Restaurants in New York City
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Acme
The name on most restaurant scene-sters lips this year (or the ones that can ably pronounce it, anyway,) was undeniably Mads Refslund. Formerly of the world-famous Noma in Copenhagen, Refslund wove a world of culinary adventure into plates as inauspicious sounding as Radishes (listed on the menu under the heading Raw, and served with an oyster-parsley dip), Farmers Eggs (Cooked), an assemblage of cauliflower foam-filled shells over chicken wire, Salt-baked Carrots (Soil), with sliced lardo and blood orange, and a deceptively straightforward Roasted Bass (Sea/Land), flavored with wild onions, thyme and...
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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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Mission Chinese Food
Does “Americanized Chinese Food” conjure up visions of uninspired, overseasoned beef and broccoli in brown sauce, or gloppy, MSG-laden chicken chow mein? Danny Bowien blew those misconceptions out of the water when he opened the first East Coast outpost of his popular San Francisco restaurant this year. What the team behind Torrisi and Parm did for nostalgic 1970s Italian in NYC , Bowien did for throwback Chinese, delighting patrons with Salt Cod Fried Rice, Kung Pao Pastrami, Tingly Tea Smoked Chicken, and of course, Broccoli Beef Brisket with Smoked Oyster...
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Q & A with Maison Premiere’s Chef Jared Stafford-Hill
What a difference five years have made in the life of Jared Stafford-Hill. When we last checked in with him back in 2008, he had just come on as the executive chef at Bobo in the West Village, charged with revitalizing a floundering menu of seasonal French classics. When he was let go shortly afterwards, however, Stafford-Hill was devastated. “It was pretty hard. It was all very surprising,” he said. “I was really cautious afterwards, because that experience was kind of demoralizing.” So much so, that the mild-mannered chef elected to stay off-the-radar and out of kitchens until just four months ago. Happily, he’s currently finding his mojo again as chef at the stylish Maison Premiere in Brooklyn, helping it evolve beyond oysters and absinthe into a full-blown, high-end eatery. His series of seafood small plates, which includes Sea Urchin...
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Arlington Club
It may be almost 2013, but you can still party like it’s 1929 at Laurent Tourondel’s ritzy steakhouse, Arlington Club. The Great Gatsby-inspired celebration features a prix fixe menu created by the renowned chef himself, and includes a midnight champagne toast and live...
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Jazz Standard
Swing the night away at this world-class jazz club, which will herald in 2013 with a performance by the Grammy Award–winning Mingus Big Band. And don’t worry about eating beforehand…an all-inclusive, $125 ticket also buys a three-course BBQ dinner at Blue Smoke, the award-winning, upstairs...
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Frankies 570
An early seating at this rustic Italian bistro will set you back $85 for four courses, but you won’t be worrying about the price once you feast your eyes on a salad of Chilled Maine Lobster, Black Ink Fusilli, Slow Roasted Lamb Loin, and a Kabocha Squash Torta. Choices double later in the evening, as does the price (well, almost). $125 buys a Crudo of Nantucket Bay Scallop or Braised Artichoke Salad, Grilled Quail, and Creamy Burrata with Chanterelles, plus wine pairings, cocktails, and...
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Eataly
Mario Batali’s massive Italian emporium may seem like an odd place to spend the New Year, but we’re talking about an extravagant buffet at the rooftop restaurant Birreria, not a midnight toast as you shop the aisles for sheep’s milk cheese and pancetta. A $175 ticket includes an all-you-can eat feast of Italian specialties, along with wine, cask beer, top shelf cocktails, and dessert with digestives and...
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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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SushiSamba
Celebrate the imminent arrival of 2013 in true Brazilian style at Reveillon, SushiSamba’s annual white party. Both NYC locations will feature DJs, samba dancers, drummers, party favors, an all-white décor, and staff in festive dress. The full menu (with celebratory specials like Wagyu Beef Tataki and Lobster Coconut Seviche) will be offered a la carte, plus a $30 surcharge for seatings from 10 pm to...
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Aureole
You can’t get much closer to the bustle of Times Square than at Charlie Palmer’s luxurious steakhouse, Aureole, but you might have to dip into your savings in order to finance an 8-9:30pm seating. $395 covers a five-course tasting menu plus admission to the after party, which includes a DJ, dancing, passed hors d’oeuvres, and a champagne toast at...
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Best Gastropub – Pork Slope
It doesn’t get more unpretentious and casual than this recently opened Park Slope pub, even though Top Chef golden boy Dale Talde is part owner and Executive chef. All of the classic Americana menu items (Dale’s nearby restaurant, Talde, is known for quirky Asian fusion) are designed to be totally affordable, and ideally paired with a glass of great whisky, a pint of microbrew, or even a PBR and a shot if that’s your thing. Choices include a smoky Brisket Sandwich, a rack of sticky St. Louis ribs, and a squishy fast food-style burger (that’s actually a great thing.) Our far and away favorite is the Porky Melt, a sweet sausage patty topped with caramelized onions, mustard and melted cheese, and served on marbled rye bread. A side of crispy tater tots is a must…we hear that they’re Dale’s...
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Best After Work Drinks – Post Office
Brooklyn isn’t exactly short on options when it comes to great bars for after work drinks, but we love the ultra-casual vibe of this Williamsburg watering hole. We particularly enjoy its 30-strong list of vintage spirits and small batch whiskies. Try the powerful and oaky Berkshire Corn Whiskey, tempered by a fruity finish of cherry and apple, or the considerably milder Michter’s American, which tastes like buttered popcorn, vanilla, and candied almonds. Either pairs perfectly with classic bar grub like Pulled Pork sandwiches or Grilled Cheese, assuring a pleasant end to even the most stressful work...
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Best New Find – The Wallace
Can a former magazine publisher -turned chef- turned restaurant owner even hope to make a mark on Brooklyn’s expansive local-seasonal scene? The answer is yes if you’re talking about Jon Wallace, who just opened his first eatery in Clinton Hill with fiance Jessica Soule. At The Wallace, chef Jon manages to add spice and soul to dishes that, at less interesting restaurants and under less capable hands, run the risk of becoming tired trends. Case in point – a board of both housemade and locally sourced Charcuterie, which includes duck liver pate with diced jalapeño and plum jam, testa with pickled shallot, and Benton’s ham with chili oil (we weren’t kidding about the spice). A not-too-sweet Butternut Squash Risotto with mascarpone, pecorino romano and balsamic reduction makes a terrific follow-up, as do Braised Oxtails (tender as short ribs!) with...
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Date Night – The Castello Plan
If you’re looking for a fancy, candlelit place for a cookie-cutter first date, The Castello Plan definitely isn’t it. But there are so many other things to worry about when wining and dining that special someone, why stress over which fork to use or if you really can afford that Market Priced lobster? This intimate Ditmas Park wine bar will put you both at ease, with over 110 bottles (both absolutely affordable and well, non, depending on what you’re comfortable with), 16 Belgian beers, and a menu that goes well beyond cheese, crostini, and mixed olives. We love the Plum and Manchego Salad with arugula and toasted sunflower seeds, Butternut Squash Gnocchi with oyster mushrooms, sage and truffle oil, and Black Bass with roasted heirloom carrots, bacon-sauteed sucreine lettuce, fried shallots, and roasted poblano peppers. We also totally advocate...
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Best Gastropub – The Redhead
Here at Restaurant Girl, we consider knowing how to select the perfect place for dinner an essential skill. Of course, picking the ultimate spot in a city so full of choices isn’t always easy – so whether you’re looking to get down and dirty with a plate of barbecue, need a romantic (but not too romantic!) place to take a first date, or just want to decompress after work with a good, stiff drink, we’ve got five ideal options for you.
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Eat To Impress – Atera
Here at Restaurant Girl, we consider knowing how to select the perfect place for dinner an essential skill. Of course, picking the ultimate spot in a city so full of choices isn’t always easy – so whether you’re looking to get down and dirty with a plate of barbecue, need a romantic (but not too romantic!) place to take a first date, or just want to decompress after work with a good, stiff drink, we’ve got five ideal options for you.
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Best Southern Comfort Cooking – Hill Country
Here at Restaurant Girl, we consider knowing how to select the perfect place for dinner an essential skill. Of course, picking the ultimate spot in a city so full of choices isn’t always easy – so whether you’re looking to get down and dirty with a plate of barbecue, need a romantic (but not too romantic!) place to take a first date, or just want to decompress after work with a good, stiff drink, we’ve got five ideal options for you.
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