Raise the red lantern: this Tribeca gem features high ceilings and stylish post-colonial fixtures in a discrete Church Street location, reflecting a side-street adventure one might have experienced in old Macao. Led by David Waltuck, chef/owner of
Chanterelle along with the folks behind
Employees Only, you'll find intriguing Macanese specialties such as African Chicken and other signature dishes with Portuguese, Chinese, African and Indian influences. As is the Portuguese tradition, food is served on large platters family-style.
Perhaps start your evening at the bar with one of the signature cocktails such as Dragon's Milk or a refreshing Samuel Smith India Ale, and then move on to one of the handsome wooden booths where you can dine with gusto on appetizers ranging from Chinese-style Pearl Balls, tiny meatballs bursting with exotic flavors, or Portuguese-Style Lamb Balls filled with cheese. You might continue with the Portuguese theme and opt for the Mushroom and Truffle Croquettes, cooked to perfection with a subtle and harmonious balance of flavors, or move to Portugeuse-style Shrimp with Green Sauce or Chinese-style Shrimp in Crispy Wrappers. A warm Portugeuse Choriço with Melon and Mint represents a terrific yet curious combination of tastes, a few nice piquant bites to nibble on while awaiting your main dishes. Or perhaps some dumplings and noodles? Lobster Dumplings with Cilantro Dip are not to be missed, nor should you pass on Steamed Oysters with XO Sauce or Chicken Dumplings in Chili Oil.
If you've never taken the
fast ferry from Hong Kong to Macao, you might find yourself whisked away by all the nautical themes at Macao Trading Co., which are reproduced everywhere from the servers' crisp uniforms to the ship's wheel motif on the walls to the colonial bric-a-bric found high atop the restaurant along one wall (appropriately reached by ladder). Because Macao’s menu incorporates spirits, spices and fruits from the territory’s cultural influences, you'll additionally experience the exotic tastes of Southeast Asia. Chinese-style Prawns sautéed with chili peppers are among the tastiest you can find in New York—and assuredly give nearby Chinatown restaurants a run for their money. You might enjoy the classic Ants Climbing the Tree, here done with glass noodles and tiny bits of minced meat along with an appropriately tangy and piquant flavoring. Larger dishes range from handsome Grilled Lamb Chops with Red Pepper Jam to Curried Fish Ball & Noodle Casserole, underscoring how serving forth a multicultural menu has wide appeal to the discerning post-colonial consumer. Diners seem entranced by the exotic offerings as well as the classic Sirloin served Portuguese-style (grilled with blue cheese butter) or Chinese-style (with oyster sauce and Chinese broccoli). Were that not enough, a few varieties of pork ribs, tripe and whole black bass are featured, and a number of appropriate side dishes such as Spiced Yukon Potatoes with Aioli and Bacalao Fried Rice nicely round off the menu. The wine list includes various bottles of Portuguese wines including Vinho Verde, ports and Madeira.
Macao Trading Co. is also perfect for late-night dining as the restaurant and bar stay open until the wee hours. Now with dozens of seats in attractive booths on the lower level, enjoy your after-midnight celebrations in style at this Macanese speakeasy.
