1. I
f you appreciate the little
details, you’ll love Emma.
At this restaurant in
downtown Englewood, the
foods are beautifully plated.
Iced tea arrives steeping
hot in a glass teapot and is
poured tableside over a
glass carafe filled with ice. Squares of warm flat-
bread are served with three tasty dips: homemade
hummus, a bright green watercress sauce and a
vivid pink blend of beets and yogurt.
The menu features flavors of Argentina melded
into American cuisine. You could easily make a
wonderful meal with a selection of “To Share”
items. Empanadas are fried golden crisp, filled
with seasoned tenderloin or a delicious blend of
creamy corn and caramelized onion. They come
with a refreshing chimichurri green sauce.
Two sharing dishes are topped with perfectly
poached eggs to meld the ingredients: Ensalada
Rusa, a beautifully composed salad of diced
carrots and potatoes with peas, crisp bits of
jamon serrano ham, sweet cornichon and frisee;
and Chicken & Egg, a comforting bowl of
warm grains, bites of crisp chicken confit,
beans and arugula.
But Emma’s Crostini Tasting steals the show.
Country bread from nearby Balthazar Bakery
comes with a choice of seven toppings: jamon ser-
rano, figs and melted queso cremoso; Argentine
chorizo and chimichurri; chipotle shrimp,
avocado, cilantro and lime; grilled skirt
steak, arugula and pickled red onion;
cured salmon and pickled cucumbers; pork
belly and white bean puree; and avocado,
cilantro, onion, jalapeno and kosher salt.
One evening, our waiter apologetically
said some entrees were unavailable
because of unexpected high demand. Initially
disappointed, I ordered the herb-brined chicken,
thinking it would be rather ordinary. Instead, I
was delighted: The meat was moist and flavorful,
accompanied by butternut squash puree, quinoa
mixed with dried apricots and smoked almonds,
and crispy Brussels sprouts.
The Emma Burger is a flavor explosion, topped
with blue and Swiss cheeses, crisp pork belly,
lettuce, tomato, pickled onions and chipotle aioli.
For something different, try the shrimp burger,
a zesty variation on a toasted brioche bun,
topped with frisee, tomato, pickled onions
and chipotle aioli.
Canelones are crepes filled with sautéed kale,
topped with a bechamel sauce and melted brie,
served over a butternut squash puree and sprin-
kled with smoked almonds. Make no mistake:
This is a hearty, bolder interpretation of a crepe.
Emma’s servers are friendly and often check on
guests. One evening, we asked co-owner Miguel
Aguirre about the homemade ice cream and he
returned with four complimentary bowls of differ-
ent flavors, encouraging us to try them all.
Our favorite? The zabaglione, flavored with
sweet wine.
That delicious ice cream was in the Alfajor ice
cream sandwich, between two pistachio cookies
that were a bit crumbly, but helped by a generous
puddle of chocolate Grand Marnier sauce.
Vanilla flan comes with a sophisticated
espresso-caramel sauce. For total sweet tooth
decadence, I recommend crepes filled with
creamy dulce de leche, folded into quarters
and sprinkled with candied pecans.
Emma is BYO, but serves refreshing virgin
cocktails. The raspberry mojito is crafted from
muddled raspberries, mint, lime and sparkling
soda; berry lemonade is enriched with muddled
strawberries and raspberries with chunks of peach
and orange.
The decor is tastefully hip, in shades of gray,
buff and black accented by vivid turquoise. A
colorful dream-like mural depicts a woman
blowing a rainbow of colorful shapes all the way
down the entry hall. It’s like a breath of fresh air –
an appropriate image for a restaurant with so
many fresh ideas. ■
• MOST ENTREES
$15-$20
• BYO
• OPEN 7 DAYS
• ALFRESCO DINING
• HANDICAPPED
ACCESSIBLE
163(201) MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2015
Englewood
EMMA RESTAURANT
34 E. PALISADE AVE., (201) 227-1603
A Taste of ArgentinaWRITTEN BY JOYCE VENEZIA SUSS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAV JINIVIZIAN
crostini
dining |REVIEW
herb-brined chickencrepes
Emma
Burger
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