Pip at Pipa - NYC

The décor here is creepy, just pure, cringingly creepy. Those who actually read the assigned reading in high school English will feel like they just stepped into Miss Havisham’s house, a la Great Expectations, Charles Dickins style. The myriad chandeliers are seriously eerie and the pricetags hanging from them do nothing to assuage my creepedoutness…

The good news is that the beautiful Estella’s Spiked Orange-Nutella Stuffed French Toast kiss seductively awaits you behind a small fountain of banana-maple syrup. And like Estella’s kiss, the hint of orange gets your pulse racing, and the sweetness of the nutella stuffing lingers. Sadly, the nutella, like Estella’s affection, doesn’t extend to the edges of the toast and leaves you hanging just enough to want to try again.

The rich, gooey gruyere decorates the Baked Eggs like Miss Havisham’s jewels decorated Estella; only on the surface. Estella is stunning in her jewels, and though they temporarily deflect the empty soul that wears them, a few more bites and you soon realize that you can’t really taste the prosciutto, and the gruyere is the only flavor of this dish. Then again, you appreciate the gruyere the same way you appreciate her beauty – enjoy it this time, but keep a safe distance away the next.

The Gambas al Ajillo were as dried up as Estella’s heart, but like poor Pip, I loved how the chiles burned. I had great expectations for this and the baked eggs, but imagine my disappointment when I found Estella falling short in true inner beauty.

At the end of the day, I probably wouldn’t go back to Pipa thanks to the haunting chandeliers and the good but I-can-do-better-in-NYC food, but Pip didn’t totally regret loving Estella, I didn’t really regret trying Pipa...and neither should you.