We recently explored the newly opened Copper Kettle Kitchen in New York’s Upper East Side for a fun evening of farm to table goodness and artisanal cocktails, paired with adult conversation. A delicious date night, indeed!
The Copper Kettle Kitchen gives a view inside chef/owner Joseph D’Angelo’s head—featuring everything that he—and we—love to eat. Here, rustic wood, Edison light fixtures, and exposed brick walls hung with copper pots contribute to the homey, comfortable feeling we New Yorkers need after a long week. Relaxed, but intimate…and yes, a touch of romance.
The menu—divided into Dips and Flats for the Table, Greens & Grains, Daily Presses (sandwiches), Comforts, and Features for Two—is designed for grazing and sharing, pretty much my favorite kind of meal because you can try a little of everything. We started with thewhipped ricotta, served with scallions and truffle oil, scooped up with homemade ciabatta bread. We’re both HUGE fans of cheese and truffle oil, so of course we had to try the wild mushroom flatbread with goat cheese and truffle oil. Be still my beating heart!
Then it’s on to the irresistible comforts: Homemade potato pierogies with New York cheddar and onions, and the most tender and flavorful grilled octopus with giant al dente Corona beans, red onion and preserved lemon. Other soul-satisfying options include free-range chicken pot pie; wild striped bass; and my personal favorite, the mac-n-cheese with NY and Vermont cheddar, topped with rustic breadcrumbs. The features for two offer big flavors and big portions: Dijon crusted rack of lamb accompanied by butternut squash spatzle, roasted baby Brussels sprouts in a natural reduction or double cut pork chops with rapini, rosemary roasted gold potatoes and cherry peppers.
For dessert, there’s a thick, rich brownie with peanut butter sauce topped with torched homemade marshmallows, apple walnut cornbread with pumpkin-autumn spice glaze and vanilla cream; and semifreddo served with mini chocolate chip cookies and a copper cut filled with cream soda, that you pour over in a cool version of an affogato.
And of course, there’s nothing on the menu that doesn’t taste better paired with a cocktail, wine or beer. It was date night, so naturally I went with my preferred libation of choice: a cracking cold Sauvignon Blanc. But the cocktail list certainly seemed quite innovative, featuring creative riffs on old classics. In a Nutshell is the Copper Kettle version of an old fashioned, with peanut-washed mellow corn whisky, cane syrup and bitters—infused with peanut flavor; the Aztec Sazerac is a mellow, warming, lightly sweet variation on the classic, with cacao nib infused Old Overholt rye, Remy 1738 cognac, cane syrup, absinthe and peychaud bitters. And a house favorite is Gotham is Burning, a creative take on the Manhattan that gets a smokey kick from distilled charcoal vinegar and Elijah Craig bourbon, plus sweet vermouth.
Whether a mid-week catch up with friends, a solo dinner at the bar with a book, or your very own date night with that special someone in your life, we truly couldn’t recommend this place more. It’s a good thing Nana loves hanging out with her sweet grandson so much, cause we definitely can’t wait to return for more! Date night, take two!
Details:
Copper Kettle Kitchen is located at 1471 Second Avenue, 212-744-1100.
Hours of operation: Mon–Thurs 5pm – 11pm, Fri–Sat 5pm – midnight, Sunday 5pm-9pm. Brunch and lunch Sat and Sun from noon-4pm. Happy Hour is Mon-Fri, 5-7pm. Take out available. Weather permitting, there is seating for 18 on the sidewalk.
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
