Double Crown

316 Bowery

New York NY 10012

212.254.0350

Everyone has been stoked about the new AvroKO joint that just opened in the old Manahatta space on Bowery and Bleecker.

Of course the design is solid, with a big beautiful bar, community seating, private dining and cumfy boothes. The place is beautiful, with touches that say "British Colonial" like the interconnected pulley fan system, and the room in the back with one colossal mirror and white shellacked engraved wood covering the walls.

I did not venture into the adjacent connecting bar Madam Geneva, titled so after the original name for a Gin and Tonic in the British Empire. But I will.

Chef Brad Farmerie's concept of the cuisine of Britain and it's influences from colonies in eastern countries, like India and China, fell flat on the plate and in my mouth. Dressed up Prawns lacking flavor, duck steamed buns all bun no duck, soggy mackerel salad with no taste texture despite the shaved fennel and a handful of other unidentifiable ingredients, yellow fin tuna over soggy greens and an oily tomato horseradish compote? Ugh. The bangers and mash were good, as well as the black tea ice cream on the banana dessert, maybe because they actually followed the cuisine's mission statement.

What is it with New Yorker's and Fusion? Do they really want it? Are they so bored that they will spend money on food like this just because someone tells them to? I guess so.

I give Double Crown no's specifically for the food.

Blazeability: I didn't smoke that night, but maybe I would have enjoyed the experience if under the influence.