We’ve often heard, “sharing is caring”. On the Lower East Side, The Stanton Social has those same sentiments. The idea behind this restaurant is, to serve everything as small plates to allow a more family-style dining experience, trying lots of things. I think sharing is great…with other things. I’m not much of a food sharer (no, I’m not an only child), I just take my dishes pretty seriously and want them all to myself (bwhahahaha). And so, I ordered a couple of things, and believe me, I ordered right. The atmosphere can feel a bit pre-clubby, dimly lit, swanky and energetic music, which is either great if you’re gearing to go out afterward, or, maybe best to skip if you’re trying to have some deep conversation…which, save the convo, the food’s too good to miss.

Since everything comes out of the kitchen as soon as it’s ready, you can’t really dictate if there’s something you’d like to start with as an appetizer, etc. But, luck came my way and I was first brought out the Baby Spinach Salad (roasted corn, smoked goat cheese, spiced cashews). I really loved this salad for a couple reasons, that it was actually a generous portion, and that it was really tasty. Along with the creaminess of the lightly dressed fresh spinach, the corn is sweet, and then you have a great dusting of the smoked goat cheese on top of the salad, which reminds me of Mexican Corn.

Then, I had their Sriracha Pea Crusted Salmon (asian pesto and soba noodle-beet salad). This dish was amazing, and, if you’re in similar shoes to mine (which are usually a pair of Dr. Martens), it makes for a perfect portion for a solo entree. The salmon is delicate and light, but really jumps to another level with the crusting which gives it a really nice texture and flavor contrast. It’s a bit more sweet than spicy, but definitely delicious. The salmon is placed atop a little bed of the soba noodles, savory and flavorful, and when mixed with a bit of the pesto, it really gives this dish another dimension.

The Shorts:
Name: The Stanton Social
Location: 99 Stanton Street
The Long and Short: Would I go back? It’s actually my second time here, and still lots more on the menu to try.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Whether you like to share or not, you’re taste buds will leave happy.