Easily accessible in Midtown Manhattan is a new mardi gras and New Orleans inspired bar and restaurant. Masq welcomes diners in with their exotic wall murals, hand-painted porcelain masks and vintage tables. Enjoy an evening at the bar, in the lounge, dining room, or host a bash in their private party room. Vintage chairs and antiques enhance the space, making you feel as if you were in a fancy New Orleans home. To really put you in that down south atmosphere, Masq also hosts live music night every Thursday from 8-11pm.
Last week, Manhattan with a Twist enjoyed a superb wine pairing dinner at Masq. We started off with Mac ‘n Cheese Croquettes, made with jalapenos, bacon and cheddar wrapped in panko bread crumbs and served with a spicy remoulade. Any cheese lover will die over these croquettes. This was paired with Velante ’11 Pinot Grigio, which was exquisite. We also had an outstanding Prosciutto Fig Flatbread, made with goat cheese, arugula and shaved pecorino romano. This was definitely one of the standouts on the menu. Even if you don’t like fig, it melds so wonderfully with the rest of the flatbread it is hard not to enjoy. This was paired with Le Tre Uve ’11 White Blend, another great white wine.
Next up were some truly great Maryland Crabcakes. These were comprised of seasoned lump crabmeat, lightly breaded on a bed of arugula with spicy remoulade and tartar sauce. I often find that crabcakes can be either super chewy and stiff or too fried and bready. These crabcakes were neither — hitting that perfect sweet spot with a lot of fresh, soft crab meat and lightly breaded, giving it a great texture. These were paired with Matua ’12 Sauvignon Blanc, another excellent pairing. The Shrimp Po’ Boy on Sweet Hawaiin Roll was another hit. Cajun fried shrimp with lettuce, tomato and spicy remoulade really made your mouth water, with the sweet roll tying it all together. This was paired with Cason Brusca ’08 Refosco Bronte Reserva. I was surprised to see shrimp paired with a red wine, but they really know what they’re doing at Masq. This wine really brought out the subtle spice of the po’ boy and enhanced its flavors. It was really great.
We finished up dinner with Masq’s Jambalaya, made with cajun spiced chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp and rice, topped with goat cheese. This classic dish was made perfectly, with quite a kick! The goat cheese on top really evened out the spice and was a great addition to the recipe. The jambalaya was paired with Aragonese Primitivo ’11 Red Blend. I really enjoyed all of the wine pairings at this dinner; all of them were spot on. I highly recommend asking for recommendations when you dine here! We didn’t leave without dessert, of course. For this we had Sabayon, a mix of fruits and cream, which was quite tasty. This was paired with Frangelico, a great dessert digestif.
If you’re thinking that Masq is all about wines, think again. They also have a great cocktail list. During our meal, we also had the pleasure of trying the Moscow Mule, made of Absolut vodka, fresh lime juice and ginger beer. It was very delicious and well-presented. Additionally, Masq has an amazing happy hour every day from Monday through Saturday from 4-8pm. Guests will receive half price on specialty cocktails and select global wines by the glass. If you’re looking for some southern comfort, this is your spot!
Masq is located at 306 E. 49th Street.
