Restaurant Spotting: Antica Pesa
Brooklyn’s own Berry Street is a somewhat unlikely location for the first stateside outpost of Antica Pesa, a 90-year-old restaurant situated in a former Vatican tollhouse in Trastevere. Because instead of being perfectly suited to shabby chic hipsters, the sleek new restaurant seems destined to follow in the path of its predecessor, becoming an out-of-the-way haven for the rich, famous and jet set (an image search yields twenty pictures of Madonna, Ashton Kutcher and Thomas Hardy, juxtaposed with delicately swirled plates of Cacio e Pepe).
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Restaurant Spotting – The Wallace
Ringed by a barbershop, a Subway franchise and a bodega, Brooklyn’s The Wallace seems an unlikely spot for Seared Sea Scallops with Hazelnut Cauliflower Puree, or Duck Breast with Fingerling Potatoes, Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Duck Demi Glace. And even though the restaurant is in coveted proximity to the Barclay’s Center, the massive new sports and entertainment complex on Atlantic Avenue, it’s not a place you’re likely to just stumble upon. But it’s one you might want to make a concentrated effort to seek out.
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Carbone – Reviewed
There’s just something about a “red sauce” joint that feeds the soul more than any kind of restaurant imaginable. I love going out to dinner and trying new restaurants (after all, I am a restaurant girl), but that often involves concepts that are a modern twist on a classic, like Modern Mexican, a fusion of two (or more) cuisines, or a purely Greenmarket play of seasonal, local eats. Rarely do you come across a buzzy, new restaurant that peddles in Veal Parmesan, Linguine with Clams, and Lobster Fra Diavolo. It sounds almost like a contradiction in terms, but Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi have made an art of Red Sauce Italian, and by doing so, have made Italian-American cooking hot.
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Le Philosophe – Reviewed
Le Philosophe doesn’t look much like a French bistro. Aside from the French food lingo printed on the walls, like “Plat Du Jour” and “Bouillabaisse,” there’s nothing particularly French about this spot, located on a chic stretch of Bond Street in NoHo. Instead of tin ceilings, tiles and red banquettes, there’s black ceilings, a sea of twinkling little votives to light up the dimly lit space, and an open kitchen with a teeny bar in the rear. (It ain’t no Balthazar.) The crowd is interesting and eclectic.
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The Marrow – Reviewed
There is marrow on the menu at Harold Dieterle’s new West Village eatery, of course. It comes roasted and topped with sea urchin, teeny nibbles of fried potatoes, a few wisps of baby celery greens, and a drizzle of meyer lemon aioli. Looking for a light bite? Consider eating elsewhere. But if you’re looking for some heart-warming (or stopping) cooking to cozy up to this winter, The Marrow has quite a few terrific options.
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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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Date Night – Pylos
It ain’t easy to wine and dine in this fine city without burning a hole in your wallet, but there are a few romantic gems that don’t break the bank. In fact, we prefer the intimate setting and the thousands of white urns dangling from the ceiling at this East Village Greek. The wine selection at Pylos is excellent and affordable, and the food is even better – try homestyle Greek delicacies, like Grilled Baby Lamb Chops with mini-stuffed eggplants, Scallops in an Ouzo Tomato Sauce, and of course, pita and a trio of classic dipping sauces perfect for sharing. Don’t worry… two people with garlic breath cancel each other...
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After Work Drinks – Blind Tiger Ale House
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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Char. No. 4’s Half-Hog Wednesdays
When is a bar not just a bar? Char No. 4 makes a compelling case. This whiskey bar and restaurant won us over a few years ago with terrific Southern comfort cooking and a collection of nearly 200 whiskeys. (You can read our 2008 review here!) The chef, Matt Greco, got his feet wet at Cafe Gray and A Voce before settling into this Carroll Gardens kitchen to share his Southern food roots.
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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...
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Doughboy’s Killer PB & J Pound Cake
You know those people who say, “I don’t have a sweet tooth,” or “I only crave salty foods”? I don’t trust them. How is that humanly possible? I can’t imagine having the kind of willpower it takes to stare down a LeVain Bakery cookie and walk away. What kind of sad existence is that anyway?
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