Ivo and Lulu

Ivo and Lulu was the answer to a question that every New Yorker has from time to time, "where is a great BYOB restaurant that isn't too expensive?"  

Located in Soho, this tiny little eatery sucks you right in. Dimly lite on a quiet street, this the perfect gathering for

 friends. Especially friends that like to drink. 

The roomies and I met up with our great friends John and Scott and embarked on a culinary tour that would take us through the French/Caribbean cuisine. 

To start we ordered:

• Gratin Dauphinois - scalloped potatoes, bachmelle with basil, gruyere crust 
• Grilled Avocado - spinach and veggie shitake, mushroom vinaigrette

The scalloped potatoes were a miss for some, but they reminded me of this recipe that my friend Elizabeth would make with heavy cream, boursin cheese and red potatoes. This made me happy, thus these potatoes made me happy. With every bite, I felt like I was doing something wrong (probably had a lot to with all the cream and cheese), so obviously I continued to eat at a rapid pace. 

The grilled avocado (pictured left) was something that I had never seen before. It was incredible. The avocado was silky smooth, and the mushrooms added a whole new dynamic. The vinaigrette was lite and definitely contained some soy sauce which gave it just the right amount of salt. Loved it!

Then for our entrees we tried to each order

 something different:

• Duck Confit with jerk seasoning and mango marinade
• Smoked duck with tangerine and peppercorns
• Summer Squash Ragout with ginger, garlic, and coconut milk
• Chicken with orange and goat cheese

Each entree was served with light, fluffy cous cous, soft, velvety carrot puree and garlic green beans. The chicken was completely over powered by the orange flavor and was my least favorite of all the dishes ordered. The summer squash ragout was just ok. While the presentation was playful and cute, served within an acorn squash, I thought the overall flavors fell flat; every vegetable tasted the same.

But the duck. Oh, the duck. Both duck dishes were a big hit. The duck confit (pictured above) was crispy, juicy and falling off the bone. The jerk seasoning was light and the mango marinade was sweet and not overpowering. The smoked duck was just unreal. The perfect balance of fat and meat, the breast was smoked perfectly locking in all the flavors without drying out. The sauce, like the mango marinade, was sweet, but again not over powering. 

Best part of all this, Ivo and Lulu only uses organic ingredients, and free range game (which probably explains the limited, but interesting selections on the menu). 

When you go (and this one is a must), bring lots of friends, wine and your appetite. The menu was affordable (for New York) with entrees all under $20 and most appetizers under $10. Since you will be bring your own wine you can splurge just a little on the meal. 

Ivo and Lulu

558 Broome St. nr. Varick St. 

New York, NY 10013