Mas (la grillade)New American cuisine done wellI've been to Mas Grillade three times, and every dish I've had has been simply delicious. Mas' offerings demonstrate that you don't need to incorporate dozens of ingredients to make a flavorful dish. You just need to select quality ingredients and cook them to perfection, which is what they do here - from the duck to the chicken to the scallops and oysters. In that way, Mas reminds me of Craft, one of my other favorite restaurants. The atmosphere is sophisticated but not overly pretentious or formal. Again, much like Craft. It's a great date or special occasion restaurant, as well as a good choice for nicer business lunches. (They've just updated their lunch menu to include more affordable but no less tasty-sounding sandwiches)5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMService better 2nd time around..I complained in an earlier review about waiting for a table and the wine service on a Saturday evening. I had a return trip for business sooner than expected, on Monday evening, and I am glad to say the food remained excellent and both my previous issues were not evident. It seems a 3rd visit will be on the agenda. If my 2nd experience is the norm, I may become a regular.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMTremendous Menu; Amazing FlavorsAnd wonderful people. The ambiance lends itself to intimate conversations, the tables are beautifully set and the staff is as attentive and informative as you would like them to be. But even if the place was picnic tables and plastic forks, the quality of the food and the overwhelming talent of the chef and his/her staff would still make this a five star restaurant. Say yes to the Quail, the Sardines, the Arctic Char.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat lunchService, food, ambience -- all great. A wonderful place for lunch. Had the asparagus soup and duck confit on the prefix seasonal menu -- delicious. Ask for Table 5.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat choice!!Just the right combination of great food/ great easy service/ and comfortable seating... will be back again and again!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food!We all chose the 4 course tasting menu. Everything was super yummy and the portions were perfect, small enough not to over fill you yet, big enough to give you enough mouthfuls to savor the exquisite flavors. First up was a wonderful arctic char, followed by perfect grilled octopus. for my meat course I had the pork shoulder and then dessert. I don't usually eat dessert as I'm that person who can't help but finish everything on the plate when it's super yummy. Then am usually too full to go there but, I was sooooo happy that there was room for this. Peanut brittle covered in something amazingly chocolate and topped with a wonderful tablespoon of peanut butter ice cream. Needless to say, we left sated and happy.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMSuccessful new take on the "grill"Roasted oysters were fabulous. Grilled fish and game were flavorful, tender and moist. I wish I could duplicate at home. Service was attentive, but not intrusive. Wine suggestion was perfect for a discerning group.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went to celebrate our friends'We went to celebrate our friends' engagement and from the minute we sat down, the staff made them (and us!) feel special. The food was outstanding, we did the 4 course prix fixe and one course was better than the next (although the arctic char was AMAZING!!). They put a ton of work into the preparation of the food, cooking almost everything on grills. Can't wait to try Mas (farmhouse)!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWOW!! What a find!Amazing food -- very simply but creatively combined and prepared (all grilled). Even the butter was extraordinary. The pris fixe lunch is a bargain, and perfect serving sizes. I enjoyed the Vermentino wine. Great music, wonderful setting. Loved the enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. Just a very special dining experience.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMA Wonderful One Year AnniversaryI had been to Mas Farmhouse before, but had not yet gone to the new location, la grillade. I chose this location to celebrate my one year wedding anniversary. What a wonderful choice -- every part of it was perfect. The ambience is terrific--a mix of warm rustic and modern hip. Service was excellent. Duck croquette was a delicious bite to start the meal. Beet salad was more than the ordinary garden variety, while the grilled head of garlic and anchovy tartines were savory. My sea bass was off the charts, while my wife scallops were perfect (not a hint of rubbery texture that you sometimes get with scallops). Dessert--unique sunflower cake was aesthetically and gastronomically pleasing. I look forward to retruning soon.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe meal was just perfect,The meal was just perfect, some of the best cooked fish and duck I have had. I recommend this place, it is not pretentious and was first rate. I think in NY there is a herd mentality regarding many restaraunts and the places that you can never get into are often not that great. So when you want a decent meal go here.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThe smell of wood burningThe smell of wood burning lures you in. The food is perfect. Unlike many restaurants the food is not over salted nor over sauced, balance personified. The portions are perfect for a tasting menu and the service is amazing. The chef let's the protein speak for itself. This is a gem!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMMy second visit; first withMy second visit; first with my wife, this time with a couple I do business with. Just cannot be beat. Food is excellent and the pre-fix is a deal. We were treated like old friends during both visits.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMPricey but delicious!I couldn't get into Farmhouse so I went to la Grillade instead and was not disappointed. Everything was delicious! Their food is cooked on wooden planks (except dessert)and you could taste the smoky flavor in every dish. I didn't order the prix fixe but I did order the duck breast that was on the prix fixe menu a la carte. Sooo good! My friend had their Dorade which was equally delicious. The waiter asked about any food allergies before bringing us a complimentary tasting from the kitchen. For dessert we shared the Sunflower cake. Something I've never had before and it was great. From the moment we walked in the service was excellent from the hostess to the bartender. I'm looking forward to going back for brunch.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe really enjoyed the atmosphere,We really enjoyed the atmosphere, staff and food! Made a reservation, but a table was not available when we arrived, the staff and management made us feel at home while we waited. As to not rush other diners out for our table they opened another part of the dinning room just for us! Making a romantic personal dining experience for us! And others could enjoy their entire experience! Definitely going back!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely Meal in a Lovely SettingLoved our meal. The duck breast, scallops and sea bass were all delicious. Would love to return for another special occasion.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best farm to tableOne of the best farm to table restaurants in NYC for sure!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrific market driven foodTerrific market driven food cooked on amazing wood grills. Innovatve wine list and very good service. If you can't get into its sister restaurant Mas (farmhouse), you cannot go wrong here.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSmokey GoodnessWe'd head past Mas (la grillade) on the way to the gym smelling the amazing wood smoke the pump out onto the street like foodie crack. Had to go. The food was amazing. Even better than, dare I say, the very popular mas (farmhouse). The room isn't as pretty, but the food worth the trip. Service was highly attentive without being intrusive and the staff took great pride in their restaurant. Worth the trip.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic!My lunch at Mas (la grillade) transcended what I thought I "knew" about cooking on an open fire. This is NOT a barbeque joint, and they aren't just hucking chunks of meat on a backyard grill - this ain't a steakhouse either. This is fine dining, done well, and the "grillade" is not a gimmick; if you're looking for a wonderful meal in the Village (or anywhere, for that matter) GO HERE. I visited two other (more "celebrity chef" driven) spots on my NYC weekend, and this place blew them both away - hands down!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMSome very interesting dishesSome very interesting dishes here from their fixed dinner menu I tried, which included the pear soup, grilled bass and pork loin. Service was excellent and the whole meal was pleasant in an elegant setting. Four of us dined and had a great evening.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAsk for Alfonso. You'll thank me.The food is all prepared with a wood-burning oven creating flavors you won't find anywhere else. And then there's Alfonso, who always makes my visits to Mas rewarding? He balances the perfect food with perfect service. Thank you Mas!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMShhhh. Don't tell anyone.We caught it on a quiet night during a suprise snow storm that kept most people home that night. But that meant we were treated to an amazing meal, wonderful personal service that the best rated restaurants would envy, and an atmosphere as cozy and delightful as humanly possible in a city as big and bold as New York. Flavors to enjoy on your last meal on earth... that's how wonderful it was. Take it from someone who eats out often, and will travel for amazing food: stay away! This one is ours!3/18/2013 12:00:00 AMA bounty of flavorsFantastic menu offers a bounty of fresh flavors and some wonderful surprises. Everything we ordered was perfectly smoked or grilled on Chef Galen Zamarra's custom designed grills. Be sure to leave room for desert!3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the food and theWe enjoyed the food and the ambiance of this Mas (La Grillade). The food offerings and the service (just a half step slow) were a slight bit below the companion Mas (Farmhouse), although the price points at the latter were steeper. The winelist was adequate and fairly priced for NY restaurants.
The only complaint was the basso profundo at the adjacent table, who simply couldn't keep his voice respectfully contained to his tablemates. Not the fault of Mas, however.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGrilling Doesn't Come BetterAn absolute restaurant gem...Each time I've been, the food is sensational! Here's how they manage to grill to perfection -- grills have wheel mechanisms allowing chefs to move grill plates closer or further from the flames...Mystery solved!
Oysters were an explosion of subtle and delicate flavors, the sweetbreads moist and succulent. And the steak finely charred on the edges, but medium rare and delicate inside. They offer interesting amuse bouche items to whet the appetite and even the salads are anything but pedestrian. Yes they pride themselves on the freshest and best of farm sourced ingredients, but there's a lot to be said for their artistry of execution. The wine list and desserts are also superb. Unpretentious & superlative.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMthe staff of this lovely restuarantthe staff of this lovely restuarant aretremendously welcoming and accomodating. the decor and setting are lovely and the food fresh and delicious. hope to return soon1/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFour of us greatly enjoyedFour of us greatly enjoyed the Restaurant Week menu. The beet salad and squash soup were very good. The mahi mahi entree was also very tasty as was the duck.There was only one choice of dessert and it was delicious . The service was excellent.1/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful birthday dinnerWonderful birthday dinner for 5, the duck was especially good, as was the soup, salad and scallops (and dessert of course). Everyone at the table was most happy. Obviously not cheap, but well worth the price (very easy to pay a good deal more for a good deal less).12/15/2012 12:00:00 AMGreat spotTook my friend there for her bday.....it was so enjoyable and delicious....the wait staff is very attentive, food amazing-loved it.9/17/2012 12:00:00 AM