Peachy Picks The Grey Lady Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Executive Chef and Owner Gavin McLaughlin
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ATTENTION ALL PREPPIES ESPECIALLY: As soon as we heard we could go to Nantucket in Manhattan, we couldn't sign up soon enough. We haven't the foggiest what took us so long. Open since May 2013, The Grey Lady is a venture between fraternal twin brothers Executive Chef Gavin McLaughlin and Callum McLaughlin with Ryan Chadwick (they each know that summer is a verb). The Grey Lady is poised to trump anyone else here in Manhattan who thinks they can do New England seafood properly. The minute we walked in, we were graciously greeted by Gavin, who gave us a lovely tour of the premises which includes a private room where you'll meet the captivating creature of the sea seen immediately above. It was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
The Grey Lady has sailed into Peachy's Picks with flying preppy colors! Its fantastic fare, its impressive theme and its talented owners who genuinely care about being the best have won us over.
Fish arrives fresh every day at The Grey Lady!
The Grey Lady is tastefully decorated and has a casual feel with a polished presence. Personally Peachy would add a bit of pink and green especially now in memory of Lilly P., however, it is that shade between black and white making it true to form.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do, especially when you've worked with the brand before and like it! To that end, Peachy Deegan started with Cisco's Whale's Tale Pale Ale from Nantucket, first featured here:
It is the one above with the whale handle....and it was a refreshing start!
Gavin suggested we try the Smoked Bluefish Pate and it was a singular sensation. The Bluefish was cured three times and smoked six hours and all of that effort is worth it in every bite, served with flatbread.
If you read Whom You Know closely, you know that the dining hall at Boston College served Legal Seafood Clam Chowder every Friday, and guess who ate that every Friday for four years. There is nothing like New England Clam Chowder, and though there are many good things to eat in Manhattan, Manhattan Clam Chowder is NOT one of them. Peachy was delighted to try The Grey Lady's New England Clam Chowder, and it was in a word PHENOMENAL. Applewood smoked bacon swims among a sea of succulent clams, robust potatoes, milk, half and half, chive oil and red chili oil and liquid smoke to form an decadent dish that standalone would have you running back to 77 Delancey for more, even if you consumed nothing else on your visit to The Grey Lady. Best wishes to Atlantic Fish Company in Boston, who served us great clam chowder years ago...we hope you are back up on your feet soon on Boylston Street. Legal Seafoods, though you are very good, Gavin McLaughlin's clam chowder is better! Gavin you have our vote in the clam chowder competition. And readers, you will be sad when you reach the bottom of your bowl...so take another order home! You'll be glad you did.
Vegetables are always a good idea, and they are terribly enticing when they come in this many beautiful colors! Arranged brilliantly, this party of beets came tap-dancing out in a tantalizing garlic yogurt dill sauce with pistachio brittle, which was just divine. The Grey Lady gets major points for creativity.
Peachy Deegan next sipped a terrific cocktail: Myknos Mule which is comprised of Ya Mastiha, Gin, Lime and Ginger Beer. It was light and a perfect choice going into summer. The garnish upped their game as well.
With your fish of the day, you can have salad or fries and we chose salad. It was so fresh and delicious!
At a fish place, you need fish and there were a few choices for fish of the day:
The Striped Bass from Rhode Island was a winner! Served with tartar sauce and salsa verde, this poisson was grilled to perfection. Light and flaky! It was a generous piece of fish and based on its quality we'd want to go back and try all of the other fish of the days! You can't go wrong.
Next in the batting order, you simply cannot pass go and collect $200 without trying the lobster roll, which is another item to-die-for. One pound of lobster is in each roll and winter, summer, spring or fall you're going to be able to feel like you are summering in Nantucket at The Grey Lady.
Peachy orders apple pie a la mode quite often, and the Local Jonah Gold Apple Crisp absolutely hit the spot. Oatmeal and nut crust gave it great texture and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream was the right touch.
Collars up readers and head to 77 Delancey to see what these guys can do; you will be tremendously impressed. Maybe they can even set up a shuttle of sailboats to go down there from the Upper East side this summer...Naturally, we brought a prep with us.
Our esteemed panelist says:
The Grey Lady is a preppy New England escape right here in Manhattan! It's like stepping into a seaside restaurant in Gloucester or Montauk except you're on Delancey Street. The clam chowder is a must. It's the perfect, unique blend of flavors—smoked bacon, celery, potatoes, chive oil and chili oil.
Then, the beet salad topped with pistachio brittle and dill, sitting on a bed of slightly spicy garlic yogurt, is deliciously healthy and light, not to mention colorful to look at!
However, the piece de resistance for me was the lobster pot pie. I am not a lobster or a seafood person in general but this pot pie was heavenly! The flaky puff pastry hovered like a weightless cloud over fresh Maine Lobster with leek, sweet pea, vermouth, and herbs.
As we all know, dessert is the best part, and the cinnamon and sugar donut holes with local cider glaze fondue really hits the spot! I always look for uncommon ice cream flavors and Grey Lady has pumpkin!! I couldn't resist adding a scoop on the side.
Peachy Picks The Grey Lady!
The Grey Lady is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
