During the pandemic, my friends discovered Hortus, an Asian-fusion restaurant, and its spacious, well-lit backroom.

After much negotiation, we selected their tasting menu ($70 each) instead of their Restaurant Week menu. It was similar, but without the Royal Platter we chose for our starter. That extra dish included a chilled lobster, yellowtail crudo, shrimp cocktail and one dozen oysters with many sauces, including hot butter, cocktail sauce and a not-so-spicey gochujang one. The platter contained two over-cooked claws, not the menu stated lobster tail.

We sipped a deliciously bold, slightly tannic  Bordeaux Cuvée, La Petite Marquise, Saint Julien France, ’16 ($80).

Two of us ordered their crispy octopus leg (+$4 each) with edamame hummus and corn. I’d recommend.

The other dining partner ordered the three-color Masala cauliflower steak with basil chimichurri on cauliflower purée. The veggie pieces were too firm, needing a tad more cooking.

For our entrees, one had the confit duck coated with orange hoisin sauce and accompanied by quinoa salad and pickled beets. Two of us enjoyed the tiny portion of seabass with a small amount of flavored bok choy and bean sprouts garnished with a fried lotus slice.

Our server shared that the freezer wasn’t working, yet we still decided to order the desserts containing ice cream, not minding it soft. With dessert included, we shared their matcha tiramisu with soft vanilla ice cream, a yuzu panna cotta and a black sesame mochi with ice cream.

Hortus
NoMad
271 5th Ave
New York, NY 10016
(646) 858-3784
hortusnyc.com