NYCReview
Included In
Updated on October 6th, 2021
On a recent visit to Emily in Clinton Hill, the soundtrack consisted of “F**kin Problems,” Frank Ocean songs from Channel Orange, Chief Keef’s “Love Sosa,” and Childish Gambino’s “Sweatpants.” While the playlist was probably selected by a Spotify algorithm, these tracks (all from 2014 or earlier) accurately summed up our experience at Emily.
The restaurant is stuck in the first half of the 2010s.
Let’s be clear, that’s not a bad thing. Pretzel buns cradling hefty Pat LaFrieda burgers are delicious, and Emily’s burger remains one of the best in NYC. But now, even Wendy’s has a burger with a pretzel bun on the menu.
Pepperoni, jalapeños, and hot honey on pizza make for a harmonious topping trio. And just about every slice shop and sit-down pizza place has since realized this, and added a version to their own menu. Emily’s crust is still light, though, with some satisfying leoparding crawling across the underside of the dough - making for pizza we’d happily share with a group or bring home for takeout.
When Emily does try new things, the results vary. Their birria tacos caught us by surprise when they appeared on the menu in 2020, and they turned out to be excellent. Each of the cheese and brisket-stuffed tortillas are thoughtfully charred along the edges for a havarti lace effect, allowing for a satisfying crunch with every bite. When it comes to the gochujang wings, however, the sauce isn’t well-distributed leaving them lacking in kick and flavor.
Emily is still a great place for a group dinner or a casual weeknight meal at the bar. Just don’t expect it to be the exciting restaurant that it was when it first opened.