Hutong: Aqua Restaurant’s Group’s Latest Culinary Outpost Brings Elevated Chinese Cuisine to Manhattan
Quite the contrary to its name, Hutong, an endearing term used by locals to refer to narrow alleyways in Northern Chinese dialect, this Midtown restaurant at 731 Lexington boasts an 18,750-square-foot space that opens up to East 58th Street through a spacious cobblestone courtyard.
Backed by the Hong Kong-based Aqua Restaurant Group that successfully put a series of bespoke gourmet destinations on the fine dining scene across London, Dubai, and Miami, Hutong also manifests the excellence of its pedigree with its sophisticated interior designed by Robert Angell Design International intended to capture the art deco glamours of the 1920s—a refined shade of blue lends an air of elegance to the voluminous fabrics draping over the 140-seat dining room, while polished glass and gleaming nickel tastefully accentuates the lofty space.
Emblematic of the Aqua founder and restaurateur David Yeo’s vision, the menu draws from an eclectic array of influences derived from various gastronomic canons of Chinese regional cuisines—distinct flavors from Sichuan, Beijing, Hunan, and Shandong are incorporated into a sizzling melting pot of culinary excellence. Think deftly sliced branzino bathed in aromatic chili oil broth with wild mushrooms and Chinese celery, wok-fried cod glazed with a subtle blend of oyster sauce and chili oil, as well as mouth-watering dan dan noodles.
A well-maintained balance between household staples and local innovations anchors the Hutong repertoire. One can never go wrong with classic roasted Beijing duck available whole or halved,
nor the color-assorted dim sum platter offering two pieces each of four flavors. Among the New York location’s exclusive items are the Wagyu Beef Millefeuille and Yu Xiang fried dumplings while they also give some of the city’s best pastry chefs a run for their money with their mastery in marrying savory delicacy with dough baked to perfect texture.
The grand lounge at Hutong, which has recently been streamlined and reopened as the Shanghai NYC, offers an intriguing list of elevated cocktails infused with the herbs and spices native to Chinese culture. Sip on the famous Chinese Lantern or revel in a Manhattan Night Out flavored with a mesmerizing blend of Aperol, Mandarin Cordial, Plum Bitters, and Veuve Clicquot Rosé.
