|
|
|
|
|
 Onju
|
|
 108 E 4th St
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 228-3880
View Website
|
|
User Rating
|
|
8
Highly Recommended
|
 |
|
|
Editorial Review
This place has better personality than most people I've dated. The new organic hot spot in the East Village espouses philosophy and character from every angle. That beer you're drinking? 100% organic. But those super-trendy sinks must have cost a fortune, right? Wrong. Vintage serving trays, hammered into shape and refinished. And if that not cool enough for you—that table you're leaning on, while marveling at the tremendously presented organic cuisine—all recycled wood. The wood was donated by famous sculptor, Arturo Di Modica, best known in New York for his “Charging Bull” sculpture on Wall street. Arturo also happens to be close friends with the owner of the self-titled eatery—Onju. Even the wood is more hip than I am!
If eco-friendliness doesn't impress you, maybe it might raise an eyebrow to know that Onju gives more back to the community than some charities. Since it's opening in the summer of 2004, Onju has been building relationships with non-profit organizations to donate part of their proceeds to various causes. They buy sports equipment for underprivileged youth's after school programs, provide for tsunami relief—saints truly do live in the East Village. Onju makes a conscious effort to support local markets as well. All organic coffees and teas arrive fresh from Bleeker's Porto Rico Import Co. And when they need ingredients for that particular night's special, you'll find them down the street at the Healthfully Organic Market, where we ran into the chef as we browsed the organic aisles.
Terrific food, amazing atmosphere, and piece of mind in knowing that with every bite, an underprivileged youth finds a way to smile. What more could you ask for? With so many people trying to associate themselves with a particular cause, it's refreshing to see someone actually living it.
The only non-synchronous piece of the whole restaurant was a playing card, signed and stuck to the ceiling. Apparently at the restaurant's opening, a famous European magician threw it straight up where it stuck. So legend has it, that the magician has done this trick at five restaurants around the world over the past 30 years. At each place, the card still hangs, and each restaurant went on to great fame and prosperity. Like O. Henry's “The Last Leaf,” we hope that card never falls, and wish Onju nothing but what he deserves—the best. |
|
Restaurant Information
| ||
Organic
Vegetarian Friendly
|
Italian
|
$$$ ($21 -$29)
|
|
Member Reviews -- Sorted by
Most Recent |
| Positive | Negative | Most Recent | |
|
Showing: 1 of 1 | | User Rating: Highly Recommended | great new place Posted by hercules on 1/6/05 | quaint atmosphere, great food, totally organic, with the exception of the guinness(which is cool) great place for a date--imho
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
