Caviar is the crown jewel of the seafood world, and an instantaneous hit of luxury. While traditional caviar service is still a hallmark of fine dining, some of the country’s most celebrated restaurants are putting their own creative—and sometimes ridiculous—spins on the fancy fish eggs. From noodles, to pot pie, to nachos, here are 10 of the most interesting caviar dishes from around the country. You decide whether it's worth picking up your mother of pearl caviar spoon and diving in.
Smoked Egg with Caviar. Momofuku Ko, New York
David Chang’s tasting-menu spot has a love affair with caviar—as exemplified by the restaurant’s iconic smoked egg dish, split open with a wave of caviar spilling out and potato chip on the side. When Chang moved the restaurant to a bigger, flashier space two years back, the beloved dish went off the menu. A few weeks ago, it made a triumphant return. The dish is impossibly simple but tastes complex, and the caviar—from renowned caviar dealer Regalis Foods—is as creamy and luscious as it gets.
Lobster Tamale Pie. Flora Street Café, Dallas
The dish you hear most about at Dallas restaurant impresario Stephen Pyles’s latest spot, Flora Street Café, is essentially a pot pie. The Lobster Tamale Pie, served in a martini-style glass, is filled with rich chunks of lobster, corn masa, and—surprise—generous spoonfuls of wild paddlefish caviar. To access the pie’s supremely comforting interior, you need to crack a spiced layer of ancho chile “glass” that forms the bruléed cover. It's topped with—you guessed it—more caviar.
Caviar with Steamed Buns. The Bazaar by José Andrés, Los Angeles
At José Andrés’s Bazaar—a high-end restaurant that’s heavy on whimsy—the menu is packed with caviar. Among the dishes that spotlight the ingredient (including a caviar-filled ice cream cone), the new favorite pairs a few varieties of caviar (including the prized Petrossian’s Shassetra) with fluffy steamed buns. The dish comes with a side of crème fraîche, chives, and a tangy spritz of tangy foam that Andrés calls “lemon air.” The steamed bun is so light, it almost melts in your mouth, which makes the sharp flavor of the caviar really shine.
Caviar and Potato Chips. Kinship, Washington, D.C.
One of the year’s most highly anticipated D.C. openings, Kinship puts creative twists on classics (fried rice studded with chunks of premium Kuroge beef; pastrami made from monkfish). Case in point: His next-level chips and dip features housemade Yukon Gold potato chips, crème fraîche, and a pile of briny Caspian Sea Ossetra Caviar. You'll find it on the menu's indulgence section where its an $80 snack.
Uni Pasta with Caviar. Xiao Bao Biscuit, Charleston