American Cuisines
Irving Mill
Address: 116 E. 16th St., between Union Square East & Irving Place Phone: (212) 254-1600 Dinner: Fri., 5:30-11 p.m. Sat. 5-11 p.m., Sun. 5-10 p.m. Lunch: Mon-Sun., noon-2:30 p.m. Cuisine: Seasonal American Vibe: Sprawling farmhouse chic Occassion: Group dinner; family affair. Don’t Miss Dish: Cauliflower ravioli; roasted Arctic char. Drink Specialty: Impressive wine by the glass offering. Price: Appetizers, $10-$16; entrees, $24-$30; desserts, $9. Reservations: Recommended Capsule: A diluted brand of seasonal American crops up at Irving Mill. It’s not enough for restaurants to showcase their greenmarket produce on the plate anymore. They are wearing this season’s harvest as if it’s the hottest fashion accessory – a culinary badge of honor. Just follow the trail of fruits and vegetables to your table. A pomegranate-stocked wheelbarrow greets you at the entrance of Union Square’s Irving Mill. There’s a “harvest table”...
Read MoreShorty’s.32
Address: 199 Prince St., between MacDougal & Sullivan Sts. Phone: (212) 375-8275 Dinner: Sun., Tue. & Wed., 6 p.m.-12 a.m., Thu.-Sat., 6 p.m.-3 a.m. Closed Mon. Cuisine: New American Vibe: Quaint neighborhood spot Occasion: Casual date, neighborhood go-to dinner Don’t Miss Dish: Codfish with Gruyere broth, roast chicken Drink Specialty: Stargarita Price: Appetizers, $7-$14; entrees, $18-$25; desserts, $5-$7 Reservations: Not accepted Soho’s best-kept secret harbors a talented chef and a triumphant roast chicken. “I’ll have the chicken,” is a request I’m hearing a lot lately in prominent New York City restaurants. What was historically a predictable dish designated for the unadventurous eater has recently become a first-string player on many esteemed menus. Union Square Cafe has a moist rendition in their back pocket. So does Cafe Boulud. And then there’s the roast chicken at Shorty’s.32. Chef and co-owner Josh...
Read MoreMarket Table
Address: 54 Carmine St., at Bedford St. Phone: (212)255-2100 Cuisine: Seasonal American Vibe: Quintessential neighborhood spot & grocery Occasion: Casual date, neighborhood dinner Hours: Dinner, Mon-Sat, 5:30p.m.-12a.m. Closed Sundays Don’t Miss Dish: Gnocchi with short ribs; Pan roasted chicken. Drink Specialty: Rotating wine selection. Price: Appetizers, $9-$12; Entrees, $17-$29; Desserts, $5-$9. Reservations: Reservations recommended Not just another trip to the market… Shop for groceries and you’ll be tempted to stay for dinner at Market Table. What looks more like a corner grocery store is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after tables in town. The only entrance to Market Table’s dining room is by way of an adjoining grocery shop, a makeshift preview of what’s on the menu. Think general store meets butcher shop, where customers can purchase anything from exotic dried fruits to burger patties. Yes, this is...
Read MoreTailor
Expect the unexpected. 525 Broome St., between Sullivan & Thompson Sts. (212) 334-5182 Dinner: Sun.-Thurs., 6 p.m.-midnight, Fri.-Sat., 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Closed Mondays. CUISINE Progressive American VIBE Stylized speakeasy OCCASION Adventurous dining DON’T-MISS DISH Passionfruit poached char, Crumble cocktail. PRICE “Salty” small plates, $15-$17; “sweet” small plates, $11-$12; cocktails, $13-$15. RESERVATIONS Reservations accepted Tailor is an adventure in dining – a walk on the wild side of food. Pastry chef Sam Mason demonstrated his innovative technique at WD-50, home of molecular gastronomy and cutting-edge cuisine. At his funky, new SoHo restaurant, Mason unleashes an unusual vision of “salty” and “sweet” small plates. His menu obscures the line between savory and sweet, food and drink, and just about everything in between. Picky eaters beware: Chicken and vanilla ice cream make no appearances on the menu. Think foie gras with peanut...
Read MoreBLT Market
1430 Sixth Ave., at Central Park South; (212) 521-6125 Lunch, 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; brunch, 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun.; dinner, Mon.-Sun., 5:30-10 p.m. CUISINE Seasonal New American VIBE Farmhouse chic OCCASION Family dinner, pampered affair DON’T MISS DISH Veal-and-pork ricotta meatballs, American kobe skirt steak. PRICE Appetizers, $12-$21; entrees, $26-$38; desserts, $9-$11. RESERVATIONS Recommended. When the chef launched BLT Steak, he lured with freshly baked popovers just as suavely as he persuaded with a succulent porterhouse. Now Laurent Tourondel runs a booming corporation: BLT Fish, BLT Prime and BLT Burger are all notches on his rapidly expanding belt. At BLT Market, he bows to both seasonal and artisanal themes. It’s impossible to miss the signs. Just check in at the hostess stand; whitewashed shelves are stacked with artisanal goods: domestic olive oils, as well as vinegars and syrups from...
Read MoreSea Salt
You haven’t truly eaten at Sea Salt until you’ve shopped for your dinner in the fish market tucked into the back corner of this East Village nook. There lies the best of what chef Orhan Yegen has to offer – an icy display of seafaring wares. To Yegen, these aren’t just fish: This is his religion. “I’m the only one who truly understands them,” he declares matter-of-factly over the phone. “I taste and tune the fish. That’s my talent.” He designed much of the restaurant himself, painting the broad, creamy stripes that wrap themselves around the space, accented with butcher block tables and black and white photos – a bit Miami Beach meets Mediterranean seascape. Tables spill onto a span of Second Ave., brimming with students and artsy types. An impossibly outspoken and restless nomad, Yegen has rambled through...
Read MoreDish of the Week
As I plow through the perpetual blizzard of new eateries, I’ve discovered many a dish that aught be devoured immediately. Thus, I’m officially kicking off my newly inducted weekly edition of “Dish of the Week”, or in this particular case…dessert. Seeing that summer’s in full and much of the New York dining set have, for better or worse, made the Hamptons their weekend escape, I’ve sifted through the lot and happened upon a dessert so divinely dreamy it’s just wrong. That’s right…dreamy. While the parking lot mayhem at dining fixture Nick & Toni’s may compel you to continue farther East to The Clam Bar in Amangansett (a worthwhile & laid back alternative), the peach & walnut tarte is inarguably worth clamoring for a parking spot. As we sunk our spoons into the gooey depths of this blissfully warm nibble...
Read MoreSolace
Address: 406 E. 64th Street, at 1st Ave. Phone: 212.750.0434 Cuisine: American Nouveau Scene: Upper Eastsiders Hours: Dinner, Mon-Sun, 5:30pm-11pm; Lunch, Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm; Brunch, Sun 11am-3pm. First Bite Impressions: Simply inconsistent Don’t Miss Dish: Salt Cod and Gnocchi Ragout Don’t Bother Dish: Bay Shrimp and Chorizo Risotto, Proscuitto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Price: Appetizers, $11; Entrees, $25. Restaurant Girl Rates: 6 for food, 6 for atmosphere Reservations: Accepted & recommended for prime-time. Tucked into a quiet railroad-style nook on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, modestly emerges the modern American Solace. Unlike most restaurants that razzle dazzle us to garner attention, husband-and-wife duo, David & Mary Regueiro have instead set out to lull their “suburban” clientele. Decor The space is simple, perhaps to a fault: creamy leather banquettes wind their way around the edges of the dark wood beam-accented minimalistic dining room,...
Read MorePark Avenue Summer
Address: 100 E. 63rd. St., at Park Ave. Phone: 212.644.1900 Cuisine: Summer-inspired American Scene: Mixed bag Hours: Dinner, Sun-Thu, 5:30-11pm, Fri & Sat, 5:30-11:30pm; Lunch, Mon-Fri, 11:30am- 3pm; Brunch, Fri & Sat, 11am-3pm. First Bite Impressions: Splendidly summer Don’t Miss Dish: Soft shell crabs with strawberries, soy & avocado Price: Appetizers, $16; Entrees, $32. Reservations: Accepted & recommended for prime-time. Park Avenue Cafe had fallen into the category of steadfast old-timers, wrestling with the demands of a new generation of diner, who eat as stylishly as they dress, while still trying to appease seasoned regulars. That is, until Alan Stillman’s son recently took over the restaurant’s reigns. Michael Stillman first tempted fate when he transformed the seafaring Manhattan Ocean Club into Quality Meats, a chic new steakhouse species. At Park Avenue Summer, he’s again ventured out on a limb...
Read MorePerilla
Address: 9 Jones St., near W.4th St. Phone: 212.929.6868 Cuisine: Asian-influenced American Scene: Irresistibly bustling gem Hours: Dinner, Mon-Thu, 5:30-10:30pm, Fri & Sat 5:30-11pm, Sundays, 5-10pm. First Bite Impressions: Ethereal experience Note to Self: Order spicy duck meatballs Don’t Miss Dish: Langoustines in sweet peppercorn sauce Price: Appetizers, $11; Entrees, $25. Reservations: Reservations essential. The secret’s indisputably out on Top Chef Harold Dieterle and his gracious partner Alicia Nosenzo’s first restaurant endeavor as prime time reservations at this month-old restaurant have become preciously scarce. Tucked away in a quiet Greenwich Village nook, Perilla has quickly found itself a destination audience. Rotating on an American-bent axis, Harold wanders into Asian, Italian and even South American territories. Clearly a stage for the confident young chef to make his real world debut, but the real question on everyone’s minds — can a...
Read MoreRestaurant Buzz
There’s no end in sight to the continuous barrage of burger joints, designer steaks and kobe clubs. It’s a carnivore’s dilemma…and no, I’m not speaking of ethics. Oh no. I’ve had many a fling with foie gras and my way with veal, so I’m most certainly game for another chop shop. First things first: Angelo & Maxie’s has taken over the kitchen store next door with plans for a July, Angelo & Maxie’s Grill. Of course, this means August. Not unlike Smith & Wollensky’s Grill, the menu will offer burgers & a host of other casual, less expensive grub. But the real coup, will be the endless procession of flat screens and late-night hours. Might there finally be a sports bar with decent food – why has this concept not caught on yet? But wait, there’s more… The Scotto...
Read MoreLandmarc – Delivery
Ladies and gentlemen, this is delivery at its finest. Behold, what I ate for lunch… What was once a delivery ghost town just may have changed forever this fine Nor’easter afternoon as Landmarc was transported to my midtown doorstep in just under forty five minutes. Not bad for opening day. While I’ve never had tartare of any kind delivered, I tempted a chunky salmon tartare, washed in a lively dijon mustard and handsomely speckled with zesty lemon confit & fleur de sel. Monday’s rigatoni alla genovese arrived blissfully sauced with an unusually soothing walnut-spiked pesto. I’d say the real estate value in these parts just went up. Until we eat again, Restaurant Girl **Don’t forget to subscribe for Restaurant Girl...
Read MoreAmalia
204 West 55th St., btwn. 7th & Broadway Aves. 212-245-1234 TYPE: Mediterranean-American VIBE: Whimsical opulence OCCASION: Chichi date or group gathering DON’T MISS DISH: Roasted sea bass with rock shrimp DON’T BOTHER DISH: Stuffed ribeye steak DRINK SPECIALTY: Aperitifs & global wine list PRICE: $55 & up HOURS: Dinner, Sun – Mon, 5 PM-10 PM; Tue – Thu, 5PM-11PM, Fri & Sat, 5 PM – 12 AM. Lunch daily, 11 AM – 3 PM (Start date TBD). INSIDE SCOOP: Lounge open with a separate 55th St. entrance, Sun – Wed, 5PM – 2AM, Thu-Sat, 5PM- 4AM (Start date TBD). RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 5.5 on food, 8 on atmosphere FINAL WORD: While undeniably posh, this well-heeled newcomer leans on style over substance: the cuisine slightly falters. When in midtown, drop into Amalia for exotic desserts & handcrafted...
Read MoreThe House
121 East 17th St., btwn. Park & Irving Place 212-353-2121 TYPE: Continental grab bag VIBE: Charmed townhouse OCCASION: A romantic date or glass of wine DON’T MISS DISH: Roasted zucchini with pattypan squash & cracked olives DON’T BOTHER DISH: Seared branzino DRINK SPECIALTY: A sturdy wine list with quartino & half-bottle offerings PRICE: $50 & up HOURS: Dinner, Sun – Tue, 5 PM – 2 AM; Wed – Sat, 5 PM – 3 AM; Sat & Sun, Brunch, 11:30 AM – 3:15 PM. RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted, recommended for third floor dining. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 4 on food, 8 on ambience FINAL WORD: You’ll want to move into this bewitching Gramercy townhouse, but beware of a grumpy master of “The House” and a dull hodgepodge of undistinguished fare. It’s not often you discover a restaurant quite as inviting as The...
Read MoreDennis Foy
313 Church St., btwn. Walker & Lispenard Sts. (212)625-1007 www.dennisfoynyc.com LX TV with Restaurant Girl TYPE: French-influenced Contemporary American VIBE: Cozy elegance OCCASION: A romantic date or civilized family celebration DON’T MISS DISH: Sauteed gnocchi with sage & chives DON’T BOTHER DISH: Wild striped bass with tomato confit DRINK SPECIALTY: 100-bottle global wine list PRICE: $55 & up INSIDE SCOOP: A downstairs private room for parties. HOURS: Dinner, 7 days a week, Mon – Sun, 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM; lunch & weekend brunch, starting late January (tbd). RESERVATIONS: Reservations recommended, especially on weekends. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 7 FINAL WORD: As the trend toward Contemporary American cuisine trickles outside its West Village epicenter, veteran chef, Dennis Foy, sets his sights on Tribeca with a splendidly well-executed, French-influenced menu of his own. After spending over thirty years in haute kitchens...
Read MoreSwich
104 8th Ave., btwn. 15th & 16th Sts. (212)488-4800 Hours: 7 days a week, 11AM- 11PM (soon to keep hours until 2AM) The newest player in the lunch arena, Swich, short for sandwiches, attempts to put itself on the map with pressed sandwiches. This modern, lunch cafeteria is sparsely outfitted with wood floors, a white communal table, and bright green & mirrored walls. Though sleek in that futuristic, Pinkberry sense of the word, Swich manages to evoke a warm vibe. Perhaps that’s due to the contagious excitement of owner, John Garguilo, who personally welcomes customers into the space. Swich even encourages its customers to linger over a cup of damn good, Le Colombe coffee (Le Colombe) and a hip, ipod playlist. But dedicated to the almighty sandwich, John has crafted fresh and creative combinations with cutesy names, all served...
Read MoreBar Martignetti
406 Broome Street, at Cleveland Place (212)680-5600 TYPE: American brasserie with a French bent VIBE: A definitively social spot OCCASION: A casual date, bar dining, or group gathering DON’T MISS DISH: Skate with cauliflower puree, maitake mushrooms & brussel sprouts DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tuna tartare DRINK SPECIALTY: Bar Gibson (the house favorite) PRICE: $45 & up HOURS: Dinner, 7 days a week, 6 PM – 2 AM; Lunch, Sat. & Sun., 10 AM – 5 PM; Lunch, Mon. – Fri., 11 AM – 6 PM. RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted & recommended for dinner. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 7 on food, 9 on scene FINAL WORD: Not your ordinary restaurant du jour, Bar Martignetti is intent on reinventing the lost art of table-hopping. With some kick-ass cocktails and a satisfying menu, this spot will undoubtedly breed a following of aspiring regulars. After...
Read MoreCafe Cluny
284 West 12th St. (at 4th St.) (212)255-6900 TYPE: French-American restaurant VIBE: Charming neighborhood haunt OCCASION: A casual date or group dining DON’T MISS DISH: Duck confit with baby brussel sprouts DON’T BOTHER DISH: Roasted cod DRINK SPECIALTY: 21-bottle wine list; 16 by the glass PRICE: $45 & up HOURS: Open seven days a week, 5:30 PM-12 PM; Brunch, Saturday & Sunday 10:30 AM-3 PM; Breafast, Monday-Friday, 8 AM-11:30 AM (starting November 13th) RESERVATIONS: Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 6.5 (good) FINAL WORD: Quaint makes a comeback this fall as charming bistros of the Cafe Cluny sorts, emerge in the West Village. Cozy is the new black this fall as far as restaurants are concerned. While last spring was marked by an invasion of Asian mega-restaurants the size of airplane hangars, New Yorkers fled...
Read MoreCore 191
191 Orchard St. (near Houston St.) (212)228-9888 Menu TYPE: Seasonal American tapas VIBE: Masculine dining lounge OCCASION: LES pre-party fare, group dinners, private parties DON’T MISS DISH: Hanger steak DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tuna crudo PRICE: $35 (with a cocktail) HOURS: Dinner, Monday through Sunday, 4 PM – 12 AM; Late-night menu, Monday through Sunday, 12 AM – 2:AM; Brunch, Saturday & Sunday, 12 PM – 3 PM. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 6.5 SEATING: 50 seats in the dining room; 40 at the bar, 100 seats in outdoor garden. RESERVATIONS: Reservations for big parties are recommended. FINAL WORD: With a talented chef in the kitchen and a backyard garden, boasting a projector screen and room for 100 of your closest friends, the party possibilities are endless. CHEAT SHEET: DRINK: A glass of Riesling NIBBLE ON: Homemade lavash crackers with hummus...
Read MoreGoblin Market
199 Prince Street (btwn. Sullivan & MacDougal) (212)375-8275 Savory NY video TYPE:New American cuisine VIBE: A cozy,rustic Victorian OCCASION: A boutique retreat or low-key neighborhood eats DON’T MISS DISH: Creamy shrimp risotto DON’T BOTHER DISH: Maryland crab cakes PRICE: $35 (with a cocktail) HOURS: Dinner, Sunday – Thursday, 5:30- 11 PM, Friday – Sat. 5:30-12 AM; Lunch, Monday – Friday 12-3 PM (starting October 2nd); Brunch, Sat.-Sun., 11 AM-3 PM, Monday through Wednesday, 5 PM-2 AM; Thursday-Saturday 5 PM-4 AM; Sunday 5 PM-12 AM. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 7 (good) SEATING: 28 seats & 8 seats at the bar INSIDE SCOOP: Shopping solo? Grab brunch at the bar. FINAL WORD: A refreshingly un-sceney Soho addition with surprisingly good food (that will hopefully fare better than Soho Cantina). Not a Goblin in sight (except perhaps for Alex Freij of Industry and...
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