I received an email for one of the owners
of The Spotted Dog’s sister restaurant, The Milton.
“… You were kind enough to do a very nice review of (The Milton) ..We have recently opened a new location on 63rd and 1st called “The Spotted Dog.” I would love if you could come by and review the new location…”
And so I did so with a friend to sample their pub food. I again started with their Lucky Walker with pineapple-chipotle infused vodka, lime juice, mint and cucumber ($12), that still had a slight kick but was a tad too sweet for me this time.
Chef Dave — now a partner — came out to chat with me. He explained that his grandmother’s idea of re-purposing food was his idea behind the Potato Boxty ($10) that we sampled. Think creamy potato pancake with a splash of crab topped with creme fraiche all sprinkled with scallions. To enhance the flavor, be sure to add the caviar (+$5). Fun food.
Chef Dave, wanting us to try his version of mozzarella sticks, sent that out ($10). Instead of only cheese, he uses his preformed chicken for half of it, and serves it up with tomato sauce. An unusual twist on that bar food. He makes his mac and cheese ($9) from both Fontina and Swiss cheeses and tops that with garlic breadcrumbs ($9).
Do try their huge portion of Caesar ($14) topped with fresh white anchovies so good, we asked for the purveyor. The Milton salad ($15, 
named after and served at their sister restaurant) is a meal in itself — with fresh kale, Granny Smith apple batons, an abundance of candied walnuts, pieces of Applewood smoked bacon and not enough of the blue cheese.
If you enjoy ratatouille, you’d like eggplant casserole, a vegetarian option ($18). Also good is the seared red snapper in a dashi broth with shiitake mushrooms, ramps and asparagus ($28) With both, we added the double-cooked potato wedge fries ($9). Not to be missed.
For dessert, consider an Irish Coffee ($8).
– bonnie
Spotted Dog
Upper East Side
1154 First Avenue,
New York, NY 10065
646-649-5331
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