Atoboy

The birthday celebration continued Monday night at Atoboy, a Korean inspired small plate restaurant from Chef Junghyun.  I actually took Mr. T to Chef Junghyun's first restaurant Jungsik for his birthday about 5 years ago and we absolutely loved it.  Atoboy is like Jungsik's more casual, affordable younger sister offering a 3 course tasting menu for just $39.  Guests choose one plate from each section of the menu and share family style.

Scallops~ jicima, sea urchin and gim ($15 supplement for fresh uni)

Beef Tartare~ lardo, yeolmoo kimchi and myungran

Corn~ taleggio, bacon and doenjang

Sunchoke~ oyster mushroom, black truffle and orange

Chicken~ spicy peanut butter and garlic

Pork Jowl~ barley, ssamjang and cipollini onion

Seaweed Rice ($2 extra)

Standout dishes of the meal were the Sunchoke, Scallop with sea urchin and Pork Jowl.  The Sunchoke was simple in composition but the citrus from the orange worked incredibly well with the earthy flavors of truffle and oyster mushroom.  Both the Sea Urchin and Pork Jowl were a complete flash back to our fabulous dinner at Jungsik.  The pork had that same crisp outer shell while the uni was as rich and luscious as ever. 

Service was friendly and efficient but the atmosphere was a bit odd.  There was no music playing overhead and all I could hear was the low hum of electricity vibrating throughout the restaurant our entire meal.  Combined with the unfinished concrete walls and bright lighting it gave an institutional feel to the space.  Not exactly somewhere I would bring a romantic date but the food was amazing nonetheless. 

Atoboy
43 East 28th Street at Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016