Went for Restaurant week. Food is very good here. For starters we had the Grilled Cheese and Foie Gras Jammers. Grilled cheese was simple but very good. The foie gras jammers were amazing! So much so that we ordered additional pieces. Also had the quail. For our mains, we had the pork and fish plates. The fish. I think red snapper. was executed perfectly. The fishskin was crisp and flavorful. The pork dish didn’t quite wow us but was still good. For dessert, the chocolate peanut butter sundae(yum) and the coconut cake. The cake was nicely done. Light with enough coconut taste. Décor was simple and welcoming. Service was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend!
Victoria L.
Tu valoración: 3 Philadelphia, PA
I would give this 3.5 stars. The ambiance here is warm(literally) and welcoming. We walked in from the cold air into this cozy restaurant, which was smaller than expected. The host sat me since I was first to arrive and my waitress was very quick with bringing me water and a menu to look at. It’s nice that they offer complimentary still and sparkling water. It’s nice that even some cocktails are as «local» as possible; their tonic water is housemade and includes roots and herbs, which our waitress explained when the G&T was a brown color. The Little Sparrow is very light and refreshing, and the Cherry Rye Sour was smooth, smoky and sweet. For starters to eat we got the grilled cheese and the grilled octopus. The grilled cheese was a little cold by the time it got to our table, so it wasn’t as warm and gooey as it could have been. The grilled octopus was nice and tender, though I was there were more pickled onions and less parsley/tasting greens. Then we split the seared scallops, sea bass and mushroom spinach salad. The scallops had decent flavor but they were clearly cut horizontally to make more, so they were not as tender and sweet as they could’ve been. The salad was dressed well but I wish the mushrooms were bigger and the key ingredient like the menu made them seem to be. The desserts sounded great and there are such great reviews but we didn’t have the stomachs for them. I would definitely try this place again if their menu changes up seasonally.
Mrs. A.
Tu valoración: 3 Chicago, IL
Appetizers were great, which is why this place gets a three star. we really enjoyed them. Full of taste and flavor! the main courses were mediocre, unfortunately. the beef dish I had was pretty dry which was a disappointment. the pork dish was much better… the kale that accompanied it was very tasty. my suggestion to future guests, go there only for the appetizers.
Lori L.
Tu valoración: 3 New York, NY
When I heard that Bill Telepan was opening a downtown sister restaurant to his Michelin-starred flagship, I was more than just a little excited, especially upon learning that it would be within walking distance of my office. Telepan Local keeps to many of the same principles as the original, maintaining the focus on «Greenmarket cooking» but serving more casual plates in a relaxed setting. It wasn’t until the most recent Restaurant Week season that I was able to make a visit, however; a venue for an upcoming team lunch was needed, and Telepan Local was the perfect solution for accommodating a large party. Unlike a good number of restaurants do, Telepan Local kept almost all of our menu options in line with what was available regularly. There’s a healthy variety between vegetable, meat, and fish-centric dishes, so it’s an ideal place to bring those with varying dietary restrictions. As most of its plates are considered«small plates», we were also able to select four dishes(three savory, one sweet) for the $ 25 prix-fixe, which was quite the steal. Each course had at least 3 or 4 options, so our group was able to make our decisions with ease. Many of us started off with the Jamison Farms Lamb Slider, a two-bite course that featured a juicy lamb patty cooked to the requested medium. It was accompanied by a roasted tomato and chili aioli, which added a punch of acidity and spice to help counter the gaminess of the meat. Sandwiched in between a tiny toasted brioche, it was a strong, if not appetite-whetting, beginning to our lunch. The Fluke Crudo that followed might not have been the best dish to follow it with, as it seemed a little lackluster in comparison. The fluke was cut slightly too thick, the seasoning was not quite enough, and the pairing with rhubarb, green strawberries, and jalapeño slices almost overwhelmed the fish. My coworker was nice enough(and understanding of my ways) to agree to sharing the third course. First to arrive was the Grilled Beef Short Rib, three lightly charred servings of short rib that was topped with a spicy fermented cabbage topping. Perhaps the latter was supposed to bear some resemblance to kimchi, but it lacked the acidity or spice to do so. The short rib, on the other hand, was surprisingly tough and(unsurprisingly) slightly overcooked. The winner of this course had to be the Grass-Fed Bacon Double Cheeseburger, although the size of it didn’t quite live up to the length of its name. The beef patty was well-seasoned and tender, and the flavor paired with bacon slices and the sweetness of caramelized onions made for a satisfying few bites. Dessert was the Blueberry-Lemon Cheesecake Sundae, an impressive course that had several scoops of lemon cheesecake ice cream topped with mascerated blueberries. It was a slightly tart, sweet, and refreshing end to meal. Lovers of the other spectrum of dessert will find respite in the decadent Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Sundae as well. For the most part, Telepan Local has adopted the vision behind the original restaurant, and successfully pared it down for a more casual dining experience. While there are some inconsistencies in execution across the menu, guests can be assured of a positive dining experience, especially with the oversight given to the sourcing and preparation of the ingredients.
Christine T.
Tu valoración: 3 San Francisco, CA
Had a blackboard eats coupon here, which turned out to be a great deal. Came here on a saturday night and it was packed. The staff is very friendly, and ambiance is nice, great date spot for tribeca. We had the foie gras jammers and in my opinion it was my least favorite. We shared the octopus and crude which was both good. As for the entrée we had the short ribs and it was the winner of the night. Very tender, and full of flavor.
Lauren P.
Tu valoración: 5 New York, NY
I love this place! The inside looks like an fancy barn house and the take on the food is so creative! When I came in I ordered the panzanella, buffalo quail legs, seared scallops, cheese cake ice cream with fresh blueberries. Every single thing I made was amazing. The panzanella was super fresh and very flavorful. It was my first time having panzanella so I didn’t really know what to expect — but it was still a good choice. The buffalo quail legs were on the small size but super flavorful. They had some shaved celery and blue cheese on the side. I loved this high quality take on typical bar food. This dish in particular really showed the creativity in the dishes. The seared scallops were cooked to perfection and on a bed of veggies. YUM. The dessert was literally the best dessert I have ever had. The ice cream ACTUALLY tasted EXACTLY like cheesecake and blueberries were the perfect pairing.
Diane Z.
Tu valoración: 2 Brooklyn, NY
Anticlimactic. The grilled cheese was probably my favorite dish. Gooey, melty cheese in crusty toasted bread with a tomato mixture on top. Yum! Too bad the good food stopped there. We also had: –heirloom tomatoes — bland and not flavorful like they should be –fluke crudo — not fresh and it made me question if I should have sent it back –sea scallops bravas style — tedious to eat after two bites, really should just be an appetizer portion –rib eye special — chewy and could have been seasoned better, and it was served with a chimichurri so it probably would have been better as a wet marinated hanger steak And even with a bbe 30% discount, I don’t feel like the food matched the price. The portions were on the smaller side, which isn’t bad in itself, but the quality of the food(especially since they really tout the farm to table thing) did not meet expectations. Almost forgot, we also had a slice of the coconut cake, which was a nice way to end our meal. The cake was moist and not overly sweet. So I guess we had two good dishes. But at $ 10 for a pretty small slice… Meh.
Alison C.
Tu valoración: 2 Hoboken, NJ
After 2 mediocre experiences at Telepan, but some of its great bites at various tasting events, I had mixed feelings about what to expect from Telepan Local, Chef Bill’s more casual, farm-to-table concept in Tribeca. After scoring a complimentary 30% off coupon from BlackboardEats, I figured that it was at least worth a shot. My brother and I walked into what looked like an elegant barn, with its high ceilings, whitewashed and raw wooden décor, and sturdy tables. There was a pretty decent view into the semi-open kitchen, which was a treat, as always. We wasted no time ordering cocktails from the shockingly inventive menu. My Tequila Fresca was served in a small, wide glass with plenty of ice and a lime wheel garnish. It contained a citrusy blend of house-infused grapefruit tequila, St. Germain, grapefruit and lime juices, and was topped off with club soda. It resembled one of those Italian grapefruit sparklers and was very refreshing. My brother’s Cherry Rye Sour was a smoky and tart mix of cherry-infused rye whiskey, ruby port, lemon, egg white, and root beer bitters. The tiny glass contained so many different flavor profiles — from sweet and tart to smoky and masculine. Both cocktails were delicious, though way too small to warrant the $ 14 cost. We were a bit surprised that a restaurant with ingredients sourced from local farms and with housemade desserts had no bread service. Granted, the last thing I need in my life would be more carbs, but I do love my bread when dining out. Regardless, I did get my share off the actual menu, on which everything sounded extremely enticing. We decided the best plan of attack would be to sample and share a variety of dishes from the various menu sections. We started with the Roasted Mushroom Salad, though it was not much of a «salad». A scattering of spinach leaves were topped with some very bland and boring sauteed mushrooms, leaving the combined temperature very off-putting. The dish was topped with pine nuts and a very pungent manchego cheese. I love mushrooms normally, but was very unimpressed with this dish. I think an addition of other mushroom varieties would be a great initiator into improving this plate. We balanced mouthfuls of the salad with the Zucchini, Tomato, and Lemon Ricotta Sourdough Pizzette, which was the highlight of the meal. Despite seeing pictures on Unilocal that reflected a doughy crust, ours was clearly a flatbread. The hint of citrus in the cheese paired ever so nicely with the seasonal yellow tomatoes and fresh zucchini. The only issue with the pizza was that the crust was extremely burnt along the edges, giving those bites a charred flavor. We then progressed to the Grilled Beef Short Rib entrée with spicy fermented cabbage. We were never really asked how we wanted our short rib prepared, but it came to the table extremely well-done. We are not people that enjoy rare meat, either, but a happy medium would have been preferable. We sent the dish back to the kitchen, and a new one arrived a few minutes later. This version might not have been singed, but it looked completely dry. This short rib tasted alright and was on the leaner side, which was a plus, but it could have certainly used some salt. The slaw on the top was tangy and had a slight kick to it, but was not decadent enough to jazz up the boring piece of meat. Our side dish of Swiss Chard tossed with golden raisins and crispy farro was decent, but nothing mind-blowing. In fact, I would have liked some extra farro, as the grains were few and far between. All in all, I found Telepan Local certainly more enjoyable and creative than the original located uptown, but I still felt like everything from the food to the service was just too dull and middle-of-the-road for such an accomplished chef. I would give this a 2.5-star rating if possible.
Nikki A.
Tu valoración: 3 New York, NY
3.5 I had dinner here with my dad last week and while we had a pleasant time and loved our desserts, we did not find the rest of the food completely up to par. We were able to do restaurant week, and I really appreciated that they let you pick from the full menu! I got the foie gras, the mushrooms and the red snapper and my dad got the lamb sliders, the broccoli rabe and the pork. I had the peanut butter sundae and he had the blueberry cheesecake sundae for dessert. The best dish I had to be the mushrooms. They were pretty tasty. The foie gras was nothing special and I found the red snapper to be overcooked. My dad really hated the flavors of the broccoli rabe – I sampled his and had to agree. The stars of the show were the two sundaes. Both were equally scrumptious and really capped off the meal. I liked the wood décor and pleasant ambiance.
Andrew S.
Tu valoración: 5 Manhattan, NY
Two hours and one fantastic Restaurant Week Lunch later, I feel pretty confident recommending Telepan Local. I’m generally hesitant with tapas places, and specifically with the Restaurant Week deal because I worry the portion are much smaller and of a lower quality than the normal fare. In both regards I was proved wrong at Telepan. For their lunch special, Telepan opened up their menu and offered 4 dishes, 3 rounds of mains to select from and 1 dessert for $ 25. Each section of the meal was delicious and unique, and at the end of the 2 hours it felt much more like a 4 course meal than a tapas experience. Across the 6 people in our group we tried nearly everything and some of the favorites were: the Grilled Cheese, Fried Watercress, Short Rib, Doublecheese Burger, and the Chocolate Sundae. By the time it came to pick dessert we could barely think about more food until the waiter mentioned the Peanut Butter and Chocolate sundae which instantly lit up everyone’s eyes. I think it had something to do with the fact that the ice cream was homemade. Across the board the food was delicious, well prepared, and inventive, and lent itself to an incredibly enjoyable dining experience. With a bar upon entry that could rival most anywhere else, an inviting modern farm-house décor, and food that matches the experience, I’ll definitely be back in here soon to try more options as the menu changes.
Waz W.
Tu valoración: 3 New York, NY
Earlier this year, the folks over at Tabelog invited me to be a judge in the spring 2014 restaurant awards. After many emails back and forth with the Tabelog team, we finally met up over dinner in Tribeca last Friday. Telepan Local offers a rustic space with a classy feel. It’s just like a barn, with plenty of wood panels and tactile details, but it doesn’t feel dingy in any way. The space was filled with a warm, happy glow. Such a relief from the cold outside. A cute spot for a date! Sachiko was already sipping on a cocktail when I arrived, so I also decided to start the evening with a cocktail. It was Friday, after all! The Tequila Fresca was very refreshing, with infused grapefruit tequila, St Germain elderflower liqueur, and grapefruit and lime juices. Honestly, anything with elderflower liqueur makes me happy. Telepan Local is Bill Telepan’s newer, more casual downtown restaurant, which features a wide selection of tapas ranging from $ 7 to $ 15. It’s not vegetarian, but there were 10 veggie dishes on the menu, excluding the specials. The waiter recommended 3 – 4 dishes per person, which was plenty of food for a table of four. The sunchoke and mushroom in mushroom vinaigrette was a nice salad. The veggies were sliced paper thin, allowing you to slowly enjoy the flavors as it melts in your mouth. The grilled asparagus was good, but not a major standout. The brussels sprouts and fingerlings with a coddled egg was fantastic. Who knew that egg would be so good on brussels sprouts and potatoes! The grilled cheese was not bad, but a tad bit salty. Later in the evening, we switched to wine. I picked the Condes de Albarei 2012 Albarino to continue the refreshing, fruit-forward theme of the cocktails. Lots of zesty, citrus flavors with floral hints. The Albarino was nice with most of the vegetarian dishes, and I’m sure it was wonderful with all the fish and seafood dishes too. I was very tempted by the sea scallops and snapper. As soon as the sea scallops arrived at the table, I was overwhelmed by the smell. I only stopped eating fish and seafood at the very beginning of this year and came close to having some at this dinner. However, I got so distracted by all the conversations about food, restaurants, and blogging, haha. For dessert, we shared the rustic pear tart and the coconut layer cake. The tart was crusty and flaky on the outside, but warm and fruity on the inside. I’m usually not a coconut fan, but the coconut cake was nice. It was very sweet compared to the pear tart though.
Katherine S.
Tu valoración: 4 Manhattan, NY
On the quiet path of Greenwich Street, keep your eyes peeled for the unassuming door and entrance that lead to Telepan Local in TriBeCa, because you won’t want to miss it. This restaurant has a really lovely aesthetic, clean, a little woodsy with an emphasis on unique, liberally placed mirrors. Food wise, the restaurant’s focus is on American style, small plates, locally sourced and seasonal food. The great thing about small plates, is that it allows you to try a bunch of things during one dining experience. The first thing I tried was the Asparagus and Ramps(lemon ricotta and sorrel). This was really nice, the vegetables almost take on a savory flavor, similar to that found in an Asian dish. To offset that a bit, the lemon ricotta is creamy, almost yogurt like, and has a bit of that zest from the lemon. Next, I had the Shaved Artichokes(faro and fried parsley). I really liked this one. The artichoke had a nice citrus flavor, and the faro was tender. The fried parsley was great too, it added a nice, light crispness and airy crunch to the chew and meatiness of the faro. Then, I had the Grilled Octopus(red wine and almonds). I loved this one, the octopus was savory, tender and had this great char on the outside. The leaves here are lightly dressed, and have a nice vinegary bite from the pickled red onions. Then, you have the rich creaminess of the almond sauce with little bits of crunch from some added chopped almonds. After that, we had the Sourdough Pizzette(fried calamari ‘marinara’ and romano). I really enjoyed this one too. The top of the dough almost has a creaminess to it, but then a great crunch around the edges and bottom. The calamari is a little on the bland side, but, the texture was a nice contrast with that of the creaminess and crunch of the pizza, and the sharp flavor of the cheese. Of course, I had to get dessert too. I had the Apple Pie Sundae(deconstructed apple pie, cinnamon and vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, apple pie filling). This was the perfect ending to this great meal. The ice cream is creamy and rich, I especially liked the cinnamon, and really adds to the apple pie filling and caramel, letting you feel like you’re having an apple pie a la mode. It’s also confected with these little crunchy bits, similar to a sugar crusted dough, that adds a nice little crunch to the dish.
Lisa M.
Tu valoración: 3 Manhattan, NY
This place is relatively new to the area and as a local we open it with open arms! Stopped in on a Tuesday night for a bite to eat and drink. Good wine list. We sat at the gorgeous bar which has a rustic feel. Pretty good crowd, which included mostly locals and professionals. As with everything we ate, we were wishing for more since the portions are very small and more like snacks. The shrimp poppers were delicious and plump, light on the seasoning but fried to perfection. For around 9 dollars, we only got 2! A little disappointing. We also tried the beets which were awesome! Served with honey and house made ricotta. I wanted to order 2. The Brussels Sprouts pizette was okay, a little hard. Everything we ate was very light on the salt which i guess allows you to enjoy the natural flavors? I’m not sure I put salt on everything… but the food was a tad bland. My recommendation to them would be to increase the portions. It’s a good thing the place is so beautiful. I think that’s what will get people to come back, and what prevents people from giving a low star rating.
Velina L.
Tu valoración: 3 New York, NY
Overall, I found the non-vegetable dishes to be delicious and service to be a little odd. As others have noted, portions tend to be on the small side but between five of us sharing 3 small snacks(grilled cheese and 2 orders of bone marrow arancini — all very yummy!), 2 vegetables(cauliflower gratin and mushrooms in parchment — almost flavorless), the octopus, lamb tartare, and beef shortribs(my favorite of the night) plus a bread basket and one dessert each, we were all quite full. I was a little too full. So regardless of the portion size, the food was still quite filling and satisfying. Desserts are not really their specialty as they don’t have anything particularly memorable or unique. They have a couple types of sundaes and cakes that were good, but felt like something I could get at a diner. Cocktails were quite good and I liked that they have a selection of sherry, however our waiter was not very knowledgeable. He said he did not know much about the sherry on the list and that he didn’t like them so I probably wouldn’t like them. I love sherry, so I was a little off-put by his remarks. Our waiter also seemed to interrupt us mid-conversation to ask how our meal was going, and really tried to force us to order the coconut cake for dessert even though no one seemed really interested. One person did end up ordering one and it was good but again, nothing special.
Busra A.
Tu valoración: 4 Manhattan, NY
Telepan(not so) local was a great place to start our Saturday brunch extravaganza. Having to trek from the upper east side to TriBeCa is not my typical Saturday morning, but there is isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for a friend(especially when they’re treating me to brunch… Thanks!:)) The only thing this place is missing are the huge shutter doors on both ends that allow the wind to breeze through just as it would in the summer. The décor is crisp and clean and gives off that vacation feel, and I feel as though the menu works in parallel to that. Small, light, and flavorful portions are great if you want a small bite, and even better if you can’t choose between sweet or salty… Order both!
Tugba A.
Tu valoración: 4 Manhattan, NY
Missing the summer vibe of the Hamptons? Well men put on your loafers and ladies wear your flowy dresses(and maybe bring a stroller) and head to Telepan. The pickled finish on the wood and the complementary white tile will make you feel like you are vacationing at your summer home away from the city. Oh and the food, portions may be small but they are flavorful. The caramelized bananas paired beautifully with the honey roasted pecans on my syrup drenched(too sweet for my taste) waffle. I’d recommend you try this place if you are ever in the area.
Srini V.
Tu valoración: 4 Manhattan, NY
Telepan Local is a welcome addition to this stretch of Greenwich Street, where strollers outnumber restaurants and eateries with an earthy charm are in short supply relative to buildings with character. The space is small, and so are the plates – which is just as well, since diversification is a virtue in most situations, including when sampling dishes at a relatively new restaurant. Having had dinner and brunch at Telepan Local, I must admit that while none of the dishes was a standout, there is something for everyone. And the locally sourced ingredients shine. I particularly like their rendition of grilled cheese, with a bruschetta-like exterior. The mushroom panini conjures up memories of the sandwiches at Via Quadronno. And the apple pie sundae is the dessert of choice. If you are a Tribeca local, by all means visit Telepan Local whenever you are in the mood for a light meal. If on the other hand you are visiting from the Upper East Side(say), then you might as well follow up your meal with a cocktail stop at nearby Tamarind or Brandy Library – there are many ways to benefit from diversification.
Ken S.
Tu valoración: 4 Manhattan, NY
KenScale: 8.0÷10 Telepan Local is a New American restaurant from chef Bill Telepan, one of the pioneers of farm-to-table cuisine in the city for his flagship restaurant Telepan on the Upper West Side. It is certainly a more casual version of Telepan that goes with tapas-style approach showing various snacks with fresh ingredients. While my dining experience at Telepan previously was pretty solid, I was not sure what to expect in this different approach focusing on small plates. Overall, though, I liked many of the dishes that the restaurant offered. I started my meal with pleasant bites like grilled cheese«pan con tomate» and pigs-in-a-blanket with honey mustard. I thought cauliflower gratin with cheddar and bread crumbs was well executed, and so was sourdough pizzette with brussel sprouts, pecorino toscano and sage. While fluke crudo with fermented radishes and celery was a little too citrusy for my, grilled octopus with red wine and almonds was very tender. My two favorite dishes on the menu, however, were corned tongue with grilled cabbage and Russian dressing(a playful dish that also tasted pretty good) and grilled beef short ribs with spicy fermented cabbage(the ribs were cooked perfectly and I thought the flavor was remarkable without being overdressed). For dessert, a decadent dish like peanut butter chocolate pretzel sundae may the way to go if you have room in your stomach. While none of the dishes were breathtaking, there were no big misses and the portion wasn’t particularly small either(3 – 4 dishes per person would probably do the trick for a satisfying dinner). The restaurant has a cozy dining room and a relaxing vibe that looks perfect for a first date or a start to the casual night out in TriBeCa. Getting a reservation wasn’t particularly challenging. The restaurant has a full bar with some good wine selections. I feel like tapas style has been somewhat overused in the New York dining scene, but Telepan Local is definitely one of the better places that goes with the format showcasing classic American dishes with modern touches.
Mike C.
Tu valoración: 3 Forest Hills, NY
I love a good small plates restaurant, but this time the plates are really really small. And unfortunately only a few were good, with a number of them not particularly memorable. I was excited to have a place like this in the neighborhood, which looked kind of like it was trying to be another Alder — I mean, they even have the almost never seen appetizer in a restaurant, Pigs in the Blanket, albeit a much inferior version to the tasty and more creative ones at Alder. Normally I don’t really care too much if a place is expensive as long as it is really good, but while eating the many dishes we got here, which were underwhelming to pretty good, I couldn’t help but feel the sting knowing how much each one cost. I ordered enough that I expected the waiter would give me the look I’m used to, like I was a pig and/or crazy to order so much, but it didn’t happen. It’s a good thing, because I actually left hungry in spite of the abundance of dishes and the hefty sum of money we dropped: — Grilled Cheese Pan Con Tomate($ 6) This was a pretty good start. Closer to Pan Con Tomate than Grilled Cheese, this was a little portion of crispy bread topped with tomato and cheese, divided into four pieces. One of the more reasonably priced and tasty options. — Aranchini with Bone Marrow($ 8) This was the best dish of the night. It would have been nice to have at least one more, but this order of two rice balls was really excellent. It had a perfect crispy outside, and a really creamy interior containing some tasty bone marrow. — Pigs-in-a-blanket($ 7) Sure, these tasted better than the frozen stuff you get from Costco(sorry mom), but I would take an entire tray of those for a few bucks over this plate of two bites for $ 7 any day. They weren’t really that much better than store bought stuff or different enough(like at Alder) to warrant trying. I would pass on these. — Corned Tongue($ 12) Maybe I’m just not a big fan of tongue, but I didn’t particularly enjoy the meat part of this dish, which consisted of 4 thick, rubbery slabs of tongue. Otherwise, the grilled cabbage portion was the best part of this dish, along with the Russian dressing under it all. — Brussels Sprouts & Fingerling Salad($ 10) This was a pretty tasty combination, along with the perfectly runny coddled egg on top. A bite of the sprouts, potatoes and egg altogether made for one of the best bites of the meal. — Sourdough Pizza with Bacon, Jalapeños, Red Onions and Mozzarella($ 14) This was decent. You could tell it was nice and fresh, since it was piping hot and the bread was very crispy. The taste wasn’t particularly memorable though, and it was another smallish portion. Like the grilled cheese, it was divided into just four pieces, and was a little bit longer, but still not quite the size of an entrée. — Grilled Beef Short Ribs($ 18) Given the price point and the proximity on the menu(listed at the bottom with the other larger plates), I expected a nice, hearty dish to end the meal, but unfortunately this was probably the weakest one. When I hear short rib, I think of really soft, delicious, tender meat, which was kind of the opposite of this dish. At this point I really thought I might be missing something here, but I was surprised at this dish given the pedigree of Telepan. The 3 small pieces of short ribs were served on a sizzling plate, like you get fajitas on at overpriced Mexican restaurants. Each small piece consisted of a thick strip of leaving even less meat for consumption. The sizzling plate is a very questionable choice, as it keeps on cooking the meat, which was already quite tough and nowhere near close to the consistency of any short ribs I ever had. The meat was also pretty bland, which was helped minimally by the spicy kimchi-like cabbage on top, but this was easily the most disappointing of all of the dishes. — Brown Butter Pecan Cake($ 10) I was hopeful that the meal would be saved by dessert, but I was only half right — this first of the two desserts we got was one of the weakest cakes I’ve tasted. There was barely any sweetness to it and I could hardly discern any flavor. The cake itself was not particularly dense or memorable in any way. I would not recommend this. — Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Sundae($ 10) Now this was a really excellent dessert, and is probably the best thing we tried. It consists of two delicious scoops of ice cream, one chocolate and one peanut butter, with pretzel crumbs and some thick fudge. This was really great, and was the type of thing I was hoping for with the rest of the food. Everybody here from the waitstaff, to the chef, to one of the partners for the restaurant were all very nice and welcoming. Service was great, very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is nice and it feels like you are in a classy barn, with the wood paneling and the dark lighting. It was only the second night, so I am hoping they make some menu changes or tweaks in the kitchen. Otherwise, I don’t think I’ll be back.
Reana K.
Tu valoración: 5 Washington, DC
Getting to preview the food and drink menu at Telepan Local was such a treat: lamb tartare, grilled octopus, faro stuffed artichokes, balsamic glazed carrots with feta. The space feels perfect for an intimate evening. Distressed wood gives Telepan Local a rustic feeling, while the white and natural wood colors make everything more upscale and somehow romantic. The bar is covered in rich wood and beautiful lighting, making it a great place for an after work cocktail or nightcap. Telepan Local, even not fully complete, was such a relaxing, elegant place to enjoy brilliantly prepared dishes made with the utmost respect for each ingredient. No doubt tables in this small space are going to be a hot commodity.