and said great. The rest of the family though on short stay agreed. This is a smallish restaurant and we were lucky to get a booking for 6. Every one was really nice and as the pictures will attest the food was delicious. We all enjoyed the wine selections. THe place is open and cheery however no sign on the door., We loved the barnacle's, the Roo, the Monkfish, The Deer we loved everything but thought the desert was lacking. read more

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Fine tastes with punch music in your ears. The Montauk Flute was swimming in garlic and cilantro, drizzled with a touch of acidity. A fish you wanna catch on your pallet. I'll be back. read more

My second time at Foxface Natural and I loved it even more than my first. Everything one could ask for in a restaurant. Excellent food, knowledgeable and welcoming owners and staff in a comfortable and relaxed space. I'll be back! read more

Foxface Natural - Percebes from Portugal. Really great! - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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