Mēdüzā Mediterrania- New York City

On a misty, early Thursday evening, Hudson street is buzzing with horns, sirens, and conversations that merge into a homogenous New York City musical score. Your first steps through the doors of Mēdüzā, the city’s symphony ceases, and your eyes are met with the tonal landscape of creamy skies and warm browns. Your ears are welcomed with soothing percussive rhythms and string guitar acoustics. The sensory immersion into a new destination begins.  

I was warmly welcomed into Mēdüzā at 5:45 pm by the front-of-house staff, dressed in oatmeal and tan attire as a reflection of the restaurant’s color palette. In a small window of time, before more patrons arrived, I had an opportunity to surveil the restaurant. As a 2024 nominee of The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, it’s one of the most breathtaking restaurants I’ve visited this year. 

As a scientist, I deemed the first impression of any restaurant as the palate cleanser before the commencement of the dining experience. The visuals, acoustics, aromas, and textures experienced within the first few seconds come before the first taste. Mēdüzā delivers an aesthetic that surpasses what can be captured in a social media post. The hospitality displayed throughout the evening is the perfect companion to its cuisine & libations.

MOOD

After I’m seated, my eyes and ears are diverted to the raindrops hitting the glass panel ceiling. As my glance departs the gray-tinted skies down to the warm tones of the walls, wooden dining tables, and foliage, I have the urge to wrap myself in the fuzziest blanket and sip tea. I’m relaxed yet excited about my meal.

I was warmly greeted by my server extraordinaire, Francisco, who was welcoming, knowledgeable, and personable throughout the evening. I began with a liter of sparkling water with fresh lemon wedges. Instead of the customary 2-3 lemon wedges, I received a 2-tier golden leaf display of 8 lemon wedges. Finally, enough wedges for a liter of water! For a beverage that is simple yet essential for our well-being, the attention to detail with a simple glass of sparkling water was noted.

Enough about water and lemon wedges, let's get into the meat of it, shall we? The wagyu carpaccio is decorated with black truffle shavings, kalamata olives, capers, herbs, and generous drizzles of truffle aioli. One week later, my senses remain in awe of the explosion of flavors and textures experienced in the first bite. Although not necessary, I recommend a basket of flatbreads compliment to this indulgent starter.

The first drink of the night, the lychee rose served with a miniature carafe of prosecco. This cocktail was floral and a bit sweet. I would have preferred a little more prosecco, however it was a nice contrast to my second course of spiced prawns. The fresh and firm texture of the prawns with the aromatics and heat of the chili was tantalizing.

After the first cocktail, it was time to indulge in one of my favorites, gin and tonic. I ordered the Garden of Eden spritz which offers a selection of gin, tequila, or vodka accompanied by a choice of three carbonated beverages. Gin was my preferred spirit with lime yuzu soda. Intended for two guests, I shared the other half of my spritz with my new dining neighbors. The international unifier…food and drinks. 

For my main course, I ordered the roasted lobster with red yuzu kosh-vierge topped with a petite tomato salad with a side of roasted potatoes. How could I resist the taste of the ocean and garden on my plate? The most delicate touch of acidity was the perfect contrast to the sweetness of lobster tail and claw meat. Also notably, Mēdüzā offers a members-only selection of entrees. The expansive menu has a variety of pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan options to suit the needs of many dietary lifestyles. A perfect destination for a client dinner, date night, girls' night out, or a solo diner enjoying life and a great meal. 

The sweet finale

Ironically as a former pastry chef, I rarely order desserts unless I’m with a large group of colleagues or friends. That night I was in the mood for two! First, I ordered the wild berry butter cake with feuilletine crumbles (my weakness) and vanilla ice cream. There was a tiny hint of nutmeg or perhaps cinnamon heightened with the warmth of the cake. The textural contrast between the feuilletine and creamy vanilla ice cream is elevated to the not-overly-sweet duo of cake and ice cream.

Next, I ordered the lemon cheesecake with a gluten-free pistachio walnut crust. The individual cheesecake is adorned with a tangy lemon glaze. If you are a crust fan, this dessert is perfected with equal parts cheesecake and the nutty bottom layer. Although I sampled three bites of each dessert, I wished I had room for the olive oil cake. It was a popular dessert option with guests seated next to my left and right. 

Aside from the olive oil cake, the menu has many options that piqued my interest including the hummus, whipped smoked aubergine, shaved baby artichoke, and lamb chops. With a new location opening in Houston, I can only manifest that Mēdüzā will make its way to Chicago. The impeccable guest experience, intoxicating menu options, and perfect execution of a pleasant dining experience are reasons enough to become a repeat customer for years to come.