Tucked away in the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, you will find Tatiana. Opening the gold door of this restaurant is a portal to all the best cuisine New York has to offer accompanied by the sounds of 90s and 2000s hits blasting in the background. Tatiana by Chef Kwame Onwuachi is a masterful depiction of his Afro-Caribbean inspirations with a twist on many New York favorites.
Scores of people made their way through the hall for that evening’s performance. Initially I wondered, why Lincoln Center? The revered and at times solemn institution was a surprising location for the restaurant. But I, too, made my way to the gold door for a dinner that would be a theatrical performance in its own right.
The buzz around this restaurant was enticing and left me curious about the menu combinations. I knew I wanted a bit of everything. With the menu being split into small and large plates, I was able to do just that. I started with the Pina Pina Pina, a recommendation from my waitress who expressed this was a great drink for those who liked flavors on the sweeter side. The Egusi Dumplings sat on a bed of Nigerian red stew. A perfect punch of flavor and seafood packed into each bite.
The showstopper of the evening was the Short Rib Pastrami Suya. A Jewish deli classic and a Nigerian charred barbeque combination so divine and succulent. Paired with Caraway pull apart coco bread and melted red cabbage, you get a bit of the hearty and slightly tart to complete the dish.
You know the phrase “there’s always room for dessert”? Yep, that was me. I even told the waitress I couldn’t take another bite. But how could I leave when there’s a cheesecake on the menu that is made of a brown butter graham crust. I had, not one, but two of the Harlem Chocolate Factory White Chocolate Cheesecake. I took to Instagram stories to share that it was the best cheesecake I’ve ever had! A chocolate ganache coating on the outside and a moist French vanilla mousse pairing on the inside — a treat you simply cannot say no to.
Am I already planning a visit back to Tatiana? Absolutely. This restaurant is great for a date night or even a solo outing (if you are feeling fancy.) Considering the style of the menu, I would even suggest bringing a few friends along so that you really get to experience the breadth of the menu. Make those reservations as soon as you can – this place is known to get booked up quite a bit.
Live abundantly,
Bethany
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