Concept It’s impossible to put a label on Contra! Contra created its own style in the New York food scene! Imagine a fine dining restaurant – 1-Michelin star – an innovative set tasting menu in an unpretentious and relaxed atmosphere. A bar, a narrow rectangular dining room with brick walls, wood tables and benches and a modest open kitchen at the end: this is Contra! The amazing 6 course tasting menu changes every few days. It is creative and focuses on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.
For whom Food lovers in search of a tasting menu experience without the fuss.
Story Contra opened in 2013. It is run by the two young chefs; Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske. Fabian was born in Mexico in 1990. He has worked in the pastry kitchen of Jean-Georges, at Noma in Copenhagen, Fäviken in Sweden, Attika in Melbourne. Jeremiah was born in the US in 1984 and has worked at Rino in Paris, Isa in Brooklyn, The Modern in NYC. In the kitchen, Fabian makes the desserts and bread and Jeremiah does the cooking.
My experience I was at Contra on a Saturday night and had an amazing experience! I had: Carrot, seaweed, nasturtium Uni, rye, solfino Halibut, spring onion, green peppercorn Chicken, asparagus, hazelnut Bitter almond, mandarin Strawberry, vanilla.
Everything arrived beautifully plated at just the right pace. Each dish was a wonder with different shades of flavors and textures. For example, the chicken with just the right tender center and crispy skin paired with crunchy hazelnuts and smooth asparagus. No heavy sauce, no fuss, the ingredients are clearly at the center of Jeremiah Stones’ cuisine. The desserts were really creative too. A beautiful play of textures and colors. And the bread… Don’t skip the bread!
The staff was at the same time professional, friendly and casual. Besides the creative seasonal cuisine, I loved the contemporary and unpretentious atmosphere and the fact I could speak with the chefs in their kitchen. At the beginning of the evening it was a little too loud for me. It got better towards the end, but I wouldn’t recommend Contra to celebrate a special occasion if you're looking for a quiet romantic atmosphere.
My experience at Contra was wonderful! Contra is definitely a must-try in New-York Lower East Side! ~Nathalie
Contra 138 Orchard Street New York, NY 10002 212 466 4633