Kutsher's Tribeca 07-15-2012

Location: 186 Franklin St.
Time: 2:30pm
People: ALev, MGru, RB, CK and myself

Feelings: Mr. Zach Kutsher brings his family tradition of Kutscher's Country Club in the Catskills to Tribeca in a modern and swanky but relaxed establishment. This newcomer, Kutsher's Tribeca is a modern Eastern European Jewish restaurant, the kind of food category that was completely lacking in NYC of all place. The clientele is diverse: groups of older peoples, families, hipsters, yuppies, babies-- three or perhaps four generations all share the spacious dining room.

For a rather upscale Tribeca restaurant, Kutsher's is perhaps the least pretentious. They were closing the kitchen at 2:30pm for brunch, but they kept it open until 3pm, and we never felt rushed. The service was prompt, friendly and exceptionally kid friendly with a "Just for Kids" menu, high chairs and plastic cups available.

The portions are very satisfying. My "Matzo Brei" ($15, treits matzo with eggs and side of berry compote) was elegantly executed and incredibly filling. It almost resembled lasagna or perfectly layered quiche-- the layers of matzo and smooth eggs created a dense yet steadily texture. The side of deliciously sweet and tangy berry compote added some zing into this dish.

RB's "KT Hash and Eggs" ($16, poached eggs, pastrami hash with potato latkes, salsa verde and spicy red pepper relish) was the most gorgeous plate of hash and eggs any of us have seen. It was a beautifully stacked pile of delicious flavors and textures.

CK's organic pasta with penne and tomato sauce ($10) from the kids menu was nicely al dente and carefully executed. Now this is how you do kids meal.

This new innovative idea of bringing Jewish home cuisine into a modern setting worked quite well, but I do wish the pricing was a bit better. If the modernized version of Southern comfort food was for Brooklyn hipsters circa 2010, modernized Jewish food will definitely be Manhattan cool that unites three generation families this year.