When you get to Mott 32, you may find it difficult to hide the scream of joy that threatens to break out. The bar area here is damn cool, with a design of bespoke wallpaper, ropes, chains and nets hanging from the ceiling for larger parties, with tables surrounding the space in front of the large bar. It’s fabulous to enjoy a handcrafted cocktail made with top-notch ingredients or a delicious beer like the Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout from Japan before dinner.
This awe-inspiring feeling continues into the dining room, where the dark woods and Chinese-inspired decor make it seem like you’re stepping into the back of an old movie. This feeling is supported by black and white films starring acclaimed actress and fashion icon Anna May Wong, which are played on multiple screens around the room. Several windows allow a view into the kitchen.
But Mott 32 is anything but a glimpse into the past; It’s an energetic place that attracts guests for its mix of traditional and modern Chinese cuisine. From starters to desserts, you can recognize the names of the dishes, but the flavors and textures can be more nuanced than you’ve experienced elsewhere. Take, for example, the salad cup, which is ubiquitous on Chinese menus, but is available here on baby salad with black truffle and almonds, suitable for vegans and meat eaters.
The dim sum selection includes Shanghai soup dumplings that sit on small, beautiful silver baskets and are filled with trendy Iberian pork. Crunchy, sugar-coated baked rolls are also stuffed with grilled Iberico pork. It is not necessary to choose between them; Get both or choose pork and black truffle siu mai.
The duck here is a trademark and can be found throughout the menu, including the 42 day Peking Duck Signature Mott 32 Cut, which is fried in apple wood, on a tangy, crispy Peking-style duck rack and in a shredded duck salad . But if duck isn’t your thing, don’t worry, try wok-fried Maine lobster; the signature smoked black cod topped with a rich sauce that you just have to dip one more piece in over and over; or the Black Angus Beef Short Rib.
Vegetarians and vegans can also enjoy numerous offers, from the salad cups mentioned above to fried Shanghai noodles with vegetables, a dish that underlines the typical chow mein. Braised eggplants are also in this upscale status and are silky smooth without the overwhelming oiliness you might find in similar dishes.
While skipping dessert after such a fulfilling meal is tempting, it would be a farce. The Double Boiled Imperial Bird’s Nest Soup, with rock sugar or apricot kernel juice, will fulfill your dessert wishes for at least a year. But if you like it a little less powerful, order the coconut ice cream with pomelo and grapefruit, with honeycombs on the edges. Oh so delicious.
The Palazzo, 702.607.3232
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