This is the best restaurant in NYC. My experience from every bite of the food, to the service, to the vibe - all impeccable. Also, sit by the kitchen if you can. Watching the chefs cook on the fire was like watching Da Vinci paint. Dont leave without trying the Hiramasa, either toast they have, the lamb, and the trout. Shoutout to Pablo our waiter for a wonderful experience. read more

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Really good food and drinks. The whipped ricotta to start was absolutely delicious. Loved the bread and seasoning was yummy. The stone fruit and tomato water salad was very refreshing and yummy on a hot summers day. Wish there was more cheese and the portion was bigger for the price. The trout was absolutely delicious. As someone that doesn't usually enjoy cooked salmon/trout this was so good. Cooked perfectly and the char was great. Lemon pudding with granita dessert was my favorite thing. So silky smooth and perfect for a hot summers day. The Poseidon Martini was really good but I also really liked the Smokey old fashioned drink. Service was great although the food came out a a slower than normal pace. Would definitely recommend this place. We waited for 25 minutes before opening on one of the hottest days so far and was the 3rd walk in group in line. I anticipate the line being longer if not so hot. read more

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I was lucky enough to snag a 5:00PM reservation on a Saturday. When I arrived, there was a huge line outside. Unfortunately, process felt really disorganized. They were seating people who had been waiting in line before those with reservations, so what's the point of making a reservation?!?! I still had to wait before being seated, and that was pretty frustrating. Everything I ordered: Wood Fired Sesame Khubz: Highly recommend ordering this! It was perfectly crisp on the outside, while the inside was light, airy, and fluffy. It paired beautifully with the taramasalata, which was creamy, rich, and flavorful. Bluefin Tuna Crudo: Super fresh, flavorful, and refreshing. Decent. Nothing special. Clams & Broccolini: One of my favorite dishes of the night. The clams were large, sweet, and cooked perfectly. The crunchy broccolini and Parmesan brought everything together. Definitely a must order! Black Cod: Perfectly cooked, flaky, and tender, served with morel mushrooms. The fish itself was excellent, but I wasn't a fan of the sauce. I didn't think the flavors complemented each other very well. Octopus: This was disappointing. It was quite rubbery and lacked the char I was hoping for. Prawns: Another standout. The prawns were huge, perfectly charred, and paired with a honey habanero sauce and pineapple pico de gallo. The sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors worked really well together. Swordfish Belly: Beautifully grilled, buttery, and flaky. While the texture was excellent, I found the seasoning and sauce a bit underwhelming. Pomegranate Donuts: A great way to end the meal. Warm, fluffy, and served with condensed milk for dipping. Absolutely delicious! Cocktails: They were just okay. Nothing particularly memorable. Overall, I don't really understand the hype, especially considering the hefty price tag... While there were a few standout dishes, the overall experience didn't justify the cost for me. I wouldn't recommend it, and I don't see myself returning. Meh. read more

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I do agree with the other reviews the food has good taste. But unfortunately my food came out super slow and also lukewarm like it had been sitting on the counter waiting. For the price point of their items that doesn't seem right. Came home disappointed I've always wanted to try it. Everyone has different experiences tho so the choice is yours read more

Believe the hype. There's a reason this is one of Yelp's Top Places to Eat in the country. There's a reason it's very difficult to get a reservation. There's a reason Theodora is hyped up everywhere. It's because this restaurant is outstanding in basically every way. The space is bright and airy, with a BUSY open kitchen so you can watch the magic coming out of that wood-fired oven. The staff is so friendly, so knowledgeable, and so ready and willing to bring you whatever you want to eat and drink off of their fun and delicious menu. I brought a party of six in for my wife's birthday dinner at 5 pm (the only reservation I could snag). We sat at one of the large tables and drank cocktails (several of which arrived with sidecars, which no one is ever sad about). We drank wine. Too much wine, some might say. We ate tilefish ceviche, and whipped ricotta on sourdough, and nduja hummus, and black cod with a miso beurre blanc, and bluefin tuna crudo, and a little gem salad, and wood-fired broccoli rabe with tiny clams, and the honey habanero prawns, and the lamb on laffa bread, and the tuna collar special, and more. I would absolutely love to eat every single one of those things again: the prawns are phenomenal, no one has ever been sad about miso black cod, the ricotta toast is justifiably famous, the lamb is so gorgeous with its fun quartet of sauces, and the tuna collar was the most interestingly meaty fish I've ever had. But when I come back, I'm going to order all different dishes, because this kitchen is obviously crushing everything, and I can't wait to try more. Well, maybe I'll get the tilefish again. That lime vinaigrette with the grilled pineapple...incredible. The food is interesting, and fun, and colorful, and so very very tasty. And the hospitality is excellent. Everyone here is having fun, secure in the knowledge that they are doing amazing work by serving Brooklyn some of the best food and drink you can find. I think the staff even felt bad they were chasing us out toward the end of our stay here, especially since we were having so much fun, and spending so much money. But they brought us a round of shots to ease the pain, and I forgive them, because I know turning that table in time is what will keep them here. Basically, Theodora is doing everything right, and I'll be back as soon as I can get another reservation. Thanks all. read more

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3.5 stars rounding up to 4. The lamb tasted great and the wine was great. Tuna was great too and also mushrooms were awesome. Was not impressed with the octopus and the service was so slow. Our server was nice but we waited an hour for our food. read more

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Solid Mediterranean spot near Downtown Brooklyn. The food was very good, though I didn't think it lived up to the hype. The tuna was the clear standout. The octopus was well cooked but could have used a bit more seasoning. The lamb was flavorful, but it was essentially lamb on flatbread and felt too simple for an entrée--it would have worked better as an appetizer. Overall, it was a good meal and a great experience. read more

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Ordered: Iara Cocktail (~$20): Cachaça, Mint, Coconut, Melon, Green Tea, Gentian Root Hildegard Cocktail (~$20): Bourbon, Fennel, Turmeric, Lemon, Verbena Ginger Foam Hiramasa Crudo (~$20): Finger Limes, Avocado, Dashi Whipped Ricotta Sourdough (~$17): Brown Butter, Honey, Sage Prawns (~$26): Honey Habanero, Pineapple Pico de Gallo Octopus (~$26): Smoked Shallot, Snow Peas, Freekeh Whole Butterflied Trout (~$48): Pil Pil, Harissa, Chermoula Doughnuts (~$16): Cranberry Pomegranate Jam & Crème Fraîche Anglaise Aya's take: Easy 4.5 stars and some of the best elevated seafood you will find in NYC. Theodora needs no introduction and the race to a reservation is proof. I was able to snag a reservation a month before I wanted to visit and opted for the chef's counter as many have recommended. I enjoyed sitting there and watching the controlled chaos in front of us. We were seated right in front of the Josper Mangal and Josper Oven which they use in many of their dishes. It offers the ability to preserve moisture while adding aromatics from the smoke. The Iara Cocktail was beautiful, light in flavor, and refreshing. If you're the type to sip on a cocktail throughout dinner, this is a good one! The Hildegard Cocktail was unified yet you can still taste the ingredients; I particularly enjoyed the Verbana ginger foam. So good! The Hiramasa Crudo was art in food form. A must get from the fresh fish to the citrus flavors to the garnishes. The Whipped Ricotta Sourdough was basically a dessert in the best way. The Sourdough was some of the best I've had and the whipped ricotta was fluffy, rich, and went crazy with the brown butter & honey. The Prawns were unbelievably delicious; I genuinely could've eaten 10 of them. It was smoky with a charred exterior and a clean, tender interior. The Pineapple Pico de Gallo was bright and tropical. The Whole Butterflied Trout was fantastic. The trout was buttery, moist, and so light. I can't decide if I liked the Harissa or Chermoula more. The skin got beautifully crisp from the Josper Mangal while retaining the tenderness on the inside. I wish we ended the meal there because this is where we lose the half star. The Octopus wasn't hot in temperature when we received it and it didn't have that smoky/char flavor like with the Prawns. There was also some flavor that was a bit off-putting I couldn't quite recognize. The Doughnuts were also pretty basic. They're essentially 4 doughnut holes at ~$4 each - an easy skip, in my opinion. All in all, Theodora is doing something special and is already booked & busy. If you snag a reservation, definitely go and thank me later! read more

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Theodora is an impossible to get reservation so not sure how we had to put our names down close to opening and still had a 3.5hr wait before we were able to get a table. We were at the bar where the sitting is quite shoulder to shoulder. That said we had an amazing bar tender who also took our order and was our main server for the evening. He was knowledgeable and game us recommendations that proved useful. We had the sourdough, hiramasa, broccolini, vegan hummus, black cod and butterfly trout. Then for dessert we got the chocolate cake, smoked vanilla ice cream and lemon posset. We also had the Mara cuya cocktail. I'll start with service. Our bartender was amazing. We went on a Monday night and it felt like everyone there had either worked there or was going to be working there soon. We were treated to a couple free shots as well as taking a shot with the head bartender whose last day it was. The food comes out as is ready. The star for me was the hiramasa. No doubt. The Trout was the second favorite. The broccolini was impressive as it didn't really have the bitter aftertaste. It was so well seasoned. Very friendly atmosphere. It's a really good spot and I wish reservations weren't insane to get so can't say I'll be back but it would be nice read more

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Theodora is the perfect dinner spot for a date night. My partner and I joined the standby line 30 mins before they opened on a Saturday and it was time well spent for the fantastic dinner we enjoyed. The tuna was our favorite out of the fish dishes we tried. The sauce is unlike anything I've tried before, tangy and refreshing but not overwhelming enough to throw off the fish. The ricotta bread was also well balanced and the honey was surprisingly rich. The other two dishes were tasty as well but I wish I would've tried something else. Staff was great and very attentive. read more

With all the popularity, reservations are tough to come by at Theodora. On a winter night, my friend and I came by as walk-ins and scored 2 bar seats after an hour wait. While waiting, they let us order a cocktail so I had the Iara ($18) while my friend had the Poseidon ($18). The Iara comes in the cutest clear cup shaped like a fish and umbrella for a fun and refreshing drink. I also had the Hildegard ($18) afterwards, which reminded me of a whiskey sour with the egg whites. Once we were seated, we were recommended to order 5-7 dishes with the large formats being 2 dishes. We opted for the Wood-Fired Sesame Knubz ($19) and Ricotta Sourdough ($16) to start. Both breads were amazing and I bet the rest of the bread items are just as good. Then we had the Chicory Salad ($21) and Prawns ($25). The bitterness in the chicory was a bit much to me, but nice to have some greens to balance our meal. The prawns were delicious, especially with the charred shells with the honey habanero sauce. This is delicious but pricey for just 3 pieces. Lastly, we had the Whole Butterflied Trout ($45), which is beautifully delivered. I liked the split in flavors here to some nice variety. In the end, we knew we had to save some room for dessert here too. We ordered the Camembert Cheesecake ($18) and Carajillo ($18). The cheesecake reminded me of a basque cheesecake and it was so velvety and luscious. Easily one of my favorite desserts! The carajillo is a super popular dessert cocktail that we saw was constantly ordered. Overall, I was so impressed with Theodora. From the decor to the service to the food was all exceptional. I just found the seafood and large format items on the pricier side without being something I needed to come back for. In the future, I'd stick to cocktails and bread here though --those are the items that really shined. read more

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Food and service are as great as you'd expect. Definitely focus on the fish dishes. Cocktails were also surprisingly on point! I'm most impressed by the incredibly lovely and lively interior. One of the few restaurants thats able to balance noise level inside the restaurant. It's lively enough that your conversation doesn't echo and quiet enough that you can hear your table mates. read more

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Food and drinks were delicious. I will need to come back and try more. For our main we had the trout which was very similar to a dish I had in Mexico city. read more

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It's nice when a place lives up to the hype, and Theodora does! The restaurant space itself is beautifully decorated, and though there was lively conversation it never got difficult to hear my dinner date. Service was also top notch and very pro. As for the food and drinks - all were outstanding! We enjoyed: Tilefish Ceviche - had a nice vinaigrette, really tasty and well plated. Mackerel Toast - maybe not the most appealing visually, but delicious nonetheless. Smoked Black Cod Collar - Outstanding! This was a special for the evening. Highly recommended if they have it available when you visit. Octopus - delicately cooked and nicely seasoned. I liked the addition of the Brussel Sprouts also. Whole Butterflied Trout - comes with two sauces, a more mild green sauce, the other a harissa sauce. Fish was tender and perfectly cooked. Drinks: Iara - arrived in a delightful fish shaped glass. Sweet and smooth. Mezcaimeca - also sweet and smooth, but with a flavored spicy rim. Very good. Husband had the Negroni and Chantico and enjoyed both. Overall a very good meal. If the opportunity presents itself and if rez booking becomes easier, I would return again. read more

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Overall, food was good but I just wasn't wowed. Ordered: - Red Snapper Ceviche: Favorite dish we had. Very refreshing and all flavors complimented each other very well. I would definitely get my own serving next time. - Hiramasa: It was fine. Nothing really exciting with this for me. - Sourdough: This one was yummy. Middle pieces were definitely better than end pieces in my opinion, but this is likely because I don't like the extra crust pieces personally. - Octopus: Yummy but nothing exciting. - Whole Butterflied Trout: The fish was basically split in half and they topped the fish with two different flavors. I preferred the red side. I didn't care for the other side. - Baklava Sundae: This was yummy. We did a walk in for dinner on a Sunday, got there about 30 minutes before opening and we were the 3rd party in line; but it was a snowy day so wait times might have been less than usual. read more

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Wow. Theodora was an explosion of flavors in my mouth. Hands down the best food I've had in a long time. The staff and space was amazing and thoughtfully designed. Drinks were twists on classic drinks done right. We had a toro tuna special , baby gem salad , swordfish skewers and trout. The descriptions detailed every flavor you could taste. It was amazing. Finally I'm trying a restaurant where the hype is real. read more

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Lucky enough to get a reservation for this restaurant while in town for the Holiday weekend. The food was excellent. We got the sourdough bread. The whipped ricotta with honey provided a nice hint of sweetness. The Scallop and Hiramasa Crudo were delicious. The Hiramasa is the better of both. For vegetables, the Maitake and Yellow Oyster mushrooms were really meaty. The Broccoli Rabe were charred nicely and the calm was cooked perfectly. From the sea, we got the Octopus and Sword Fish belly. Both were really tender. Would highly recommend both. For the large format, we got the lamb and the trout. Both were once again cooked perfectly. It was a nice end to the meal. For desserts, we got the doughnut, chocolate cake, and a smoke vanilla ice cream. That is definitely a uniques flavored ice cream. The service and food was excellent and I can see why reservations are hard to come by. read more

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Amazing spot for food and drinks, would definitely recommend as a cute spot to catch up with a friend. Came by on a Friday night at 7:30 pm without reservations and was quoted a 45 min wait time which was perfect, as I live nearby. Coming back at 8:15 pm, they noted we were the next party to be seated although it took another 30 minutes to actually do so. My guess is some of the parties that had finished up were lingering, which you can't really fault the restaurant for. In the interim, they let us order drinks and wait inside, which I appreciated as this winter is chilly! The cocktail menu is so good, every drink my friend and I tried was delicious. My personal favorite was the Poseidon, as I really enjoy gin martinis. For food we tried (favorite to least): - Wood-Fired Sesame Knubz: This is the only one of their bread offerings they make at the restaurant vs at their sister bakery Thea, and it's cooked in the wood fire oven. The bread, which was like a focaccia, was delicious and the smoked fish dip that accompanied it was a perfect combo. - Ricotta Sourdough: A very solid ricotta sourdough, although you can find them at most places nowadays so it's not as novel. But I still enjoyed it. - Chicory Salad: a solid salad and a nice way to brighten your meal. No complaints but not a must-order. - Butterflied Trout: on the pricier side, the trout was cooked well and the presentation is beautiful as they have two separate sauces on the two halfs of the trout. - Prawns: well cooked but pricy given we only got three pieces of shrimp. In my opinion, the starters and breads are the stars and you should come here for cocktails and dips. We did also try one of the dessert cocktails + the cheesecake, which were delicious as well. Definitely see this becoming a go-to spot in the neighborhood for a light bite and drinks! read more

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This spot had a ton of buzz as one of the best restaurant openings a few years ago and I don't hear too much about it anymore but I wet a while back and everything we had was excellent ! I think especially for the area it's top notch dining, and their menu is seafood forward so if you're a seafood lover you're gonna LOVE this place. Everything also feels very fresh and earnest, like they took the care and time to find quality ingredients and make things from scratch whenever they could. I'm not sure if they're actually a farm to table restaurant but it was giving that for a lot of their dishes. Things just tasted very clean and honored the natural great flavors of the seafood dishes we tried. The space is obviously wonderful, large, but was packed as soon as we got there and we walked in at opening at 5pm on a weekend and it was immediately filled. read more

Loved the food and the service was great. Seems to always be packed! Got really lucky and got a seat the night we went. Would come back to try more dishes read more

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First thing I loved about this place was the vibe. Once I stepped inside I felt like I was in the right place, in the IT place, not in a pretentious/boujee way but more in a humble/down to earth goodness. The open kitchen is dynamic giving tremendous energy to the whole room. The atmosphere is incredible and the staff makes you feel welcome. Service was fast and very efficient. Now, the food could be described as something aphrodisiac and stimulating. Let's be honest, what brought me to the place was the sourdough whipped ricotta toast, which is from another world but the reality is that everything we ordered from the menu was on another level. Our favorites were the toast, of course, the whole butterflied trout and the swordfish. All of them made to perfection with amazing taste. We also had the hamachi crudo, the za'atar kubaneh, the pita with hummus and the roasted cabbage, all of them delicious but not as outstanding. Don't skip dessert, they are so good specially the cheesecake and the baklava sundae. They also have really good cocktails like their version of an 'old fashioned' but with tequila, interesting but I forgot the name or "Mara Cuya" also made with tequila and passion fruit, delicious. For next time I would like to be seated at the kitchen table where all the action takes place. read more

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Food was delicious ! Service was out of this world. 5 stars are well deserved here ! The flavors were beyond , restaurant packed and everything was clean and up to standards ! read more

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Live up to the hype. My fav was the Little Gem Salad even though there's only 8-9 leaves in there .. love the creativity. Octopus was very tender, smoked shallot flavor was interesting. Swordfish Belly Skewer, very fatty but usually a crowd's fav. The flavor was great combo. Za'atar Kubaneh was pretty good but not as mind blown like other dish. Would come back and walk-in for bar seat wasn't too hard! read more

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Their ricotta sourdough toast is something I dream about having each month. Because this restaurant is too cool for school, you should make a reservation in advance or you can risk being denied or waiting two hours for a table. Sometimes you get lucky. Everything you order here is heavenly made with so much flavor. You won't be disappointed if you order the octopus or the cod. The service is very attentive and the space is cute and romantic. This is the perfect place to impress a date or celebrate a milestone occasion. read more

Finally made it to Theodora after all the hype. I got lucky with a walk-in spot after a 45 min wait; one week later I brought family members via a reservation as I couldn't stop raving about the place. I'm not a biggest Mediterranean cuisine fan, but this place puts a new twist on it and strays away from the usual dry bland falafels and grainy hummus experience one may expect as a pre-disposition. I'm an avid fish lover and this place knows how to deliver their fish. Everything from the butterflied Trout, all the Crudo options, and the miso Black Cod were superbly cooked and flavored. If you like the taste of charr-grilled produce, this is your spot. The cocktails are experimental and fun; we were pleasantly surprised by the Poseidon martini and content with their fruity options. (Sad to see the tomato martini out of season) Staff is nice, the interior decor is welcoming-chic and not over-done. I honestly can't complain and will come back to try even more items. read more

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Wow. This place was incredible. 10/10 dining experience. The ambience in this place was perfect. The drinks were deliciously made. I had the spicy cucumber margarita. The small plates were delicious, everything had such fantastic flavors. Getting a reservation here was hard, but now I know why. We had the tuna steak special as well as the butterfly trout. I couldnt rave more about the trout. Overall this place is great and definitely earns 5 stars. read more

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We came here on a Sunday night with a 5 pm reservation but still had to wait on a line while the restaurant opened. While we were off to a rocky start of ordering and not receiving food for a half hour, the wait staff and management made up for it by comping a few items we hadn't ordered to try out while the kitchen made our actual order. We tried so many different items including the prawns, branzino, kubaneh, sourdough, greens, and some others. By far my fave bite was one from the vegetable section - so deceptive in the description but absolutely blown away by the taste- idk what they do in that kitchen but it's pure magic!!!! The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, and the bathroom is a little odd (but clean) but I will certainly be back for the absolutely incredible food!!!! 10/10 read more

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I saw all the great reviews and thought this must be a really good restaurant. The team there is very professional and friendly. The restaurant itself was beautiful. Although the bathroom at the back of the restaurant drove me crazy. The sink was so shallow and the water stream from the faucet had little to no pressure. Btw, there is another bathroom in the middle of the restaurant that no one knows about. We got the hummus with monkfish liver. TBH it was good hummus, but didn't taste much different from other fresh hummus that didn't cost $16 for a little tasting. It also comes with a very small pita. I kept asking the waitress how many pitas because I couldn't believe they would only give 1 pita for this dish. We also ordered the Za'atar Kubaneh. The bread itself was savory. Sauces were tasty and interesting. The best dish was probably the Steelhead Trout. Just cooked and very soft. The sauce accompanying it was refreshing. Unfortunately, just 5 small cubes for $25. Everyone literally had one bite. We got the lamb special of the day. It was cooked well, but again I only had one bite, so it was hard to really ruminate on the flavors. The Whole Bone-In Branzino was recommended as a good summary of Theodora's food philosopy. However, it was $72 and very dry. The Whole Butterflied Trout was much better. At least it was not dry. The sauce on top added another dimension. We had the chocolate cake at the end, which was very tasty. It was a small slice. Overall, some of the dishes were good, but it was way overpriced. The portions are tiny if you don't get the Large Format dishes. read more

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Reservation: Would recommend as it was pretty packed inside - signed up for notifications on Resy and was lucky enough to nab a table for 6 four days before Ambience: Nice natural lighting from skylight in main dining room, stone table and plants give earthy vibes Service: We were brought in immediately upon our party arriving and service was efficient, paced well, and friendly Food: - Octopus was among the best I've had - very difficult to achieve the level of tenderness they got from it - Red snapper ceviche was light and refreshing - Black cod had good, savory sauce - Zaatar Kubneh was delicious and every single sauce was incredible - Argentinian shrimp were cooked super well, very tender and paired well with pineapple garnish - swordfish skewer was filling and flavorful - dry aged whole Branzino fish had a nice crispy skin and impressive presentation Overall, no misses with the food and a solid choice for great seafood! read more

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Overall, a solid spot for a relaxed date night. We were able to grab bar seating easily without a reservation on a Thursday evening, which was a nice surprise. The standout dish was the deceptively simple but incredibly tasty ricotta toast. The honey added a lovely sweetness. The sourdough was soft and yummy. The octopus was another favorite: nicely smoky, tender, and not at all rubbery. The yellowfin tuna was fresh and flavorful; the wasabi was a bit strong on its own, but when eaten with everything together, it balanced out pretty well. We tried a newer squash dish that had some great elements, especially the crunch from the Asian pear,but overall, the flavors were a bit too busy and competed with the squash rather than complementing it. That said, we appreciated that the staff was actively asking for feedback on the new item. The lamb was cooked beautifully and we enjoyed the "choose your own adventure" approach with the four sauces served on the side. Fun and customizable! Dessert was a highlight. I had never tried Camembert cheesecake before and really loved the extra depth of flavor it brought. My only small critique would be to ease up slightly on the flaky salt in the caramel topping--it leaned just a bit too salty for my taste. It got a bit smoky inside the restaurant and we left with all of our clothes smelling. Maybe needs a little bit better ventilation. Overall service friendly, and the complimentary sparkling water is always a nice touch. read more

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One of the most memorable meals I've had since moving here the past year! The food was phenomenal, but the service really was the cherry on top. We came on a weekday right when they opened and were able to get seated! Here's what we ordered: - Sourdough- It's an iconic dish that you can't NOT order. It was super delicious and loved the balance of the smooth ricotta, crunchy sourdough, and sweet honey. - Little Gem Salad- I don't usually like to go out to order salads, but trust me and just order it. - Black Cod- one of our favorite dishes - Whole Butterflied Trout- The sauces were delicious, but this fish had a loot of tiny bones. I'm not one to be afraid of eating a whole fish but the amount of small bones actually made this really challenging to eat and took away from the experience - Steelhead Trout- They were actually kind enough to replace the whole trout with this other trout dish. Steelhead trout tastes pretty similar to salmon and this dish was honestly much more enjoyable! For dessert we finished with the chocolate cake and baklava sundae. Couldn't decide between the two options, so just opted for both! Such a cute interior space and all the seafood was so fresh. Will definitely be back in the future! read more

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Guys wake up... Andrew went to dinner at Theodora. From the excellent suggestions to the heavy pours and the fresh ingredients, Theodora gave me a full belly even with the light, airy meals. Just look at the photos and tell me you can't smell the flavor coming off these plates. I even tried my first Amaro. There are still some more items on the menu I need to try. Thanks Katie! read more

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Side note: Ingredients such as in the Wood-Fired Greens can change a bit so you might not have the exact menu we had. I was at this very popular Mediterranean restaurant a couple days ago with one of my groups where we shared a bunch of dishes. The service was friendly though he recommended us order more dishes than what was needed. To drink, I had a Zaboglia Txakolina for $16 which is a Basque sparkling white wine which went with the meal though that's a bit pricey for a glass. Another person had a beer, and another person had two cocktails; the Mezamaica (a mezcal milk punch) and the La Cigua (a spicy margarita) where they liked the first one and found the second one a bit too spicy. The first appetizer that arrived was the Sourdough for $14 with whipped ricotta, brown butter, honey, and sage which was excellent. This reminded me of a much better version of a similar dish at Misi with much better quality bread and I also found the mix added to the ricotta better with the sweetness and saltiness being better balanced. There was also the tasty Pita for $12 with hummus, tahini, and shifka where we also got an extra pita for $6. The hummus was nice and thick which is my preference with a little bit of nuttiness from the sesame paste while there was a good bit of heat from said pepper. We also got the Wood-Fired Greens for $18 with bok choy, Tokyo turnip, badger flame beets, anchovy, and smoked balsamic. While I could not detect the anchovy (nor could I see it,) this was a well composed dish. I can't say I've ever had grilled grapes before but the texture was unique and tasty with my favorite veggies being the turnips and beets in terms of texture and flavor. The balsamic added a slight sweetness and smokiness and paired nicely. The Steelhead Trout for $25 with tzatziki, wood-fired kale, citrus, and radish was also tasty. The fish was cooked very nicely with the skin in particular being really tasty due to the crunch while the trout had a slight smokiness to it but not too much. The tzatziki and citrus added some good sourness. This was overall tasty and if I was here alone, I would likely get this and the sourdough or maybe try the kubaneh and leave happy. My favorite of the large format plates by a little bit was the Whole Butterflied Trout for $45 with pil pil, harissa, and chermoula. The trout was as per all meats very well seasoned and cooked perfectly with my preferred side being the chermoula as the bit of sourness paired nicer with the fish though I still appreciated the more spicy harissa side as the bit of smokiness from that sauce added to the already well cooked fish. There was also the Half Chicken for $39 with green onion salsa, pearl onions, and rainbow carrots. While I would normally scoff at the price point, the half chicken was quite large and some of the most tender chicken I've ever had. I presume it was brined due to the tenderness and it was well flavored. This paired nicely with the sauce which had a bit of orange zest which was a good combo though I think there could have been a bit more of the vegetables. The last was the Lamb for $46 with Laffa, tahini, amba, and shifka. This was easily the most filling of the bunch and the only one I think that I would need to split with someone else in order to finish as it had four pieces of said bread topped with a generous portion of lamb. The lamb was very tender though I do wish there was some more crispy pieces for texture such as at Dagon or otherwise. The sauces on the side paired nicely and helped reduce the richness of the lamb with my preference being the slightly spicy amba as expected. For dessert which were all $14 (outside of the $16 donuts,) we shared the four top ones on the menu. My preference as well as the group was the Camembert Cheesecake with whey caramel. This was similar to a Basque cheesecake due to the darker exterior and texture but said cheese added a wonderful funkiness which helped with the richness. The bit of salt in the caramel was also a nice touch. The rest of the people enjoyed the donuts (with cranberry pomegranate jam & creme fraiche anglaise) which I didn't have due to a slight allergy to pomegranate seeds. The remaining two desserts were just okay and the weakest part of the menu. The Chocolate Cake with mascarpone whipped cream was alright with the cake itself being a bit too dense and I wouldn't be surprised if it was flourless while the cream didn't taste of much. The Baklava Sundae with tahini ice cream, almond & walnut baklava, and the same whey caramel was OK. It was a bit too deconstructed for my liking being more ice cream than anything else (which was also only faintly sesame flavored) and the baklava was more strips of shredded filo. I think a stronger ice cream (perhaps black sesame) would work better.) Outside of two of the desserts, the only complaint I can make for the place is the price point as I found the flavors to be excellent overall. Out of room. Mid 4. read more

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Seeded laffah - the bread was fluffy with nutty notes from the seeds. I didn't love the eggplant dip though, which was too sweet for my taste. Cabbage - some toasty notes, but I overall found it to be a bit too greasy and on the sweet side. You really have to eat seafood to enjoy your time here. There's a pretty limited selection of vegetarian dishes - though other seasons usually have more from looking at older menus. The portions are very small, and the bill came to nearly $50. I was pretty disappointed, but I'll acknowledge that this restaurant wasn't really designed for me. read more

Disappointing service despite a $250 dinner for two. We came in around 6:30 p.m. as a party of two without a reservation and were told the wait would be about two hours. After around an hour and a half, we still had not received any text, so we went back to check. At that point, we noticed there were plenty of empty tables. The host then quickly said they were "just about to text us," which did not feel very organized or transparent. Once we were seated, the atmosphere was nice and the first several dishes we ordered were enjoyable. However, the service was frustrating throughout the meal. Our server suggested that we order one item from each category, but when we asked for recommendations, he was not able to give any specific or helpful guidance. We basically followed that structure anyway, but the portions were quite small, and by around 9 p.m. we still did not feel full. We then tried to order the whole grilled fish, which was one of the larger and more expensive items on the menu, over $70. The server repeatedly discouraged us from ordering it and gave several reasons, including that it would take at least 30 minutes. In the end, it arrived in about 10 minutes, so the explanation did not really make sense. Unfortunately, the dish itself was also underwhelming compared with the earlier dishes. There was also a cocktail I saw being served at another table that looked very distinctive, with a small vessel inside the glass. I described it several times, but the server seemed to have a hard time understanding what I meant and only eventually realized which drink I was referring to. It felt unnecessarily difficult for something that should have been easy for the staff to recognize, especially at a restaurant at this price point. The most uncomfortable part was the end of the meal. The bill was dropped off, and within about five seconds the server came back with the card machine as if we were being rushed to leave. It was not close to closing time, and there were still plenty of people in the restaurant, so it felt unnecessary and unpleasant. Overall, the ambiance and some of the food were good, but the service was disorganized, unhelpful, and made us feel rushed. For a $250 dinner for two, the experience should have been much more polished. read more

Theodora has been on my hit list ever since I moved to NYC 3 years ago. Finally got to try it last month, and it definitely did not disappoint! We got in line a little before 4:30pm on a Sunday, and there was only 1 party ahead of us. The rest of the line didn't really start forming until 4:45pm. Thankfully, they have lots of seating reserved for walk-ins. We were a party of 2 and seated right at the bar. Loved the vibe of the restaurant. Staff was super friendly. First things first, drinks -- I got the Xitomatl and it is hands down THE BEST MARTINI I've ever had in my entire life. It is made with gin, tomato water, coriander, basil - perfect combination. The drinks were strong too. I had 2 of these bad boys and was having a grand time. Next, please do yourself a favor and order the sourdough with whipped ricotta, brown butter, honey, and sage. I don't want to sound repetitive but THE BEST TOAST I've ever had etc. etc. No but really please just trust me! We also ordered the Za'atar Kubaneh -- the sauces were good but I would skip this one next time and just get the sourdough. The red snapper ceviche with lime vinaigrette was super refreshing. Lastly, we got the Lamb Laffa. It was good but not as good as the starters. I would love to come back and try the other main courses next time! Overall, 5 stars!! The martini, sourdough & vibes are just that amazing! read more

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Came to Theodora for a birthday dinner, and was generally satisfied with the experience - overall I think the food is great, but it's incredibly pricey for the portions. I love the general environment however, and the entire kitchen smells amazing. I ordered the buble chachi to start as a drink, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the savory, spicy drink. Honestly was the most impressive part of the meal! For starters, we ordered the tomato carpaccio and ricotta sourdough toast. The tomato carpaccio was very unique and I loved the basil salmoriglio, but the ricotta sourdough was just alright - nothing too special. For the mains, we ordered the octopus and black cod. The miso beurre blanc was absolutely delicious, but the portion size of the cod was concerning - smaller than my palm? Overall, I'd maybe come back for cocktails and a small bite at the bar, but not for a more formal dinner. read more

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Scoring a resy at Theodora feels like entering a warzone, but the hype is real. I've already fallen in love with their bakery next door, Thea, so I came in with high expectations, especially for the bread, and Theodora absolutely delivered. ＊Hiramasa $20 Must order. The hiramasa crudo was bright and citrusy from the lime, creamy with avocado, and subtly umami from dashi.   ＊Whipped Ricotta Sourdough $14 My top pick of the night. The whipped ricotta was so light, fluffy and melting in my mouth. A drizzle of honey gave it a touch of sweetness. If I had to nitpick, I wished they served with a thicker slice of sourdough--the ricotta was so generously piled on, it needed a sturdier base.   ＊Za'atar Kubaneh $15 The kubaneh came rolled like a cinnamon bun--airy, fluffy, and served with three addictive dips: tomato aioli, schug, and harissa. We loved the sauces so much we ordered extra pita just to scoop every last bit.   ＊Vegan Hummus with Pita $12 While the hummus itself wasn't a standout, the pita stole the show--warm, pillowy, golden, and hands-down the best I've ever had.   ＊Smoked Fish Croquette $18  I got their seasonal special croquettes. Perfectly crispy and paired nicely with hot honey mayo.   ＊Octopus $25 Cooked to perfection--tender, aromatic, and simply done right. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they cooked and seasoned their seafood.   ＊Baklava Sundae $14 The tahini ice cream blended perfectly with the crispy baklava, caramel drizzle, and crunchy almonds and walnuts. Sweet, nutty, and indulgent.   ＊Coconut Mango Sorbet $6 Surprisingly creamy for a sorbet, it almost had a gelato-like texture. Bright, citrusy, and packed with real mango bits. A refreshing end to the meal.   Tips: Resy opens 30 days in advance at 9 am. read more

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Oh my GOODNESS! Getting a reservation was difficult to say the least and when we arrived 15 minutes early the line out the door still made us a little nervous! It was a mixed crowd, reservations and walk-ins so when doors opened we made our way past the hopefuls to be sat at our table across the expo line where we could see the open kitchen. Fortunately we had worked out the menu before arriving and knew what we wanted so to our lovely server's surprise we were ready to go as soon as she introduced herself. The food: First, the za'atar kubaneh bread was fluffy and delightful, coiled and twisted and fun to pull apart, it also came with 3 delicious sauces. The hiramasa crudo absolutely MELTS in your mouth, and the thin jalapeño slice gives it the perfect amount of heat without stealing the show. Next, the prawns--oh my goodness. When you pull the head off and bite down the juices come flying out, it was fantastic! A serving comes with 3 but they're willing to add one more if you'd like to share evenly. After that came the wood fired greens, bok choy, Tokyo turnip, beet, brussel sprouts, with a smoked balsamic glaze...a fabulous touch. Then, the star...my whole butterflied trout. One side is covered in chermoula, the other is harissa, and the pil pil is underneath. This was my FAVORITE...it's dry aged trout cooked in their Josper oven, so tender and juicy, and no complaints about the bones--they were so soft and unnoticeable you can just crunch right down on them or slide them out. The head comes right off if you'd like to work on it too, watch out for the teeth! After that came the chicken but it was no match for the trout. Very smoke-flavor forward, it's a little salty, and big enough to share. THEN DESSERTS! Stuffed, we only ordered 2-the Camembert basque cheesecake and the baklava sundae. As delicious as it was I would skip the sundae and order TWO cheesecakes next time. You can taste and feel the soft creamy complex cheese when taking a bite, it's honestly cheesecake 3.0. Staff were great, they checked in frequently to confirm we were enjoying ourselves and the view of the kitchen was fun. I'd love to come back, maybe take a chance as a walk in and sit at the bar/counter to be closer to the magic. Til next time, cheers! read more

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Quite blown away. Theodora had been on the hitlist forever; the girlfriend suprised me with a birthday reservstion. Not a lot of words here. Everythhing we ordered was absolute perfection. Some of the best food i've ever had. Service was above and beyond. Flavors were sophisticated, never felt like they were doing too much with just how much they put into their dishes. Standouts were the civice & bread dishes. Will be back for as long as they will have me! read more

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