At The Noortwyck, in New York’s West Village, a fine dining heart is blended with the soul of cozy Sunday gatherings.
Sunday dinners everywhere mean slowing down, gathering around the table, and enjoying good food with loved ones. If you’re a New Yorker, cooking might not be your forté—and why should it be with so many incredible dining options just around the corner?
Enter The Noortwyck, a neighborhood gem in the heart of the West Village, founded by two Eleven Madison Park alums. It blends the heart of fine dining with the soul of a cozy Sunday gathering. Comfy booths and open-air front windows lend well to the restaurant’s easygoing charm that makes any corner feel homey. There’s a “come as you are” attitude which is probably why so many locals and regulars were imbibing about on this particular Sunday. 
The Dishes
Seasonally driven menus are intricate, elevated, and far from your classic American fare. The team of chefs at The Noortwyck come from Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese descents, meaning a helping of Asian flavors bounce around the kitchen and translate into the interesting dishes found here
Start with the raw bar, where oyster garnishes change with the seasons. Expect to find Oysters dressed in cherries and raspberries in the summer, or pickled green tomatoes in the fall—each combination bright, flavorful, and unexpectedly complementary. The Caviar, a decadent must-try, comes served on a crispy hash brown with a dollop of crème fraiche on top.
Move into the small plates next, with so many options, you’ll be tempted to fill up on just these. Traditional dishes get a loving twist at The Noortwyck —you’ll marvel at how something as simple as the Heirloom Tomatoes could taste so good, accented with stracciatella cheese and a touch of peach jam. Then there’s the Char Siu Duck, a bao bun stuffed with shredded duck and grilled pineapple jam, garnished with duck skin furikake and served alongside a scoop of foie gras butter, that rests on mushroom sablé. It’s not your typical $1 Chinatown bao bun, but it takes inspiration from the original. And when in doubt, always order the bread. The Seeded Parker House Roll is among the lightest and fluffiest breads I’ve tried. Hold yourself back from scarfing down the entire scoop of cultured butter in one go.
Of course, the reason you walked in the door was for Sunday dinner. The Beef Wellington is amongst the best you’ll find across the city. It’s a labor of love where the beef tenderloin is wrapped layers of mushroom duxelles, blanched kale, crepes to secure the moisture, before it’s dressed in a golden puff pastry and baked to flakey perfection. For a lighter main course, try a fish option. In the thick of late summer, that meant Tilefish served with squash blossom and sun golds. In the fall, you might find Striped Bass paired with butternut squash and saffron beurre blanc, both of which highlight the versatility of using locally grown produce.
Guests flock to the Mille Feuille on the dessert menu for a reason. It’s a twist on the Banoffee pie, a British classic, this one is a mélange of banana cake, stout caramel, pecan praline and caramelized banana ice cream. To really lean into the cozy Sunday eve feeling, the Ice Cream Sandwich is another option that plays on familiar classics, this thinner rendition is chocolatey and sprinkled with salt flakes.
The Drinks
The pages long wine list tells you there’s a skilled sommelier nearby, and any glass you choose here will surely be a good one. The best part might be the value you get from these wine picks. Sourced from top wine regions like Rhône Valley and Burgundy, Cedric’s found a fine balance between delivering high quality wines at an affordable price. If you’re torn between options, the Bourdeaux Blend hails from Saint-Émilion and stands out as a pairing with just about any meal, and the Albariño is another easy sip. Wines rotate seasonally to reflect what’s coming out of the kitchen, so chances are the next time you’re back, there’ll be a list of new recommendations. The restaurant also hosts a wine dinner series on select Mondays that’s worth checking out.
The Noortwyck
289 Bleecker Street, New York, NY
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