Boutique Bargain
Table 8's pomp can be enjoyed for a pittance
Table 8 has not been starved for attention since it opened in the swank new Cooper Square Hotel earlier this month.
But hidden behind all the hype surrounding chef Govind Armstrong's New York debut--from its sunlit dining room and patio to its Champagne-pouring bathroom attendants (a reward, it seems, for finding the well-hidden latrines)--there's a real scoop: For all its sleekness and chicness, Table 8 can be a remarkably affordable restaurant.
The key to cost-effective ordering is to look past the trussed-up salads and $20-plus entrees and order from the "Salt Bar" and "Small Accents" parts of the menu, from which a feast for two can be composed for less than $50.
Your panoply of tiny plates should include some house-made charcuterie, like the tender lamb terrine with pickled tomatoes ($6) and house-cured venison bresaola dotted with blue cheese ($5). Round it out with a few Greenmarket sides--like baby spinach with grilled watermelon ($4), petite cauliflower florets with capers and fried parsley ($4) and braised turnips and radishes with anchovy vinaigrette ($4)--and a platter of spiced flatbread, topped with creamy goat cheese and fennel honey ($4).
The bargains continue on the wine list, where it's easy to find a great bottle for under $40. A feisty 2006 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé ($26) pairs effortlessly with your eclectic spread, which will leave you enough cash for a glass of bubbly on your way to the bathroom.
Table 8, 25 Cooper Square (at E. Fifth St.); 212-475-3400 or thecoopersquarehotel.com
