By Levana Kirschenbaum
I congratulate myself for my choice of a restaurant when it came to celebrating my daughter Bella’s birthday en tete-a-tete a couple days ago: Pardes. What a feast!
Chef Moshe Wendel is easily one of the most uninhibited chefs I have ever met. What heavenly flavor and texture matches he dreams up. Just as Bella was asking: Hey, where are all those restaurant critiques when it comes to Kosher Restaurants, why aren’t they reviewing Pardes, or Nobo Teaneck etc? G-d knows everyone can eat Kosher, so if not for the Kosher public’s sake, then for their own sake, check it out, will you? Don’t think I don’t bring in my non-observant friends and my non-Jewish foodie friends to my favorite Kosher restaurants! And you know what they say? Some fancy shmancy restaurants have nothing on us! Gee thanks for telling us we’re not missing anything, and for busting the myth that Upscale Kosher Restaurants are more expensive than their non-Kosher counterparts; they are not, simple as that!
Chef Moshe has recently changed his menu for small plates, all the way. You are in for a treat; this way of dining is so much fun, and only possible with an exceptional chef who has much to showcase (in other words, not in a regular steakhouse for example, where food might well be delicious but much more predictable).
Every single dish was fabulous, every choice a safe choice. I think we ended with an extravagant number of dishes, and packed away a good third of our dinner. An average of two plates plus dessert will do you very nicely. Those dishes he modestly and playfully calls snacks are nothing but trouble: would that snacks tasted and looked like that! This guy knows his mushrooms too, a man after my own heart. He also uses less salt in many dishes, a most welcome update.
I am including the menu that we selected our dishes from, but the Chef is always tinkering with new dishes, so you will never tied to the same old same old menu. Please read it, I guarantee that just reading it is not enough to get you in trouble, but enough to send you to heaven and back, and make reservations. All dishes are extensively described in this menu, another thing I like, and the waiters are quite knowledgeable. Likewise, I greatly welcome the change in the presentation: No more small amounts of food arranged in a corner of a gigantic plate, the tiresome Nouvelle way. New Look: More Food Less Plate: YES!!! Now you’re talking!
Here’s what we had (I still can’t believe the sheer volume! Just including a couple keywords for each dish, but you’ll find them all fully described on the menu): pickles; saute of Chanterelles with corn; Bouillabaisse; smoked duck breast; lamb meatballs; Ribeye Tartare; lamb shoulder; smoked cornish hen and waffle; oxtail; muscat gelee;
My Favorites? All good. I hope you get some of the white sangria: Fabulous. Just one tiny reservation: So sorry I am severely biased about my own desserts, so I am hardest to please in the dessert area. The desserts are good, to be sure, but not in the same major league as his savory dishes.
Also, I think they should be serving decaf coffee and tea (they don’t). Wine list: You will forget how limited it is when you are seated with your dinner, with a good beer, the chef’s white sangria, or a decent-but-not-great glass of wine. The chef would rather spend his costs on his food genius, and who could blame him? See you next week IYH, Chef Moshe!
Hey Dear Foodie Friends: How about forming a group of us, and going out to eat at Pardes? Let’s coordinate this!
Pardes Restaurant
497 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tel: 718.797.3880
Kashrus: OU Glatt Kosher
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Go Hudi!!
You guys are the greatest!
love your Hillside fans
You don’t actually have to eat at a restaurant who serves a different shechita than you prefer. And Levana can eat where ever she pleases! Hooray, freedom of choice.
We only eat lubavitch shechita!!! Since when are we eating OU glatt??? Or does this come with the excuse that we are having a hard day so everything is mutar which goes together with the recent oped to answer why we couldn’t wear a sheitel???? Where have we come to ???
where’s zevi?
Behind every great chef is a wonderful, warm, kind, woman. Go Shaina!
Hudi Riven s awesome!!!! Best chef ever!!!
best chef ever moshe & udi
U want a well done steak go to prime grill…. There is no other place in the world like Pardes…it’s heaven on earth. It’s something u will never be able to do it at home, it’s unique and melts in ur mouth !!!!!!! I need some oxtail right noooooow
U R SOOOOOOOO RUDE RUDE RUDE! STOP COMPLAINING! ENJOY UR FOOD! IF U R NOT FULL SO EAT MORE! STOP COMPLAINING…
Great restaurant, Great food, Great people!
Believe I’ve been to many restaurants all around the world. Not one compares to Pardes.
Much hatzlocho
i guess if u want to eat food that’s been sitting in the freezer or of lesser quality you can go to prime grill or wolf and lamb. those are good restaurants for those who like well done steaks.
You must have their tongue dish! It’s out of this world!
The white chocolate sorbet is heaven on earth!
I eat at Pardes every chance I get!
It’s a one of a kind experience!
Moshe and Hudi know what good food is!
Try it out you will not regret it!
I’m happy for the foodies out there, BUT, The portions are so puny…..and the dessert I ordered was so small I had to order a second to fill me up… I was still hungry at the end of the meal. The prices are high as well.
its a real Kiddush hashem the way everything there is so delishious
Go Sara Procaccia!
I enjoy good food, but its too eccentric for me, t fusion or mikes bistro or tever 84 takes the cake in high end restaurants. if youre paying such a high price those ones get much better bang for the buck, bigger portions so you have to order less to get full. those ones i mentioned take the cake
When visiting from out of town I went with my husband. We absolutely loved everything we tried. It is a perfect place to go if you like to try different foods. I went home very satisfied but not stuffed which I think is better personally.
If you have more of a simplistic palate your better going to a basic steak house.
I would highly recommend Pardes for foodies and would most certainly go back next time I am in New York!
i think the line in the article that every thing is “safe” to order is not true. maybe the menu changes a lot, and i just got an off time to be there.
Pardes is a true Kiddish Hashem. I have taken there a number of people who never ate kosher before, and they were astounded by the quality and creativity of the chef.
your the best moshe live love your food
I’m sure the food looks great but presentation looks messy. Can’t wait to try it
Not “sue chef”, rather it is “sous chef”.
Nice review, though.
Go Hudi, best chef:):)
There is no question that the menu is original, but at the same time, the meals are far too small. There were 20 “tasters” on the menu, and only 3 entrees when I went there.
If you are in the mood of an original salad with ambience, then go there, but It’s not the place to go if you are hungry. Period.
Also, I might as well add that Most of their meat is not Lubavitch.
Chef Moshe and Sue Chef Hudi indeed get credit for originality, creativity and near-perfect execution. Every plate that leaves the kitchen is a work of art, no less. I have seen it in person and you can view the photos on their facebook page. But, if you are hungry or are in the mood of a specific kind of dish, I don’t think Pardes is for you. This review by Levana just emphasizes that. Pardes is a top-notch restaurant for foodies or folks in the mood of trying something, new and different. I once came there hungry and left the… Read more »
The menu looks really original and and also very well priced for what they offer. I will go there instead of shlepping to PG in Manhattan next week, and check it out. A good place in Brooklyn sounds fantastic, and the prices look really good too.
Met Levana and she is the warmest nicest woman!
Your biggest fan – we love your food especially your Moroccan dishes!!!
N.S.