American Cuisines
Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese
Whenever we think of comfort food, the very first thing that springs to mind is creamy and melty Macaroni and Cheese. We love it every which way, from the electric orange stovetop stuff that comes out of a box, to refined casseroles of artisanal cheese, hand-cranked pasta and brioche breadcrumbs.
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Mas Farmhouse
Sure, going out to dinner might not be the most original idea, but eating is our favorite pastime and you never know what you’ll find at Mas Farmhouse. That’s because chef Galen Zamarra changes his menu on a daily basis to include only the best ingredients from nearby local farms. This paves the way for an innovative menu that’s included dishes such as Shrimp crusted with Spaghetti Squash and Brussel Sprouts Roasted with House-Cured Lamb Bacon. Not that you need another reason, but the intimate space with its wood beamed walls and dim lighting is the ideal setting for February 14th. It might be just dinner, but it’s a dinner your special someone won’t...
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The McKittrick Hotel’s Valentine’s Dance
If you’re looking to spice things up and do something a whole lot different this Valentine’s Day, The McKittrick Hotel is the way to go. Constructed in 1939, the hotel was planned to be the most luxurious of its time. Unfortunately, World War II prevented the hotel from ever opening its doors, but after seven decades, it’s being reopened as one of the most original theater experiences in history. With an interactive performance of Shakespeare’s Sleep No More, you’ll be able to choose your own path and eat and drink plenty along the way. And after the performance , they’ll be a Valentine’s Day ball with mandatory Jazz-era attire required and plenty of...
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The Ultimate Roast Chicken
If nothing else, every home cook should know how to make the perfect Roast Chicken. It’s inexpensive, soul satisfying, and equally impressive as either the centerpiece of an elegant dinner party, or served to the family for a laidback, weeknight supper. Chefs as noted as Thomas Keller and Lidia Bastianich would both request the humble roast chicken for their last meal on earth. And as we recently illustrated in our article “Food Trends to Watch for in 2013,” family-style, roast chicken dinners have become the pride of some of the best restaurants in the city.
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Perilla’s Farro Risotto
This neighborhood spot from Harold Dieterle, Top Chef Winner Season 1, has plenty in the way of whole grain options, from wheat berries served with Duck Breast, to a side of Quinoa Salad with Golden Beets or Creamy Polenta with the Pork Chop. But the best use of grains is the Farro Risotto, which breathes new life into traditional risotto. A firm grain similar to barley, the farro is cooked with creamy blend of artichoke confit and parmesan, and served with a chili-grape salad on top — perfect for...
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ABC Kitchen’s Kasha & Bowties
Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s been singing the praises of obscure grains since the mid-90’s and now they’re not so obscure anymore. In fact, they’re collectively the “it” ingredient this fall. At ABC Kitchen, Vongerichten and his executive chef, Dan Kluger, deliver a cheeky spin on a Jewish dish called kasha varnishkes, with veal, oats and bowtie pasta. He swaps out veal for moist, mini veal meatballs delicious on their own and even better mingled with bowties and kasha grains. Want more grains? Sample one of their whole wheat...
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Louro – Reviewed
More people should be talking about Louro in the West Village. It opened in a space that was once home to Lowcountry, and before that Bar Blanc, which opened was ultimately a bust, too. (Ironically, Bar Blanc’s chef, Cesar Ramirez, went on to open one of the hardest reservations in town better known as Brooklyn Fare.) But the past is the past and the space now looks less flashy.
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Louro
More people should be talking about Louro in the West Village. It opened in a space that was once home to Lowcountry, and before that Bar Blanc, which opened was ultimately a bust, too. But the past is the past and the space now looks less flashy. There are white-washed brick walls, cushy, curved banquettes along one wall and tables with burgundy leather seating along the other with mirrored paneling hanging overhead. Louro seems more like a neighborhood restaurant than the “hip, new place to eat,” but believe me, Louro is the place to eat right now. It’s not hip per se, but it is warm and cozy, and the staff’s passion for the restaurant is infectious. More importantly, the food is exciting. The chef, David Santos, worked at Bouley and Per Se before launching a secret and wildly popular supper club, called Um Segredo, out of his very own apartment...
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Dish Spotting: Willow Road’s Mussels A la Plancha
Being “new” is the best thing a restaurant has going for it nowadays. Everyone loves to try new things afterall. It’s just human nature. We all like seeing a new movie, staying at a hip, new hotel, or trying a chef’s latest creation. I mean, who wants to eat the same thing at the same haunts week after week?
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Shopsin’s Chicken Tortilla Avocado Soup
The menu at Kenny Shopsin’s eponymous Shopsin’s has a seemingly endless number of options from which to choose (there’s over 900 options to be exact), with everything from French Toast Sandwiches to Deep Fried Pancake Quesadillas making an appearance. It can be a bit overwhelming to peruse the menu and settle on something to eat, so if you want some advice, go for the Chicken Tortilla Avocado Soup.
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The Smith’s Cheddar Tomato Soup
The Smith is known for its bar snacks, especially the Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Fondu, and hearty comfort food, like the Crispy Fried Calamari and Chicken Pot Pie. But when there’s a chill in the air and we’re looking for a dish to warm us up, we usually opt for their Roasted Tomato Soup.
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Drink Spotting: Candy Cane Martini at Highpoint Bistro & Bar
It’s hard not to feel a little bit deflated after the holidays. Luckily, the Candy Cane Martini at Highpoint will keep you in the holiday spirit for just a little bit longer.
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Best After Work Drinks – Sweet Afton
From the owners of West Village favorite Wilfie and Nell, this Astoria hangout could be our favorite spot yet in our search for ideal, after work drinks. We love their selection of unfussy cocktails, like the spiked Sweet Tea with tea-infused vodka, honey-ginger syrup, and lemon, but there’s also a great lineup of local bottles and drafts to choose from. And this may be Queens, but when it comes to awesome bar bites, you can’t go wrong with the Beer-Battered Brooklyn Pickles or Sweet Afton Burger piled high with Double Smoked Brooklyn Bacon. They’ve also got a stockpile of terrific cheeses, like Irish cheddar or aged gruyere, that you can (and should) add to just about everything on the...
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Best Date Night – Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen
By now, I’m sure you can tell that we’re serious when it comes to selecting ideal date night choices. And we can assure you, the best place to take your better half out for dinner in Queens is Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen. C’mon, what other restaurant can you think of in Forest Hills that’s been awarded an elusive Michelin star? With its innovative menu and charming atmosphere (not to mention thoughtful roster of terrific bottles) you can’t go wrong here. We suggest starting off the evening with a snappy white, like the Sauvignon Blanc Russian River from Sonoma, paired with the clean-tasting Spanish Mackerel Tartare with crème fraîche, capers, lemon zest & dill. Once you’re both feeling cozy, settle in with a full-bodied red wine (perhaps an Argentinian Malbec), paired with the decadent Ravioli with braised beef brisket, mascarpone,...
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Best Comfort Food – Burger Club
I know it’s called Burger Club, but honestly, I have serious trouble getting past the Braised Short Ribs at this cozy Astoria spot. Short ribs are a prime comfort food in general, right up there with mashed potatoes, spaghetti and meatballs and chicken pot pie, but Burger Club happens to serve them atop a heap of hand-cut french fries and smothered with your choice of cheese. And did we mention that its actually considered an appetizer? If you’re not ready to curl up for a nap in the corner by the time you’re done, be sure to go ahead and try the namesake patties. The Carolina Burger with slow-cooked pulled pork, pepper jack cheese and homemade coleslaw and Frenchy Burger with foie gras, sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions are both solid choices, followed by a traditional, creamy Root Beer...
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North End Grill
2012 marked the welcome return of chef Floyd Cardoz, whose spice-inflected flavors have been sorely missed since Tabla shuttered two years prior. And while North End Grill‘s menu is grounded in New American, local/seasonal fare (Lancaster Veal Chop with chanterelles, Hudson Valley Foie Gras risotto omelette), you can still find a few welcome homages to his native Bombay. We love the Fricassee of Wild Mushrooms with “Upma Polenta,” and an Elysian Fields Lamb Loin served with baby carrots, turnips, and Indian apricot...
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Battersby
You can’t throw a locally-sourced egg without hitting a seasonally-minded restaurant in Brooklyn nowadays, but Battersby is hardly just riding the coattails of a passing fad. You’ll want to return time and again for well-conceived dishes like Veal Sweetbreads A La Meunière with Caesar Dressing, Hake with Chickpeas, Chorizo and Preserved Lemon, and Pappardelle with Madeira, Taggiasca Olives and Duck Ragu, but this being Brooklyn, their menu changes as frequently as the culinary...
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Atera
Not since wd-50 has a NYC restaurant so aptly justified the use of molecular gastronomy in modern American cooking. Executive Matthew Lightner walks an intriguing tightrope at this ambitious Tribeca restaurant, taking foraged, decidedly back-to-the-land ingredients (sorrel, parsley root, wildflower honey, hickory nuts), and engineering them into unique exercises of form and flavor (fried “lichen” is presented on a wooden box of hot stones, a charred leek is anointed with “hay ash” and dolloped with sheep’s milk...
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Dressler
This Michelin-starred Williamsburg restaurant is offering a fantastic four-course menu for $125 all night long. Who wouldn’t feel celebratory feasting on Wagyu Beef Carpaccio with quail egg and white truffles, Seared Foie Gras with Armagnac French Toast, Millbrook Farms Venison with Gin Au Poivre, and Chocolate Mousse Bombe with a caramel...
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Vinegar Hill House
At $100 per guest, the Late Night Extravaganza at this top-rated Brooklyn restaurant is relatively affordable (this is New Years Eve in NYC, after all). Chef Brian Leth’s four-course menu is based on “La Grand Bouffe,” a 1973 French-Italian film by Marco Ferreri about a great feast. You’ll need adventurous tastebuds for this one – options include Veal Kidney with chocolate bordelaise, Blood Sausage with apples, Wild Boar with chestnut puree, and Quail with currants and...
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