All in the Details at the House

All in the Details at the House

A contemporary American restaurant in a restored 1854 carriage house

From the Wall Street Journal

Just off Gramercy Park is a contemporary American restaurant that can enhance any exploration of 19th-century New York elegance: The House, located in a restored 1854 carriage house.

The restaurant began serving lunch in October. Several dishes stand out for attention to detail and covert healthfulness, such as the must-have hamachi crudo ($16).

“We’re using a lot of citrus, and we pickle the peaches, so it balances out with heat from the chilies,” said executive chef Kenneth McClure.

Deeper in flavor is the mushroom fricassee ($16), which comes topped with an egg, that makes for a hearty, gluten-free winner.

The farro salad ($12) is a perfect mix of lettuce and grains that can be topped with an added protein such as shrimp ($6). Dressed lightly with oil, lemon, ginger and Dijon mustard, it is a refreshing renewal of the standard lunch salad.

There are also modern standards like a chicken paillard ($19) and a truffled macaroni and cheese ($19), which comes loaded with cheese.

“If you’re looking to splurge on the calories, that’s the one to get,” said Mr. McClure.

—Pia Catton