The Best Peking Duck in NYC
"You're going to have the best peking duck of your life!" That's what my friend Ivette said, as she told me about Decoy in the West Village, from chef Joe Ng and owner Ed Schoenfeld. She didn't go into much detail, except that we had to make reservations ahead of time. "They order a duck for the size of your party, and they'll charge you if you cancel."
To me that sounds like a pretty steep penalty, but it also makes it sound like they must order some tasty ducks. Since hearing about this restaurant in the West Village, below sister restaurant Red Farm, I have been here three times and it is definitely a favorite. At roughly $68 per person, my friend and I were served Branzino skin chips and a choice of two appetizers, one side dish, and of course the peking duck with ten pancakes. The duck amazingly juicy and the skin crisp, and it was served with three types of sauces (along with a shot of consommé) . The other dishes on the menu are just a delish, and it is a goal of mine to taste everything I can on the menu. Until, here's what I've had so far...and loved:
Along with a shot of consommé, we received three types of sauces for our Peking duck: peanut sauce, raspberry jam and hoisin sauce.
Just look at the shine on that skin! This peking duck has cripsy skin, yet the meat was juicy and tender. Duck could sometimes have a gamey taste to it, but not at this place.
Are you ready to book dinner? Just a heads up that Decoy is small, and their seating is mainly at a community table. This has never been an issue for me or my friends, even if we were at odd party of three. Reservations can be booked online, but it could take up to two weeks before you actually dine there. Also, you must confirm by 4pm the day of your reservation. Lastly, there is a charge penalty for no-shows.
For more information, please visit: https://www.decoynyc.com/
Oh my goodness, now I'm thinking about going there again! :)
~T~
