NYC Restaurants

Sometimes a place can look a bit intimidating, usually because it looks pretty good. That was the case, at least for me, with 44 & X. It always looked a little out of my league with its stark white walls, massive mirrors and wooden columns.

But the other night I walked in and to my surprise, it was actually opposite of my first impression. In fact, it's a rather friendly neighborhood place that's turning out, what the restaurant likes to call, "reinvented American cuisine."

I was only making a quick pitstop so I hung out at the bar with Solomon, a friendly bartender, who makes a mean French martini. I really only had time to try an appetizer and found myself eyeing the lobster taco with charred tomato salsa and avocado relish. But Salomon steered me toward the blue claw crab fritter. It was a great choice. What arrived was a large fritter packed with humongous pieces of some of the freshest lump crab meat I've tasted. The whole thing sat on a bed of taragon leaves and roasted tomatoes, surrounded by a peppery basil sauce. It was an amazing combination and I savored every bite.

The staff, who I believe were all men, wear t-shirts that read "heaven" on the front and "hell" on the back. The only thing that was a little disconcerting were the statues of saints above the bar. But then I remembered, I was in Hell's Kitchen!