THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Anchor & Hope

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Anchor & Hope Restaurant Review:

Just as their flagship restaurant Town Hall riffs on the American South, the Rosenthal brothers' Anchor & Hope similarly reinterprets a well-loved motif --- the fish-house --- and this time takes it on a trot around the world, touching down in Scandinavia, New England, Southeast Asia and Spain for starters. Braced by a spicy yet unnecessary sambal, chewy shrimp fritters recall Japanese octopus balls (takoyaki). Uni with crab and lemon beurre blanc suggests a French spin on mok pa, a steamed fish dish popular in Thailand. While standards such as lobster rolls and fish ‘n’ chips consistently succeed, some dishes suffer from heavy-handedness, like a platter of salty, silken gravlax overly embellished with beets, horseradish-dosed crème fraîche ribbons, and lettuce. More troublingly, a pork chop arrives cooked past the point of succulence. Desserts shine --- especially, on one visit, a cobbler with apricots, blueberries and a cream cheese crust. The long beer list featuring local favorites and esoteric sour varieties tantalizes discerning hop-hounds. With long shiny tables, a clean, minimal décor and metal chairs, Anchor & Hope departs from Town Hall's warm, clubby feel, opting instead for sleek cool.