Located just off South Street, The Latest Dish shares some characteristics with its trendy neighbors. For the past eight years, this eatery has drawn a young crowd; business is driven by the night club upstairs and the record shop nearby. Orange lights attached to ceiling fans reflect off of small copper tables. However, this hip spot maintains its sense of class and style without becoming just "the latest scene."
Fare at The Latest Dish has been deemed "comfort food." However, chef Eric Subin and owner Tony Schiro's idea of comfort food is a lot more flavorful and unique than what one would expect from grandma's home cooking. The duck egg rolls ($8.50) are served in a crispy shell with caramelized onions, carrots and bok choy sauce, all in a moat of hoisin sauce. The lemon grass mussels ($8) are served in a large bowl of lemon grass vegetable broth flavored with leeks, ginger and cilantro.
The red snapper veracruzana ($19) is steamed in a banana leaf and served buried in roasted red peppers, olives, cilantro and orange juice. Yukon potatoes, roasted and spiced, complement the flavor and texture of the fish. The pan-seared ahi tuna ($19) achieves the same kind of balance by surrounding rare slices of tuna with sauteed snow pears and a green curry-tomato sauce, all centered around a stack of ginger rice cakes. Nothing at The Latest Dish is bland or predictable. Chef Subin knows exactly which flavors to combine to keep your taste buds guessing.
After dinner is the same story. Comforting, yes; predictable, no. Bread pudding may be a dessert that you are familiar with, but the chocolate chunk bread pudding at The Latest Dish sets itself apart. Filled with big chunks of slightly melted chocolate and topped with powdered sugar and light whipped cream, I recommend saving your appetite for this dessert.
Do not hesitate to bring a date to The Latest Dish. Although the room is small, and tables are close together, the dim lights and jazzy music create a romantic setting, and unlike other "trendy" restaurants, you will actually be able to hear what your date is saying.
