Restaurants in Union Square

Union Square Café

Cuisine: | Featured in Uncategorized

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Union Square Holiday Market

Cuisine: | Featured in Best Of, Holiday Eats

If you regularly frequent Union Square for its fabulous farmers market (as you definitely should), you’ll especially appreciate its granddaddy of a holiday bazaar, now in its 19th year.  A 100-strong list of vendors peddle unique products (we’ve got our eye on antique NYC maps from Pageant Print shop), until December 24th.  If you’ve waited until Christmas Eve to finish your shopping you might have bigger problems to worry about, but there’s no reason to let hunger get in the way of you participating in the last minute rush.  We particularly recommend the Arancina al Nero di Seppia from Arancini Bros.  Besides being a perfect, handheld mini-meal, these crispy, creamy risotto balls are flavored with squid ink and filled with tomatoes and spicy shrimp, perfect if you have to skip the Feast of the Seven Fishes in order to...

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Wildwood BBQ

Cuisine: Barbecue | Featured in Best Of

Reminiscent of real deal American smoke shacks, Wildwood BBQ is a reliably lively spot to take part in Carolina-style pulled pork, Kansas City baby back ribs and Texas-Smoked brisket.  The space is outfitted with two smokers, wood beams, sawdust, bourbon and beer.  While it’s not the best barbecue around, it’s got the whole package from vibe to sports and plenty of beers on tap.  The menu choices are endless, but an easy favorite is “The Three Little Pigs,” which includes spare ribs, pulled pork, double-cut bacon, and two sides. While you won’t need them, extra helpings of the housemade pickled jalapenos and Sweet Potato Tots with mustard-molasses sauce are still an essential part of the dining experience here.  An all-American classic, the Texas-Smoked brisket at Wildwood BBQ consistently delivers as...

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Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse

Cuisine: Steakhouse | Featured in Best Of

New York finally scored a Vic & Anthony’s all its own, the first-ever New York location for this Houston steakhouse (you’ll have to head to Vegas, Houston, or AC to check out the others).  What was Angelo & Maxie’shas been transformed into a modern steak joint that’s not just about meat and potatoes (although those do make a solid showing here, too).  Instead, the menu offers a unique take on classic steakhouse dishes, like seared scallops with crisp apple slaw (some heat added, thanks to a bit of Tabasco), maple-glazed quail and an artisan cured meat sampler.  Oh, and did we mention they have some of the most tender filet mignon around?  One of our favorite dishes is the Steak & Egg salad with prime beef carpaccio and a fried egg and a side of their addictive creamed corn.  This would be the...

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Lunetta

Cuisine: Italian | Featured in Reviews

Address: 920 Broadway, at 21 St.  Phone: (212) 533-3663 Dinner: Mon.-Thurs., 5-11 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 5 p.m.-midnight; Sun., 5-11 p.m. Cuisine: Italian-American Vibe: Retro glamour Occasion: Group dinner, casual date Don’t Miss Dish: Ricotta bruschetta, pumpkin mezzaluna Price: Appetizers, $6-$18; entrees, $15-$23; desserts, $7-$9 Reservations: Recommended Capsule: Manhattanified Lunetta is but a pale reflection of the original. Manhattan has seen its share of Brooklyn-Italian imports over the past two years. Frankies Spuntino set up an outpost on the lower East Side, Aurora surfaced in SoHo and Lunetta just recently cropped up in the Flatiron District. But Lunetta’s journey across the bridge was by far the most untraditional and storied of them all. Partners Adam Shepard and Jim Heckler launched the Boerum Hill eatery as a modern Japanese restaurant named Taku. Though Shepard received critical acclaim as a chef,...

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Irving Mill

Cuisine: American | Featured in Reviews

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”...

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The House

Cuisine: American, European | Featured in Reviews

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...

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Japonais

Cuisine: Japanese | Featured in Reviews

111 East 18th Street btwn. Park Avenue South & Irving Place (212)260-2020 Savory NY video TYPE: Contemporary Japanese & sushi VIBE: Feng shui sleek OCCASION: Entertaining GO WITH: A date, birthday party, or power lunch – the possibilities are endless DON’T MISS DISH: Wagyu brisket ravioli DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tuna tuna salmon roll PRICE: $50 & up HOURS: Dinner, Sunday-Thursday, 5 PM-11:00 PM, Friday & Saturday, 5 PM-11:30 PM. The lounge (no food served after 11) stays open Sunday-Wednesday until 1 AM, Thursday, 1:30 AM, & Friday & Saturday until 3 AM.   Lunch will begin come September. RESERVATIONS: Two weeks in advance for prime hours. INSIDE SCOOP: No reservations necessary in the “walk-ins only” upstairs & downstairs lounge (100 seats & with an abbreviated food menu). RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 6 FINAL WORD: A big addition to the neighborhood…...

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Barbounia

Cuisine: Greek | Featured in Reviews

250 Park Avenue South (at 20th St.) (212)995-0242 TYPE: Mediterranean VIBE: Festive oasis OCCASION: Take a Mediterranean vacation GO WITH: A group (birthday) or date DON’T MISS DISH: Octopus meze DON’T BOTHER DISH: Dessert PRICE: $50 HOURS: Lunch & Dinner, Sun & Mon 5:30-11:30; Tu-Th 5:30-12; Fri-Sat. 5:30-12:30 PM RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 6 FINAL WORD: Sink into a pillow & go fish. Even a gourmet junkie, like myself, can get tired of eating foie gras foam and other molecularly-altered edibles night after night, which is why Barbounia may be the perfect vacation not only from post-modern fare, but also from the city itself.  In fact, Barbounia seems to embrace a “recline & dine” Mediterranean philosophy. Upon entrance, waves of creamy fabric draped from a soaring ceiling evoke a dine-by-the-sea feel.  From an oddly feathery chandelier to pillow-stuffed banquettes,...

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