107 Rivington St. (between Stanton and Ludlow Sts.) 212-796-8040 www.cafemedinyc.com
Mediterranean. I’m embarrassed to admit it took me some time to realize their name is short for Mediterranean. However, it didn’t take two seconds to figure out they’ve got it going on. The space, the crowd, the head boppy music and every dish that passed before me made this as clear as the sea.
And the water is an excellent place to start! I jumped in with yellowfin tuna tartare (nicoise flavor, soft egg) and the equally amazing charred Portuguese octopus (jalapeno pesto, baby fingerling potatoes, cress). There is bliss in the American red snapper – more baby fingerling, olives nicoise and some delicious sauces nearby – although the fish is ridiculously flavorful in its own right.
I then chose to eat as well as drink my dessert. The passion fruit semi-freddo (vanilla, white chocolate) and vanilla martini (organic vanilla sugar, vodka) put the ideal ending on a meal without flaw. Perfectly paced, incidentally, by one on the most affable servers I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. This, plus the colorful, pictogram-like wall tiles, abundance of dripping candles, and collectively carefree mood delivered a real taste of the medi, and we all know what that stands for.