This post is not sponsored or comped in any way. All opinions are my own.
When my friend Jennie recommended a girls night out at Beauty & Essex, she didn’t have to twist my arm. We were looking for somewhere special and unique for a NYC dinner our with our teenaged daughters.
I’m fortunate to have friends with impeccable taste. There are certain friends whose recommendations I don’t ever question. If they say I have to eat at a restaurant, I have to eat there.
Beauty & Essex already has a media sheen to it. Executive Chef Chris Santos is a frequent judge on the Food Network’s Chopped.
We braved pouring rain to make it on time (well… almost) for our reservation. Fortunately Jennie called ahead and our corner booth table was held. You enter Beauty & Essex through a pawn shop, filled with vintage goods and kitsch.
I could immediately see why Jennie recommended we do our girl’s night out at Beauty and Essex. This was like gaining entry onto a movie set.
It’s a clever portal, part time machine, that makes the entry into the vintage perfume bottle and peacock feather decorated space seem less jarring.
The atmosphere is best described as vintage speakeasy. The food is served tapas style.
Everything we tried off the Beauty & Essex menu was delicious, and then some (insert more drooly nom type adjectives here).
Their cocktails are cleverly crafted as well. My friend Angela ordered a “Smooth Criminal.” There was smoke and tequila involved, and nobody got hurt, is all I know.
The waiter and chef took great care to note my many food allergies (they had me write them down) and then custom craft the food not to kill me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate a restaurant that is willing to go out of their way to help me eat without dying. Honestly I don’t expect it. I have weird allergies and at this point I’m perfectly prepared to watch others eat, smell their delicious food and stick to french fries for myself if need be. But I didn’t have to that night.
Note: I still got the vinegar & salt fries. They were fantastic.
Other incredible dishes pictured below include the lobster tacos, scallops, lobster mac and cheese and tomato soup & mini grilled cheese sandwiches served in soup spoons.
My tablemates ordered the box of donuts for dessert and fought over the jam filled ones. I think they were crazy. If I wasn’t gluten free I would have thrown myself over the table to claim the nutella ones. Not pictured is corn flavored ice cream with ginger sauce which I so wish I’d been able to try.
If you dine at Beauty & Essex for your girl’s night out you must visit the restrooms – preferably all at once.
There are not all that many restrooms left in the city that are also full service lounges. Couches, champagne bar, attendants all await you, should you want to linger in same sex company for a bit. The decor is spot on vintage girly. This is the sort of “fancy restaurant” trappings that I recall fondly from my own childhood nights out in NY.
Beauty & Essex is just the sort of place my daughter and her friend will always remember – fancy, hip and unique. It stands out and shines brightly apart from their franchise restaurant filled suburban experience.
This is the sort of thing that Jennie is always right about. I owe her a big thanks, and also a big thanks to Beauty & Essex for making us feel so at home away from home.
Love your write-up. The vibe is so fun and old-school and the food is just perfect and you really captured that in your words and pictures. I’ll also throw in thanks to our waiter Dan, who happened to wait on me there the week before. He is awesome – friendly, helpful, passionate and — like the rest of the staff at Beauty & Essex — makes you feel like you belong in this hipster ‘hood.. (even if you’re a suburban mom!)