Kenmare
98 Kenmare Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 274-9898

Cuisine: Mediterranean/American nouveau
Price: Moderate

Open to the public yesterday, March 22, Kenmare displays the culinary workings of the previous Little Owl chef, Joey Campanaro.  There is a lot of buzz swirling around Kenmare being that it resides in the old Civetta space.  The owners are Nur Khan and Paul Sevigny, formerly of The Beatrice Inn.  This time around their cool Nolita spot will feature the food as the primary draw, whereas in the past the food was somewhat overlooked. 

Kenmare is a loungey mix of leather banquettes and light Mediterranean stucco walls.  Campanaro brings with him his beloved gravy meatballs, as well as new, enticing Mediterranean creations.  The basil gnocchi with short rib ragout stands out amongst the appetizers, with components of both light and rich comforting flavors.  Main course options include crispy halibut with chive mashed stroganoff, as well as enticing sea scallops with spinach strawberry salad, roasted potatoes, and a balsamic bernoisette.  The veal cutlet is prepared with salsa verde, arugula, lemon and ricotta salata, all of which lend a lightness and aromatic quality to the dish. Kenmare strives to produce not only a scene in which to be seen, but also an emphasis on the quality of the food they dish up.