Atomix

Atomix Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: Atomix is a Korean restaurant from the owners of Atoboy, Ellia and Junghyun Park. The minimalist, modern space in NoMad is decorated with soothing shades of grey and low lights. It is divided into two sections: the downstairs has a 16-seat chef’s counter and a lounge, and upstairs is a bar and area offering an à la carte menu.

Likes: Soothing space; beautiful ceramics and chopsticks; cocktails; sea bream and uni; intimate vibe.
Dislikes: Expensive menu.

Food & Drinks: The $175, 10-course affair at the chef’s counter is one of the few fine dining Korean meals available in New York City. Beverage pairings are an option, too. Chef Junghyun Park makes use of both Eastern and Western ingredients and techniques, and showcases what’s in season. A gorgeous ceramic bowl filled with golden osetra caviar, artichoke, fresh curd and pine nuts highlights this style, with an eye toward luxury. Langoustines are fried in an airy batter and served with Korean pepper and anise hyssop for just the right amount of spice and an unexpected floral note. A dish of sea bream and uni tastes of the sea, and poached oysters with kimchi are briny and spicy. All of this is presented with an impressive collection of handcrafted chopsticks, from which diners can choose their favorite. For dessert, a not-too-sweet nurungji (scorched rice) is made luscious with honey and milk. Atomix’s wine list includes more than a thousand bottles from around the world. Creative cocktails are the work of Jesse Vida and Samantha Casuga, of BlackTail and the Dead Rabbit, respectively. Reserve via the Tock reservation system.