The Citiblog
Chef Behind Parcelle and Pig Bar Opens Tolo in Dimes Square
November 8, 2023, 6:27.59 pm ET
Photos: Tolo
Chef Ron Yan opens his first independent restaurant, Tolo, where Rutgers and Canal Street intersect in the Lower East Side. Named after the harbor in Hong Kong where Yan spent part of his childhood, Tolo offers guests new insights into Chinese cuisine.
Tolo’s menu kicks off with an assortment of small dishes and snacks ranging from raw seafood options to boiled peanuts and oysters swimming in Sichuan oil. The progression of bites might include a cold salad of wood ear mushrooms and smashed cucumbers or little rice noodles with XO sauce followed by sautéed water spinach with fermented tofu. Larger plates bring dishes like Typhoon Shelter-style chicken topped with a heaping pile of aromatics, and Dong Po pork punctuate the meal.
Custom banquette seating underneath distressed mirror panels line the wall while a communal table by Chinese-American designer Danny Ho Fong adjacent to the restaurant’s facade invites walk-ins to gather over some wine. A substantial 300-bottle wine list features a wide range of options from smaller natural producers to traditional collectibles and hard-to-find vintages. Tolo’s wine program is supported by Parcelle with helpful sommeliers on-hand to assist diners and offer pairings.
Rattan bar seating offers a cozy perch to take in the bustling open kitchen with flashes of the wok’s flame illuminating its reflective surface. The space is also complimented by antique Chinese cabinets and other treasures culled from flea markets and auctions offer transportive touches.
Tolo is located at 28 Canal Street, New York, NY. For more information, visit instagram.com/tolo_nyc
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