‘Public Rip-off No 1’: what it’s like to dine at controversial New York steakhouse Nusr-et
Restaurant of internet sensation chef Salt Bae offers lots of entertainment, and overpriced steak and US$9 for bottled water, as critic Kate Krader discovers
Almost all the buzz about Nusr-et, set in the former China Grill space in prime Midtown Manhattan, has been negative.
The New York Post labelled its review “Public Rip-Off No. 1” and noted that after a US$521.45 dinner for three, critic Steve Cuozzo still wanted a snack.
GQ magazine referenced mundane, rather tough steak, terrible cocktails, and US$9 bottles of water because the restaurant declines requests to serve tap water.
The restaurant is home to Turkish butcher sensation Nusret Gökçe, known as Salt Bae.
He has close to 11 million Instagram followers, famous friends such as DJ Khaled (Khaled Mohamed Khaled), and a panoramic way of seasoning steaks that is the most notable culinary meme since American television celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse first uttered his catchphrase, “Bam!”.
One re-posted YouTube video of Salt Bae’s signature move – a crane pose-like sprinkle of salt on a finished steak – has racked up more than four million views.
Although it’s my job as food editor at Bloomberg Pursuits to seek out good food, I can’t resist a train wreck of a restaurant.