The first thing at The Dutch is the noise — a good noise, the clatter of a raw bar in full swing and a dining room that has been loud and happy since it opened in April 2011. Andrew Carmellini, a two-time James Beard Award winner, runs it as an American answer to the SoHo brasserie: oysters on ice, pies in the window, a bar three-deep on a Friday. The New York Times named it the best new restaurant of that year, and the corner of Sullivan and Prince still earns the title.
The Kitchen
Andrew Carmellini built his name on Italian — A Voce, then Locanda Verde — and won two James Beard Awards before he turned, at The Dutch, to a freewheeling American menu that borrows from the South, the coasts, and the Chinatown a few blocks east. The signature is the Little Oyster Sandwich: a single fat oyster, lightly breaded and fried, tucked into a soft roll — three bites, and the dish that defined the place in its first week. The raw bar is the other anchor; oysters run about $4 to $5 each, and the Prince Platter of oysters, shrimp and lobster salad lands at $100 for a table to share. From the kitchen, the dry-aged burger ($32), the Dr. Pepper-glazed ribs and the Maine lobster roll are the dishes regulars order without looking, and Carmellini's pie program — the rotating wedges in the window — is a small New York institution of its own. The Dutch opened in April 2011 at 131 Sullivan Street, on the corner of Prince in SoHo, and the New York Times named it the best new restaurant of the year.
The Room
The Dutch is a corner room with big windows, white subway-tiled walls, and the kind of warm, slightly worn polish that makes a new restaurant feel like it has always been there. It is loud — happily, deliberately loud — with the bar crowd and the open kitchen feeding the energy. Lighting is warm and low in the evening; tables are close, banquettes run the walls, and the front bar is its own scene. Dress is smart-casual, and nobody will blink at jeans and a good jacket. Come for the hum, not for a hushed conversation.
Best for a Birthday
Book The Dutch for a birthday because it does celebration without stiffness: a raw-bar tower for the table, a loud happy room that absorbs a group, and a pie at the end with a candle in it if you ask. The larger round tables at the back take six to eight comfortably, and the bar is the place to start while the party gathers. It is equally at home for a relaxed team dinner or a deal you want to close without ceremony — the energy keeps things warm and moving. Tell them it is a birthday and the kitchen sends the pie out properly.
Not For
Skip The Dutch for a quiet date or a serious conversation — the room is loud by design and you will be leaning in to be heard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Dutch worth it?
Yes, if you want a lively, high-quality American meal rather than a hushed tasting menu. Andrew Carmellini's kitchen has been turning out the raw bar, the dry-aged burger and the famous pies since 2011, and the New York Times named it the best new restaurant of that year. Prices are SoHo-fair for the polish, with mains mostly running in the $24 to $39 range.
How hard is it to book The Dutch?
Plan one to two weeks ahead for a weekend table, less for the bar or for lunch. The Dutch takes reservations online, but it also keeps room for walk-ins at the bar and the front counter, which is the move if you did not plan. For a birthday with a larger group, book the back round tables as early as you can.
What should I order at The Dutch?
Start with the Little Oyster Sandwich — a single fried oyster in a soft roll, the dish that made the restaurant — and a dozen from the raw bar at about $4 to $5 each. The dry-aged burger ($32) and the Dr. Pepper-glazed ribs are the reliable mains, and you do not leave without a slice of Carmellini's pie.
Is The Dutch good for a group or birthday?
Very. The Dutch is one of SoHo's best group rooms: loud enough to absorb a celebration, with big back tables for six to eight and a raw-bar tower built for sharing. It works for a birthday, a relaxed team dinner, or a deal you want to close without formality. Tell them it is a birthday and a pie arrives with the proper ceremony.
Does The Dutch have a Michelin star?
No. The Dutch is listed in the Michelin Guide but does not hold a star. Its credentials are different: the New York Times named it the best new restaurant of 2011, and chef Andrew Carmellini is a two-time James Beard Award winner. It is a destination for the cooking and the room, not for a star rating.
Also in New York City
Explore the full New York City restaurant guide. See our Birthday, Team Dinner, and Close a Deal occasion guides for selected picks.