Linen Hall

On one of the gloriously warm days last week, my dad and I took a walk and happened upon Linen Hall, a new restaurant on 13th and 3rd in New York. I loved the black and white color scheme and the garage door-esque front. The menu was enticing and I ended up returning with Dave that evening for dinner.

The interior was stylish with low lighting, exposed brick, framed photos. The expansive bar was one of the main focal points of the space.

I love a good cheese plate, especially when paired with a sweet and nutty bread. We elected to start with the Cheese Board of Local Farmstead Cheeses & Walnut-Raisin Toast. When it arrived at our table I think my jaw dropped at its size. I am certainly not one to lament a larger portion, but almost immediately I could tell that this platter was going for quantity over quality. The cheeses were a sharp cheddar and a Spanish goat cheese. Both very good, but nothing wildly exciting. The bread was lackluster. I was hoping for a really nice quality raisin bread but it did not deliver.

Dave’s Roast Beef “Dip” Baguette with Thin-Sliced Roast Beef, Arugula, Horseradish Cream & Dipping Gravy was priced far more than it should have been. The sandwich itself was fine but the jus had a thicker consistency than it should have. He ended up eating most of the sandwich sans jus. The fries were less than crisp and needed a bit more salt.

Of all our selections, I was happiest with the Winter Kale Salad with Toasted Hazelnuts, Apples & Pecorino. The leaves were cut in wide ribbons, unlike most kale salads I’ve had where the kale is almost shredded. Though I enjoyed it, the salad really would have benefitted from some sort of acid. The wide leaves and the coating pecorino made for a slightly dry, leathery texture. A splash of vinegar or lemon juice would have brightened up the salad and added moisture. Based on this experience, I imagine that Linen Hall puts more emphasis on its bar scene than its food. While I was not thrilled with the culinary offerings, I could definitely see it as a worthwhile place for drinks.

Linen Hall
101 3rd Avenue
New York, NY