Isa
We’d venture to Williamsburg for the homemade sourdough and multi-grain breads alone, but that’s just a glimpse at what Isa Brooklyn has to offer.
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Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria
Il Buco Alimentari is a market, salumeria, bakery, enoteca, and restaurant all wrapped up in one.
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Empellon Cocina
Empellon Cocina is great for brunch, special occasiond, Mexican outings, and large groups.
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Danji
Danji NYC is great for a dining destination, date night, or table for one at the bar.
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Brasserie Pushkin
Truth be told, I was ready to hate this Moscow import. It’s a big, flashy restaurant and a spinoff at that. But there’s quite a lot to like about this 7,200 square foot restaurant with glittery chandeliers, chocolate brown velvet banquettes and hand-carved wood paneling. There’s plenty of private dining and an upfront patisserie for breakfast pastries and takeaway sweets. It was the horseradish-infused vodka that got us thinking we should rethink Pushkin. Then came the pelmeni — delicate dumplings filled with a sweet, juicy mix of pork, beef and lamb — and a great rendition of borscht. While I’m not sure what salmon in a citrus vinaigrette has to do with Russia it was delicious. There’s Cornish hen, veal blintzes, and beef stroganoff. Dessert is one of the best cards they’re holding here, so save plenty of room....
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Boulud Sud
When a chef builds an empire, a new restaurant can sometimes feel like “just another,” but that’s not the case at all at Boulud Sud.
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Atera
Teaser: Matthew Lightner has trained in some of the world’s best kitchens, including Noma and Mugaritz. Just this spring, this young chef made his New York debut with Atera. Atera ain’t your average restaurant. It’s got a chef and a full-time forager.
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First Bite: Fatty Cue Manhattan
While we’ve been spending lots of time in Williamsburg checking out all of the great new restaurants, one of our favorite Brooklyn eateries did an about-face, opening a second location in Manhattan. Zak Pelaccio caught everyone’s attention when he opened a Southeast Asian bbq joint called Fatty Cue. And now you don’t have to leave the island of Manhattan to try his brisket with red chili jam, coriander bacon, and spare ribs. The space formerly known as Fatty Johnsons, and before that Cabrito, has stayed in the Fatty family, but you’d hardly recognize it. Once marked by a large pink goat, the Carmine street location is newly outfitted with large wooden doors at the entrance, exposed brick walls, warm wood and hunter green leather booths. Silver domed light fixtures hang from the ceiling and glass cabinets are filled with...
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Kyo-Ya Reviewed
Kyo-Ya *** Stars (Out of Four) Address: 94 East 7th St., nr First Avenue Phone: (212)982-4140 Cuisine: Eclectic Japanese with Kaiseki Tasting Vibe: Serene , Subterranean Oasis Occasion: Intimate date, tranquil escape, or craving Japan Drink: Seasonal Sakes Don’t Miss: Grilled magret duck, chawan mushi, braised daikon in broth, & green tea creme brulee. Don’t Bother: Seasonal Tsukemono (Seasonal Pickles) We spend so much time chasing after new restaurants we often forget about the ones that have managed to stick around long enough to no longer be considered new. And as you know, in New York, that’s no easy feat. For my birthday, a friend was determined to take me for dinner somewhere I’d never been. While I doubted the likelihood, I played along and headed down to 94 East 7th Street in the East Village to discover where...
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Imperial No. 9 – Not Just Another Pretty Face
I always thought that the “scene” didn’t matter, at least where dinner is concerned. I’d rather eat amazing food in a dismal room than dismal food in an amazing room. But when I stepped into the garden room at Imperial No. 9, I abandoned my philosophy before I even opened the menu. What the restaurant refers to as the garden room looks more like an opulent greenhouse with crystal chandeliers, dangling from a glass ceiling and potted plants scattered around the room. The wire chairs are painted a powder blue and there’s a mirrored communal table in the center of the room. There’s a long oak bar along one side of the dining room and a cottage swing near the entrance, that you can swing on it while you wait for your table. And there’s another, more substantial bar...
Read MoreJunoon – Restaurant Reviewed
Wow, they must have sunk a fortune into this place. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when you step foot inside Junoon and find yourself standing in front of a tranquil reflecting pool. This new Indian restaurant, located on the outskirts of Madison Square Park, literally looks like a palace. The bar room alone is bigger than most restaurants, ornamented with antique teak swings, glossy marble floors and high ceilings. While the cocktails at ethnic restaurants tend to be gimmicky, these are both elegant and creative — a martini with a splash of vermouth and garam masala or a beautifully balanced “Agave Thyme” cocktail with rum and a fresh sprig of thyme. A long walkway leading to the dining room is trimmed with 200-year old arched gates and hand-carved sculptures from India. There’s a glassed-in spice room...
Read MoreSimply Peeled – A Whole New Brand of Soft-Serve
This is one of those times I wish I lived on the Upper East Side. Ever since Simply Peeled opened a few weeks ago, I want to move. (I’m only half-kidding.) The Upper East Side has just become home to a unique, new frozen dessert so delicious it may have the downtown set breaking their “no traveling north of 14th street rule.” Now, I’ve been smitten with Mister Softee and his vanilla soft serve since I was a kid. If there’s no truck in sight, I’ll cop to ducking into Pinkberry for tart frozen yogurt on occasion. But I really never thought frozen fruit could be so downright addictive. Simply Peeled serves soft-serve frozen fruit with the silky, smooth texture of soft ice cream and the clean, crisp flavor of fruit. It’s called Fruizo and it’s creamy, light and...
Read MoreChoptank – Reviewed
*** – Three Stars Address: 308-310 Bleecker St., at Grove St. Phone: (212)675-2009 Cuisine: Chesapeake seafood Vibe: Refined neighborhood joint Occasion: Oyster binge; Casual date; Group dinner. Hours: Seven days a week. Dinner, Sun-Wed, 5:30p.m.-12a.m., Thu-Sat, 5:30p.m.-2a.m. Don’t Miss Dish: Arctic Char; Fried chicken; Bay leaf sorbet. Average Price: Appetizers, $10 ; Entrees, $20; Dessert, $7. Reservations: Reservations recommended. Capsule: Fine fish shack fare & terrific fried chicken in the West Village You used to have to wait patiently for summer to arrive to get your fix of crab chowder, peel ‘n eat shrimp, and Old Bay seasoned fries. Not anymore. It may be February and freezing, but fish shack fare is in fashion right now. Choptank, located in the West Village, is the latest in a string of newcomers. If you wanted a lobster roll a few...
Read MoreRye – Restaurant Reviewed
*** – Three Stars Address: 247 South 1st., nr. Roebling St. (Williamsburg) Phone: (718)218-8047 Cuisine: American Vibe: Timeless neighborhood haunt Occasion: Group dinner; Date; Bar bites. Hours: Seven days a week. Dinner, Sun-Thu, 6p.m.-11p.m., Fri & Sat, 6p.m.-12a.m. Don’t Miss Dish: House-smoked sturgeon; Duck confit; Meatloaf; Average Price: Appetizers, $15 ; Entrees,$20 ;Dessert, $9. Reservations: Reservations recommended. Capsule: A neigborhood restaurant worth venturing out of your own for in Williamsburg. Have you ever envied a neighborhood for their restaurants? I have. There are so many great places to live in New York with so menu great restaurants. But if I ever mustered up the courage to search for a new apartment and pack boxes, I’d head to Williamsburg. That’s where Brooklyn’s dining scene really was born. Places like Stone Rose, Peter Luger, and have been around forever, but...
Read MoreTipsy Parson – Reviewed
**** — Four StarsAddress: 156 Ninth Ave, at 20th St.Phone: (212)620-4545Cuisine: Southern-inspired comfort cuisineVibe: Charming brownstone Occasion: Casual date; Group dinner; Bar dining.Hours: Dinner, Mon-Thu, 5:30p.m.-11a.m., Fri & Sat, 5:30p.m.-12a.m., Sun, 5:30p.m.-11a.m; Brunch, Sat & Sun, 10a.m.-4p.m.Don’t Miss Dish: Hush puppies; Catfish; Brussel Sprouts ;Sweet potato pie; Tipsy Parson dessert.Average Price: Appetizers, $12; Entrees, $23; Dessert, $8.Reservations: RecommendedPhoto Credit: Jennifer Calais Smith Capsule: Warm hospitality and wonderful cooking at Tipsy Parson in Chelsea. How great would it be if you could go out for dinner in your pajamas? Unless you’re going to a local diner, eating out requires a certain amount of sacrifice. You have to jump on the subway, walk in the rain, hail a cab, and look slightly presentable. Or, you could just sit on the couch and eat mediocre take-out. As much as I wanted to...
Read MoreMermaid Oyster Bar
*** — Three Stars Address: 79 MacDougal St., nr. Houston Phone: (212)260-0100 Cuisine: Seafood Vibe: White-washed fish shack Occasion: Oyster cravings, casual date, group dinner. Hours: Dinner, Mon-Thu 5:30p.m.-11p.m, Fri & Sat, 5:30-11:30p.m. Closed Sundays. Don’t Miss Dish: Mermaid Mary cocktail; Sauteed calamari with feta & frisee; Fried clam strips; Roasted mussels. Average Price: Cocktails, $11Appetizers, $9; Entrees, $20; Complimentary Dessert. Reservations: Reservations recommended. Capsule: Back to the beach for dinner. It’s rare to find fried clam strips in Manhattan and even rarer to find some that aren’t overly chewy. So when I spotted them on the menu at the new Mermaid Oyster Bar, I ordered them and hoped for the best. They were even better than that: Tender clam strips enrobed in a perfectly light & crispy batter. Even the aioli that came alongside it was remarkable....
Read MoreAbe & Arthur’s – Reviewed
**Two Stars Address: 409 West 14th St., btwn. Ninth & Tenth Aves. Phone: (646)289-3930 Occasion: Group Dinner: Night out Hours: Dinner, mon-Wed, 6p.m.-11:30 p.m., Thu-Sat, 6p.m.-1:30a.m., Sun, 6p.m.-11p.m. Don’t Miss Dish: Tuna tacos; Strip steak, Apple cobbler Average Price: Appetizers, $ Entrees, $ Dessert, $12. Reservations: Highly Recommended. Capsule: Carnivores in Clubland. Maybe I’m getting old, but I like a little separate between church and state at dinner. I don’t care less about who’s sitting at the next table than what they’re eating for dinner. I was definitely in the minority on the nights I dined at Abe & Arthurs, a new restaurant that opened over a month ago in the old Lotus space. The Meatpacking District is much better known for its nightlife than its dining scene, but there are a number of wonderful exceptions, like Scarpetta,...
Read MoreBia Garden – Reviewed
*** Three Stars Address: 154 Orchard St., btwn. Stanton & Rivington Sts. Phone: (212)780-0100 Cuisine: Vietnamese street food Vibe: Hush hush backyard beer garden Occasion:; Group dinner; Beer binges; LES dining. Hours: Dinner; Seven days a week, Sun-Thu, 5p.m-12a.m., Sat & Sun,5p.m.-2a.m. Don’t Miss Dish: Crispy pork belly; Duck nem sausage; Baked whole fish. Average Price: Appetizers, $10, Entrees, $15, No dessert. Reservations: No reservations accepted. Cash only.Capsule: An exotic beer oasis on the Lower East Side. Think La Esquina by way of Vietnam and you’ve got Bia Garden, which recently opened on the Lower East Side. If you’re not the kind of eater that hunts down restaurants, you might miss it. But it’s worth discovering. There’s a dinky grill out front, the kind you’d find in someone’s backyard in the suburbs. Step down a flight of stairs...
Read MoreYerba Buena Perry – Reviewed
**** — Four Stars Address: 1 Perry St., at Greenwich AvenuePhone: (212)620-0808Cuisine: Modern Latin cooking Vibe: Sleek, lively West Village haunt Occasion: Group dinner; Casual date; Night out. Hours: Dinner; Mon-Wed, 5p.m..-11:30p.m., Thu-Sat, 5p.m.-2a.m, Sun, 5p.m.-2a.m.Don’t Miss Dish: Manchego croquetes; Tilapia tacos; Lechon (Roasted suckling pig); Watermelon fries: Churros.Drink: Mezcal MaidFinish With: Cinnamon-dusted churros with dulce de leche & chocolate sauce Average Price: Appetizers, $11, Entrees, $25, Dessert, $9.Reservations: Reservations recommended. Cheat Sheet:Drink the: Mezcal MaidNibble On: Manchego croquetes, tilapia tacos, flounder limeno cevicheEat: Lechon (Roasted suckling pig)Finish With: Churros with dulce de leche & chocolate dipping sauces Capsule: Julian Medina on the rise in Greenwich Village You never really have a great meal at a bad restaurant. Did you ever notice that? Chef Julian Medina has had his share of restaurant successes, but Yerba Buena Perry is his...
Read MoreCheck out My Book – Try This
