The Financial District has been bucking its reputation for sad salads and expensive steak. Schilling is the latest restaurant to open from the Michelin-starred Austrian chef Eduard Frauneder, who brought you restaurants Edi & the Wolf and Freud, and the cocktail bar Third Man. Schilling, a reference to the former Austrian currency, as well as the restaurant's location in the Financial District, offers Fraudneder's next take on Austrian food, this time with a Mediterranean twist.
The day-to-night bistro menu is divided into small and large plates. Please leave your vegan friends at home. Meaty options like the Beef Carpaccio ($16) with crispy artichokes, purslane, Grana and remoulade sauce or Grilled Quail with roasted marble potatoes and broccoli rabe pesto are offered as small plates. Large plates include Braised Lamb Shoulder with Israeli couscous, harissa, confit tomatoes, mustard greens and pistachio crumble and Young Chicken ($27) with glazed asparagus, roasted maitake and sourdough bread salad. Not straying too far from traditional Austrian roots, signature dishes like Wiener Schnitzel ($23) and Spaetzle ($21) are also on the menu.
The Viennese-inspired cocktail menu, curated by the same team as Third Man, highlights classics like the gin-based Aviation and the Vienna Morning with Byrrh Quinquina, mint simple, bitters and prosecco. If you're not a cocktail person, the wine list focuses on Central Europe and has natural and organic wines. There's also a wide variety of Austrian beers on tap.
To round out this heavy meal, end with the Apple Strudel or Panna Cotta with blueberry compote.
109 Washington Street, 212-406-1200; schillingnyc.com
