Boqueria
53 West 19th Street (btwn. 5th & 6th Aves.) (212)255-4160 TYPE: Regional Spanish cuisine VIBE: Sleek cervezeria OCCASION: A festive group dinner or low maintenance dinner DON’T MISS DISH: Paella Valenciana DON’T BOTHER DISH: Lamb shank with yogurt DRINK SPECIALTY: Exclusively Spanish wines PRICE: $35 & up HOURS: Sunday through Thursday, 11 AM until midnight; Friday & Saturday, 11 AM until 2 AM. RESERVATIONS: No reservations accepted. Get a drink at the bar and prepare for a surmountable wait. INSIDE SCOOP: Order the cuttlefish special (when available). RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 7 (very good) FINAL WORD: Viva las tapas – Boqueria’s irresistible charm and contagious energy transcend both the plate and sexy space. CHEAT SHEET: DRINK: A regional Spanish wine or the rose sangria NIBBLE ON: Blistered padron peppers START WITH: Baby squid tapas ORDER: Paella Valenciana FINISH WITH:...
Read MoreCore 191
191 Orchard St. (near Houston St.) (212)228-9888 Menu TYPE: Seasonal American tapas VIBE: Masculine dining lounge OCCASION: LES pre-party fare, group dinners, private parties DON’T MISS DISH: Hanger steak DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tuna crudo PRICE: $35 (with a cocktail) HOURS: Dinner, Monday through Sunday, 4 PM – 12 AM; Late-night menu, Monday through Sunday, 12 AM – 2:AM; Brunch, Saturday & Sunday, 12 PM – 3 PM. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 6.5 SEATING: 50 seats in the dining room; 40 at the bar, 100 seats in outdoor garden. RESERVATIONS: Reservations for big parties are recommended. FINAL WORD: With a talented chef in the kitchen and a backyard garden, boasting a projector screen and room for 100 of your closest friends, the party possibilities are endless. CHEAT SHEET: DRINK: A glass of Riesling NIBBLE ON: Homemade lavash crackers with hummus...
Read MoreL’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
57 East 57th Street (between Park & Madison Aves.) (212)350-6658 Menu Savory NY Video TYPE: Modern French cuisine VIBE: Contagiously spirited fine dining with a casual flair OCCASION: An indulgent splurge, romantic dinner, or gastronomic adventure DON’T MISS DISH: Poached baby kusyu oysters in echire butter DON’T BOTHER DISH: Truffled mashed potatoes PRICE: $100 (with a cocktail) & up; $160 for the discovery tasting menu HOURS: Dinner, Monday through Sunday, 6 PM – 12AM; Lunch, Monday through Sunday, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 9 (divine) SEATING: 20 seats at the eating bar, 30 seats in the dining room RESERVATIONS: Reservations for tables highly recommended; 6 PM reservations taken for the eating bar, after that, on a first-come first-served basis. INSIDE SCOOP: Order the off-the-menu pasta carbonara, a Paris L’Atelier signature. FINAL WORD: An uniquely unfussy haute...
Read MorePinkberry
7 West 32nd Street (btwn. 5th & 6th Aves.) (212)695-9631 Hours of Operation: 7 days a week, 11 AM – 11PM daily NUTRITIONAL VALUE: Though curiously under wraps, I managed to coax owner Daihwan Choi into divulging that the medium (8 oz.) is 200 calories. All of the yogurt here is non-fat, but carbs have yet to be disclosed. INSIDE SCOOP: Pinkberry hopes to open locations on the UES (82nd & 2nd Ave.), Nolita (Prince & Mulberry), and Meatpacking (20th St. & 8th Ave.). INSIDE SECRET: There’s an off-the-menu mochi topping for in-the-know yogurt addicts or bi-coastal Pinkberry loyalists. PRICES: Original flavor – Small, $2.95, M $3.95, & L $6.45 Green Tea flavor – Small $3.90, M $ 4.95, & L $8.25 One topping is an additional $.95, $1.50 for three toppings Still reeling from the disappointment of yesterday’s...
Read MoreGoblin Market
199 Prince Street (btwn. Sullivan & MacDougal) (212)375-8275 Savory NY video TYPE:New American cuisine VIBE: A cozy,rustic Victorian OCCASION: A boutique retreat or low-key neighborhood eats DON’T MISS DISH: Creamy shrimp risotto DON’T BOTHER DISH: Maryland crab cakes PRICE: $35 (with a cocktail) HOURS: Dinner, Sunday – Thursday, 5:30- 11 PM, Friday – Sat. 5:30-12 AM; Lunch, Monday – Friday 12-3 PM (starting October 2nd); Brunch, Sat.-Sun., 11 AM-3 PM, Monday through Wednesday, 5 PM-2 AM; Thursday-Saturday 5 PM-4 AM; Sunday 5 PM-12 AM. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 7 (good) SEATING: 28 seats & 8 seats at the bar INSIDE SCOOP: Shopping solo? Grab brunch at the bar. FINAL WORD: A refreshingly un-sceney Soho addition with surprisingly good food (that will hopefully fare better than Soho Cantina). Not a Goblin in sight (except perhaps for Alex Freij of Industry and...
Read MoreChat Noir
In the spirit of not just eating, but also of dining out in support of restaurant newcomers, who have chosen to brave the joyfully overpopulated restaurant world in hopes of making an impression on the city’s fickle palate, I snuck a peek at two of fall’s newest food arrivals: Chat Noir & Goblin Market. Both of these two newbies, smaller than the recent crop of mega-restaurants and thankfully devoid of over the top decor and staff with headsets, make you want to root for the little guy, or in the case of Chat Noir, the little woman. Here’s a look at Chat Noir (Goblin Market to follow next week): CHAT NOIR 22 East 66 Street (btwn. Madison & 5th Aves.) (212)794-2428 Savory NY video TYPE: Classic French (seafood-heavy menu) VIBE: A petite Balthazar with a feminine touch OCCASION: Boutique...
Read MoreHoney
243 West 14th Street (betwn. 7th & 8th Aves.) (212)620-0077 TYPE: Global cuisine VIBE: Moody Meatpacking (sans the velvet rope) OCCASION: Dining in packs or “seal the deal” late-night with a cocktail and dessert DON’T MISS DISH: Honey’s ceviche trio DON’T BOTHER DISH: Paella tapas & apple cobbler PRICE: $40 (with a cocktail) HOURS: Monday through Wednesday, 5 PM-2 AM; Thursday-Saturday 5 PM-4 AM; Sunday 5 PM-12 AM. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES: 6 (above average) SEATING: 90 seats & private room in the back (holds 40) FINAL WORD: Eat with a fast crowd – commitment phobic diners can load up on appetizers before taking their place in line at Marquee or Bungalow 8. Honey isn’t a dining destination per se, but it’s certainly an appealing Meatpacking alternative to the bouncer and velvet rope-plagued, mob scenes of late. Happily lacking the...
Read MoreFIKA – NYC’s First Swedish Espresso Bar
41 West 58th Street (btwn. 5th & 6th Ave.) (212)832-0022 Website TYPE: Swedish espresso bar VIBE: Sleek coffee oasis OCCASION: A fika (Swedish for coffee break) DON’T MISS PASTRY: Vanilla dreams cookie DON’T MISS CHOCOLATE: Dark chocolate-covered lingonberry PRICE: $2-4 for coffee; $2-4 for chocolates & pastries; $8-10 for a sandwich or salad HOURS: Monday through Saturday, 7 AM-9 PM; Sunday 7 AM-6 PM. SEATING: No tables, just 7 generous counter seats and take-out. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 9 FINAL WORD: FIKA gives new meaning to the concept of the coffee break. And if you’re not a coffee drinker, you might want to pick up the habit. Starbuck’s beware: there’s a new coffee shop in town and this Swedish arrival takes its coffee very seriously. With modern trimmings – white walls, steel counters, wood stools and black & white...
Read MoreBAMN Automat
BAMN 37 St. Mark’s Place (btwn. 2nd & 3rd Aves.) (212)358-7685 TYPE: Asian-style fast food VIBE: Bright lights, big city, fast food OCCASION: Late night pit stop DON’T MISS DISH: Roasted pork buns DON’T BOTHER DISH: Grilled cheese PRICE: $1-$2.50 per dish, $6 for two orders & a drink. HOURS: 25 hours (whatever that means), seven days a week. RESERVATIONS: No reservations INSIDE SCOOP: It’s standing room only. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 6 (for fast food) FINAL WORD: Eat & run at America’s only automat – the food’s not half bad. BAMN reinvents the concept of the Automat with self-serve fast food, amidst the nocturnal bustle of St. Mark’s Place. Owners David Leong, Nobu X and Robert Kwak, enlisted Chef Kevin Reilly (The Water Club) to consult on the on the menu after he answered a Craig’s List ad...
Read MoreDevin Tavern
Devin Tavern 363 Greenwich St. (btwn. Harrison & Franklin Sts.) (212)334-7337 The Menu CODE.TV at Devin Tavern (with Restaurant Girl) Savory NY video TYPE: Rustic American/Continental VIBE: Tavern elegance OCCASION: After-work drinks, a business dinner, or date DON’T MISS DISH: Sweet corn souffle with lobster bisque DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tribeca clam chowder DRINK SPECIALTY: Old fashioned cocktails and homemade liqueurs PRICE: $40 & up HOURS: Lunch, Monday through Friday, 12 PM – 3 PM; Dinner, Monday through Thursday, 5:30 PM- 11 PM, Friday & Saturday, 5:30 PM – 12 PM, Sunday 5 PM – 10 PM. RESERVATIONS: Recommended, especially on Thursdays & weekends. INSIDE SCOOP: Ode to the Bloody Mary when Sunday brunch begins September 10th. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 7 (8 for hospitality) FINAL WORD: Pretend Manhattan’s one giant neighborhood and make this your local go to spot....
Read MoreTour
102 8th Ave., at 15th St. (212)242-7773 Tour’s menu CODE.TV Video (with Restaurant Girl) TYPE: Global fusion cuisine VIBE: Basement lounge sleek OCCASION: Get your social amusement fix GO WITH: Trendy insomniacs DON’T MISS DISH: Wild mushroom risotto DON’T BOTHER DISH: Chicken spring rolls PRICE: $40 & up HOURS: Lunch & dinner, Monday – Friday, 11 AM – 6 AM; Saturday & Sunday, 9 AM – 6 AM. Special brunch menu on Saturday & Sunday. RESERVATIONS: Brunch reservations are recommended. INSIDE SCOOP: So loud, it’s hard to hear yourself chew. Stake out a quieter outside table. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 4.5 FINAL WORD: Can’t sleep? Get your late-night munchie fix while you people watch the club crowd. CHEAT SHEET: DRINK: Sparkling rose START WITH: Maryland lump crab cake ORDER: Wild mushroom risotto FINISH WITH: Stroll over to Billy’s Bakery for...
Read MoreTrestle on Tenth
Trestle on Tenth 242 Tenth Ave., at 24th St. (212)645-5659 The Menu Savory NY video TYPE: Contemporary American, heavy on the Swiss influences VIBE: Noveau tavern OCCASION: Post-gallery opening dinner GO WITH: An artsy crowd or friends DON’T MISS DISH: Pork shoulder crepinette DON’T BOTHER DISH: Stuffed veal breast PRICE: $35 & up HOURS: Dinner, Tuesday-Thursday, 5:30 PM-10:30 PM; Friday & Saturday, 5:30 PM-11 PM; Sunday, 5:30- 10 PM. Closed Mondays. RESERVATIONS: Recommended, but there are walk-in tables. INSIDE SCOOP: Request the outdoor walled garden. FINAL WORD: Eat outside your comfort zone. CHEAT SHEET: DRINK: Cabana flush START WITH: Pork Shoulder Crepinette ORDER: Sauteed veal kidneys FINISH WITH: Walnut caramel nusstorte Warmly accented with exposed brick walls, wood furnishings & an unusually serene walled garden, this quaint gastropub is the newest addition to the gallery-populated Chelsea. Though the surrounding galleries...
Read MoreGin Lane
355 West 14th Street at Ninth Ave. (212)691-0555 www.ginlanenyc.com Savory NY video TYPE: Continental/Raw bar VIBE: 30’s supper club OCCASION: Let them lure you to linger over dinner or stumble in for a late-night bite GO WITH: A date or a posse of prepsters DON’T MISS DISH: The French fry tasting DON’T BOTHER DISH: Heirloom tomato salad PRICE: $40 & up HOURS: Dinner & drinks, Monday-Saturday, 5 PM-4 AM, the main dining room stops food service at 12 AM. The bar menu’s served until 2 AM. Closed on Sundays. Look for lunch hours in the upcoming weeks. RESERVATIONS: Recommended, especially on Thursdays & weekends. INSIDE SCOOP: Snag the chairs next to the fireplace in the back. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 6 FINAL WORD: Speak easy, drink heavily. CHEAT SHEET: DRINK: Strawberry Nirvana NIBBLE ON: The french fry flight...
Read MoreKrunch Pizza
Krunch Pizza980 Second Avenue, btwn. 51st & 52nd Aves.(212)207-4122 TYPE: Pizza/Italian trattoriaVIBE: A fashionable pizza joint OCCASION: Take-out, delivery, grab a quick biteGO WITH: A friend, wife, an ultra-casual mealDON’T MISS DISH: Krunch Gamberi (shrimp pizza) DON’T BOTHER DISH: Krunch Zucca (zucchini pizza) PRICE: $2-3 for a square, $16-22 for a pie, salads average $8. HOURS: Dinner & drinks, Sunday – Wednesday 11AM-12AM, Thursday, 11AM-2AM, Friday & Saturday, 11 AM – 4 AM.INSIDE SCOOP: They even serve beer & wine.RESERVATIONS: No reservations needed. Worse case scenario, get it to go. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 6 FINAL WORD: Order in! Krunch attempts to reinvent the wheel, or at least the pie, with their original Neapolitan-style take on pizza. In a minimal, but decidedly modern and “un-pizza” joint space, owners Chris Bianchi (Redemption Lounge) & Angelo Pisacreta have dressed up the...
Read MoreLollipop Lounge
27 East 61 Street btwn. Park & Lexington Aves. (212)752-8900 TYPE: Thai Vietnamese tapas VIBE: Adults-only candyland OCCASION: A furtive affair or commitment-free dinner date GO WITH: Party types DON’T MISS DISH: Yellowfin tuna lollipops DON’T BOTHER DISH: Beef lollipops PRICE: $30 & up (bottles are big bucks) HOURS: Dinner & drinks, Monday-Friday, 5 PM-3:30 AM, food service stops at 12 AM. RESERVATIONS: Recommended, especially when it comes to bottle service INSIDE SCOOP: Get your hands on a lollipop necklace (membership has its privileges) RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 4.5 FINAL WORD: Alluring for late-night nibbles, naughty nights, & last licks… The owners of Geisha & Serafina plan to stir up a little trouble on the Upper East Side with their newest venture, Lollipop Lounge. An homage to the orally fixated New Yorker, this uber-sleek subterranean lounge screams sex &...
Read MoreJaponais
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…...
Read MoreRewind
137 Essex St., btwn. Stanton & Rivington Sts.(212)779-7923 TYPE: Asian-influenced ItalianVIBE: Supper club(by) OCCASION: Lounging on the LES GO WITH: A table service crowdDON’T MISS DISH: Butternut Squash and Asiago Cheese Ravioli DON’T BOTHER DISH: Sweet & sour tuna with berry puree PRICE: $30 HOURS: Dinner, Tuesday – Sat., 5 PM-11:30 PM, Sunday, 11 AM-4 PM. Open every night for cocktails and bottle service until 4 AM. INSIDE SCOOP: At 11:30, food service ceases to make way for the DJ & bottle service crowd. The real party doesn’t get started until after dinner. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 3 FINAL WORD: Tuna, noodles, & strawberries, oh my! Fast forward to dessert. The Lower East Side’s latest lounge hopes to be a one-stop shop for all things nightlife: food, drinks, DJ, & dancing under one roof. Rewind’s refreshingly un-velvet rope attitude...
Read MoreBondi Road
153 Rivington St. (btwn. Suffolk & Clinton Sts.) (212)253-5311 Bondi Road website TYPE: Seafood shack VIBE: Surfer chic OCCASION: Endless summer GO WITH: Friends or make a couple at the bar DON’T MISS DISH: Rock shrimp cocktail & Tasmanian ocean trout DON’T BOTHER DISH: Lobster lettuce wraps PRICE: $30 (the current tasting menu) HOURS: Dinner, Monday-Thursday, 6 PM-2 AM, Friday-Sunday, 6 PM-4 AM. INSIDE SCOOP: All the fish is flown in from down under twice a week RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 7 FINAL WORD: Catch this wave (or the F train) to the LES for an Aussie fish fest QUICK CHEAT SHEET: Drink – John Boag’s beer or a Tamaramaglamma cocktail (it’s a mouthful) Start with – Rock shrimp cocktail or crab lettuce wraps Eat – Tasmanian ocean trout or grilled barramundi (Snatch up the John Dory when it’s...
Read MoreThe Laundry
341 Pantiago Road East Hampton, NY 631-324-3199 TYPE: Contemporary American VIBE: The city takes the Hamptons. OCCASION: A family outing. GO WITH: Grownups (parents or family). DON’T MISS DISH: BBQ baby back ribs DON’T BOTHER DISH: Laundry chowder PRICE: $45 & up RESERVATIONS: Recommended (It’s the Hamptons). HOURS: Dinner, Monday-Sunday, 5:30-11 PM. INSIDE SCOOP: Walk-in dining at the bar. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 5 FINAL WORD: New & not-so improved Losing its lease after twenty-five years, The Laundry, practically a Hamptons restaurant insitution, has moved into the former home of the Farmhouse (an alluring country chic space). What could’ve been a potential blessing in disguise, has been sadly undone by the recent renovations. The newly modern Laundry lacks all of the charm of not only the old Laundry, but also the now defunct Farmhouse. It’s been transformed into a...
Read MoreEnoteca Barbone
Enoteca Barbone 186 Ave B, between 11th & 12th Sts. 212.254.6047 CODE.TV Video (With Restaurant Girl) TYPE: Modern Italian VIBE: Backyard garden party OCCASION: Summer in the city GO WITH: A dine-by-moonlight date or group (the patio’s big enough for everyone!) DON’T MISS DISH: Short Rib pappardelle DON’T BOTHER DISH: Porcini-crusted halibut PRICE: $30 & up HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday, dinner 6-11:30, Sunday, 5:30-10:30. Closed Mondays. INSIDE SCOOP: Get Alberto to rattle off his impressive & lengthy resume (he’s worked everywhere from Italy’s Le Gavroche to midtown’s Cellini) RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 7 FINAL WORD: Take me down to the Alphabet City. QUICK CHEAT SHEET: Drink – A bottle of white Verdicchio Marche ($26) with summer starters; red Nero B’avika Donnata ($32) with pasta & meat ; cap the night off with a glass of Richoto D’Amarone ($14 a glass) dessert...
Read MoreCheck out My Book – Try This
