Savarona: Trek under the Queensboro Bridge and you’ll be rewarded with a gem of an exotic culinary experience. This high-end, French-inspired Turkish addition to the Sutton Place area includes a collaboration with Chef Tevfik Alparslan, former executive chef at Reina in Istanbul and Gordon Ramsay’s Claridge’s in London. Savarona is housed in the former Bouterin space—a tough act to follow, but so far, the restaurant is holding its own. The warm but minimalist dining room features an outdoor terrace, but it’s the food here that is most breathtaking. Artichokes are stuffed with lobster and a coriander-lime sauce; skewered swordfish is served with aubergine stew and a fried porcini mushroom and arugula salad. The Turkish theme continues with an impressive wine list featuring usually under-represented Turkish and regional wines along with unique cocktails using yogurt, figs, and other typically Turkish ingredients. Now just use your imagination and pretend the East River is the Mediterranean. |
