Afternoon Bite: Corn Chowder From Mezini

There was definitely some excitement when Mezini (492 5th Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets) opened their doors in June of 2013, but readers have commented that, more often than not, the restaurant appears empty. Recently, they’ve introduced a new lunch menu, and are even trying to lure folks in with hookah, but it’s difficult to say whether the changes have helped drum up business.

My husband and I achieve a date night once every blue moon, and the restaurant never seemed like an appropriate place to bring an active three-year-old, so despite an enticing menu, we’ve never stopped in for a bite.

We recently discovered that delivery was available on GrubHub, though, and decided to give the food a whirl on Tuesday.

The first thing that impressed was Mezini’s speedy delivery. We placed the order at 7:58pm, and it was at the door by 8:18pm. Not too shabby. Better yet, our corn chowder ($9) was amazingly good.

The creamy and buttery chowder was full of fresh corn, red peppers, carrots, and potatoes. On top was a very generous portion of crab that was cooked to perfection. The chunks of crab meat were huge, and definitely helped make the chowder a filling meal.

If you’re looking to branch out from your go-to delivery spot, consider giving Mezini a try. They won us over, and we’re already looking forward to our next order.

Mezini is open Sunday through Thursday, 12pm to 12am, and Saturday through Sunday, 12pm to 2am. Delivery is available by calling the restaurant at 718-832-2900, or online via GrubHub and Seamless.