American Cuisines
Café Cluny
There is nothing elaborate about a half a grapefruit for breakfast, but the one at Cafe Cluny comes with a marvelously crunchy and caramelized seal, taking your average breakfast to new places. We think that’s a perfect way to jump start your morning. The bruleed raw sugar coating on top mingles with the grapefruit’s tart juices for an agreeable blend of sweet and tart. Order a cappuccino and a freshly baked croissant to accompany it and linger ’til...
Read More
Norma’s at The Parker Meridien
Nutritionists have long advocated a low-fat, protein-rich breakfast, but a morning diet of Greek yogurt and steel-cut oats can get old fast. Thankfully, the chefs at The Parker Meridien’s Norma’s have crafted a fresh take on the latter, incorporating the brulée technique into their oatmeal.
Read More
What I’m Loving: Governor
Maybe I’m getting old, but I just don’t get as excited about restaurant openings as I used to. Don’t get me wrong: I love discovering a great, new restaurant. I just don’t like to chase them down like I used to, trying to be one of the first to snag a table. Especially in the summertime when there’s so much great produce everywhere and you can’t help but become an accidental chef yourself. That’s why I missed all the brouhaha over Governor in Dumbo. I’d heard rumblings about the restaurant when it first debuted in Dumbo in July and I kept telling myself I’d get there, but I didn’t until just last week. What an exciting place to eat! Really! The sourdough bread’s baked in-house, and it’s so good you’ll wish they sold it by the loaf to-go. The...
Read More
Gotham Bar and Grill
Talk about a classic New York dish: The tuna tartare at Gotham Bar and Grill has been around since the late 80’s and it’s still going strong. (Eater recently featured it as one of it Untouchables.) Chef Alfred Portale dreamed up the dish while sitting at a sushi bar, which is why he uses sushi-grade yellowfin tuna (his purveyor is the same as the guy who use to deliver fish to his favorite sushi spot, the late Sushi Hatsu). Portale likes to build food vertically and his tower of tuna is visually captivating. He makes his tartare with finely diced tuna mixed with shallots, salt, pepper, and some fresh herbs. The tower itself rests on a bed of Japanese cucumbers and comes topped with three baguette spears and a tangle of frisee. It’s an architectural masterpiece that sits about six...
Read More
The Roebling Tea Room
The Roebling Tea Room is not a quiet tearoom as its name might suggest. In fact, it’s not a tearoom at all. It’s a bustling restaurant with high quality comfort food. They’ve got everything from Beef Brisket to Macaroni and Cheese and Cheeseburgers. And then, there’s the Steak Tartare, made with lean top round meat, capers, chives, and leafy greens. It’s different, taking just enough creative license to enhance the already delicious dish.
Read More
Do or Dine
The guys over at Do or Dine don’t do normal. That’s just not their thing. But while the vibe here is playful, the guys at Do or Dine don’t mess around in the kitchen…especially when it comes to their steak tartare.
Read More
Chef Joe Doe
Chef Joe Dobias and mixologist Jill Schulster have put together what they’ve dubbed as an “aggressive American” menu at their East Village restaurant. Not only does that phrase capture the essence of their bold dishes, like the Fried Chicken Feet and the Pork and Beans with Duck Eggs and Bacon Dough, it also explains Chef Joe Doe’s list of Prepared Beers. The 10-item beer cocktail list features primarily American brews spiked with hand-made spirits seasonal juices, salts, and unusual ingredients like frozen marshmallows and peanut dust.
Read More
The Woodland
From the crew behind the recently shuttered Vandaag, Woodland has proven to be a welcome addition to Park Slope’s restaurant scene. The menu is spotted with adventurous dishes like Pig’s Head Croquets, Housemade Bratwurst, and Venison Tartare, while the drink menu is relatively tame with reds, whites, ciders, and beers on tap. But there’s one cocktail, the “Brooklyn Shandy,” that’s exciting and stands up to the hearty menu offerings.
Read More
The Tippler
This bar sits discreetly under Chelsea Market in a reclaimed, century-old basement. The resulting ambiance is elegant with an old-timey vibe, buzzing with the young and hip Meatpacking crowd. The Tippler’s food offerings are basic, with small plates, pickles, and sandwiches, but the extensive cocktail list is reason enough to venture there. It’s edgy and witty, referring to shots as Fast & Furious, mixing chocolate vodka with the juice of a blood orange in the “Weeping Gypsy,” and featuring some frozen slushies. Their “Gin and Chronic” is an innovative take on the classic gin highball. The drink’s ingredients – gin, hops, spiced lime, and tonic – belie how elaborate it is. Garnished with a dried conical hop and a wedge of lime, this drink is complex, full of notes of spices and citrus.
Read More
One Stop Beer Shop
Brooklyn’s One Stop Beer Shop has an impressive beer menu with options like cream ales, porters, and gluten-free brews. But this is not one of those beer bars that just offers beer. Given the fact that it’s called the One Stop Beer Shop, inclusion is key, and they embrace beer cocktails whole-heartedly with the eleven beer cocktails on their menu.
Read More
Death and Company
Death and Company is one of the city’s cult cocktail spots, one of the drinking establishments that helped bring back the world of speakeasies and old school cocktailing. The bar is notorious for its supply of bitters, infused spirits, and sweet syrups. The drink menu is expansive, you might even say it’s encyclopedic, featuring everything from punch to Juleps and tequila-based drinks. They even have a selection of intricate beer cocktails, lovingly referred to as “Noble Hops.”
Read MoreCrif Dogs
There’s plenty of places (and corners) to grab a hot dog in New York, but none rival this funky hot dog stand on Saint Marks Place. Two childhood best friends started this place back in 2001 after going on a two-year tasting tour to sample some of the best hot dogs on the East Coast. The resulting menu features dogs, like the Philly Tubesteak (a lot like a Philly Cheesesteak) and the Garden State (wrapped in ham and covered with chopped pepperoncini, American cheese, and mustard), but our favorite is Crif’s Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog. Get one Bacon-Wrapped Dog “Spicy Red Neck-style” with chili, cole slaw, and jalapeños or breakfast-style with melted cheese and a fried egg on top. Or you can keep it simple and get it with lettuce and tomato for a one-of-a-kind take on the BLT. No matter which...
Read More
The Boarding House
These guys could hold their own in the New York dining scene, but we’d much rather eat on the patio, prime for people-watching smack in the heart of town. Then again, the newly revived and cozy inside dining is just as alluring these days, especially on a rainy or chilly fall night. The vibe is warm and the bar is buzzing with locals and tourists alike eager to sample chef and owner Seth Raynor’s creations. The menu embraces everything about Nantucket, from the fish to cheese and lettuces. Order a Blueberry Spring Thyme cocktail, a blend of meyer lemon, blueberries, vodka and fresh thyme while you wander the menu. We rarely insist on a dish, but we take exception in matters of “5 pm Fresh Ricotta.” Believe me, you’ll want to secure an order the moment you sit (before...
Read More
Topper’s at The Wauwinet
Locals and tourists alike insist that a visit to The Wauwinet is a rite of passage when visiting Nantucket. Whether you’re staying here for the weekend, or just popping in for lunch, this tranquil inn houses one of the best restaurants on the island. Or more specifically, one of the best lobster rolls in town. Served on a sturdy, bun-like roll, it comes stuffed with a tasty mix of tail and claw meat, anointed with a bright, lemon aioli, and sided by an equally as good mountain of hand-cut French fries sprinkled with Old Bay seasoning. Start with an ice tea or a glass of rose and some local, Sweet Neck Farm Oysters, sweet and fresh, then make your way into the Lobster Roll. Just ten minutes outside of town, The Wauwinet is a great place to...
Read More
Something Natural
There’s fine dining and then there’s lunchtime, which is a whole different genre of grub. We wish we had a Something Natural in New York, but we’ll settle for an overstuffed sandwich a day at this charmed shop and bakery. Speaking of, they bake all of their breads in-house and they’re all AMAZING, especially the Six Grain, Oatmeal and Portuguese Bread. Their Lobster Salad sandwich, made with whole claws and mingled with dill and a swipe of mayo, puts most renditions to shame. But you can’t really go wrong. There’s roast beef, smoked turkey, ham and veggies with terrific garnishes, including sprouts, pickles, hummus, bacon and chutney. Definitely save room for their humongous cookies. The cookies are freshly baked as well, super moist and super good, especially the Oatmeal Raisin. You can pick up or eat in, but we...
Read More
Galley Beach
This stylish, beachside spot looks like something straight out of summertime St. Tropez. Located on Cliffside Beach in Nantucket, Galley Beach is a dreamy setting to watch the sun set across the sound while you dine al fresco. The space is outfitted with porch tables, tables on the sand, and cushy outdoor sofas for lounging late into the night and sipping on their, signature Sancerre & Peach Sangria. Though it tends to be a scene as the evening progresses, the kitchen happens to turn out solid food. Skip the Local Vegetable Tasting (which was odd and unsatisfying) and instead, start with a moist Crab Cake accented with a tomato, cucumber and mint salad and lush champagne beurre blanc. There’s a beautiful roasted beet salad with charred scallions and a vibrant Nantucket flounder in a light green curry broth....
Read More
Gramercy Tavern – The Classic Date
When in doubt, stick to the classics. They’re reliable and comfortable, which will help keep calm your pre-date nerves. One of our favorite go-to’s year after year is Gramercy Tavern. No one knows how to charm their guests more than restaurateur Danny Meyer. The impeccable service and cozy dining room never fail to set the mood for a special evening. Tell your date that chef Michael Anthony just won the James Beard Award for “Best Chef in New York City” and they’ll immediately be impressed. Then let his food speak for itself. Start out with the beef carpaccio with anchovy aioli. Or, if you’re looking for something a little lighter, order the Summer Vegetable Soup with Fennel Pesto and Mussels (they’re natural aphrodisiacs…). Then, settle into the Flounder with Sugar Snap Peas and Cucumber Gazpacho, or the Duck Breast...
Read More
Battery Gardens – The Date with a View
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about dating in the city, it’s that you can’t go wrong with a beautiful view. Battery Gardens boasts some of the best vistas in the city with waterfront seating and a clear view of the Statue of Liberty. Start the night in the Beer Garden, reveling in a few, sunset-fueled cocktails. After the sun goes down, grab a table out on the patio under the stars (if the weather permits) or right by the window and order some of their seasonally minded dishes. We suggest splitting the Summer Squash and Herb Pizza or a bowl of the Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels. There’s lots of great summer dishes, including a Tomato And Cucumber Gazpacho, Baby Calamari and Octopus Ceviche or a simple, but delicious, bowl of Capellini Pasta with san Marzano tomatoes, basil...
Read More
ABC Kitchen
There’s a lot to love about Jean-Georges locavore restaurant, tucked inside ABC Carpet & Home. The setting’s stylish with blond wood floors, sleek white tables & a farm table scattered with fresh produce at the center of it all. They didn’t win the James Beard Award for “Best New Restaurant” in 2011 based on looks alone. This is chef Dan Kluger’s coming out party. We love just about everything on the menu, especially the roasted beets with housemade yogurt, carrot and avocado salad, and crab toast. Our favorite card they’re holding here is the chili-flecked oven-roasted lobster and the concord grape tart (when in season) for dessert. Don’t Miss Dish: Roasted beets, Seasonal toasts, Avocado & carrot salad, Chili-flecked oven-roasted lobster End With: Concord grape tart & sundaes Drink This: Housemade sodas, Rhubarb Cosmopolitan Price: $$$ Occasion: Dining destination,...
Read More
Hill Country Chicken
What guy doesn’t crave comfort food? You know, the kind of that food that sticks to your ribs, so you have loosen your belt a little. Fried chicken is just one of those things that no man can deny himself. There’s something about a piece of fried chicken – golden brown and crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside – that makes it ideal for a Sunday night feast with your buddies. And Hill Country Chicken is one of my favorite places to go in the city for a taste of crispy chicken goodness and they use extra-large, all-natural chickens to boot. Order a bucket to share with the table, either classic- or Mama Els-style (skinless), and pair it with a serious side of mac & cheese and fresh buttermilk biscuits. If you still have room for dessert,...
Read More