I’ve used any spare time available to obsessively research, read about and devour the menus of lots and lots of NYC restaurants. I landed upon some I already knew I was interested in, quite a few new discoveries, and some places near where we are staying, which is at the Intercontinental in Midtown East, I believe on E 48th between Park and Lex. Below is what I’ve landed on, and I want any and all feedback!
Happy weekend!!
Cru, Greenwich Village. The menu looks yummy and the prices are fairly reasonable, given all the press this place has gotten.
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Midtown East. One of Bruni’s 3 star picks. I wonder if it’s too stuffy?
Naya, Midtown East. Mid-Eastern, the menu looks delicious. Todd would love this place.
Sushi Yasuda, Midtown East. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this place and it’s near the hotel. If we are craving sushi we will definitely go.
Tao, Midtown East. This is apparently one of those “entertaining” restaurants. A place that tickles every sense. I believe the menu is Pan Asian.
Pearl Oyster Bar, West Village. I love, love, love this place and try to go every time I am in the city. Love!
Eleven Madison Park, Recently anointed with 4 stars from the NYT, I have heard really wonderful things about this place. There’s a 3-course prix fixe ($88), a autumn menu ($125) and an eleven course menu ($175). There’s also a $28 2-course lunch…sounds like a deal.
Per Se, I’m tempted, but not entirely sure I want to shell out the money for Per Se when I would probably rather go to French Laundry…
Masa, Midtown West. “Masa, despite its chosen peculiarities and pitiless expense, belongs in the thinly populated pantheon of New York’s most stellar restaurants. Simply put, Masa engineers discrete moments of pure elation that few if any other restaurants can match. If you appreciate sushi, Masa will take you to the frontier of how expansively good a single (and singular) bite of it can make you feel.” – Frank Bruni.
La Bernardin, I hear this is a great place for seafood. prix fixe dinner tasting is, $109, not bad. I also have a slight crush on Eric Ripert.
The Mermaid Inn, UWS & East Village. When I was in the city last October, my (foodie) friend Hana recommended that we have lunch at this place. It was closed when we passed by, but I am digging the menu online. Classic shrimp cocktail for 10 bucks? Whipped Idaho potatoes? These are two of my hard-core cravings. And, I’ve seen the restaurant, it’s cute. I am thinking I will take Sunni here if she is not able to peel her nose out of her books (med school) for dinner at Otto.
ChikaLicious, East Village. Years ago Hana and I stumbled upon Magnolia (before SATC fame) and I really liked it. Granted, I had their coconut cake. Their cupcakes are BAD, way too buttery and heavy. Not to mention that the spot is a black hole for tourists. I did some research and ChikaLicious pops up a lot as a favorite spot for sweets. Sugar Sweet Sunshine is supposed to have great cupcakes.
Babbo, Greenwich Village. Right, so I love Otto, but I want to have another great Batali restaurant in my pocket for the trip. He has multiple spaces in the city, any favorites?
Jean Georges, UWS. Apparently the lunch is the way to go here? It’s $29 for two dishes, with each additional dish at $14.50 (the crappy restaurant I am writing from is asking $18.50 for flank steak, that sucks). Sounds like a pretty damn good deal to me. Has anyone done this?
Craft, Flatiron District. Okay, okay, I get that it’s Tom Colicchio’s place (I actually kind of love him) but people seem to like it. Honestly, it looks good and it would be fun to go just for the right to talk shit to TV Tom (or shower him with accolades) during drunken Top Chef viewings.
Shake Shack, UWS. My friend Sunni’s turf! I hear this is a great place for burgers. Since reading that recent piece in the NYT I feel a very strong urge to avoid ground meat, but….mmmmmmmbuuuuurgers…(I’m not really a burger person, unless I am drunk, but I LOVE french fries).
Prune, East Village. A reader recommended this but it also popped up while I was researching restaurants (I believe Food + Wine is a fan). I believe the reader (forgive me, forgetting who at the moment) recommended this place for brunch. My friend Carly, in from Boston, is a SUCKER for a good brunch.
Sorry Carly, you’re not a sucker, you’re a lover.
The Spotted Pig, West Village. Deviled eggs are the first thing listed on the bar menu. SOLD! Mario, please take me on a road trip to Spain, or Italy, or Louisiana. In all seriousness, this restaurant is so talked about that I feel like I’ve already been there. I gather they don’t take reservations, so perhaps lunch is best? Also, this answer from their FAQ made me giggle (emphasis mine, of course).
Q: Are there vegetarian dishes?
A: Yes. We usually have 3 or 4 veggie appetizers and 5 or 6 sides each day/night. You can get a veggie plate, we call it 5 sides.
Boqueria, Soho. Recommended by two readers, looks like it would be great for lunch.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
You have a vote for Chikaliciuos and the Shake Shack here!
If you don’t want to shell out for the full 9-course Per Se dinner you can eat in the Salon – with most of the same dishes that the full tasting menu has that night. So worth it – by far the best food I’ve ever had in my life.
I haven’t been to Eleven Madison Park in a few years, but it was very good, and an amazingly pretty space.
I’m a huge fan of Lupa, and in the same vein, ‘ino/Inoteca are great drop in places (the truffled egg toast is one of the sexiest foods ever).
Finally, Dirt Candy in the East Village is also great. Any vegetarian restaurant that can make a bacon-fiend like me like it has to be good.
i’ve been meaning to comment on your previous new york post allll weeeek, and i’m headed over there to do that as soon as i finish this one but i have to throw in my two cents…
i LOVE cru, shakeshack and prune. those are my votes. and i’m sure you aren’t looking for MORE suggestions, but westville in the west village (also westville east in the EAST village) is really incredibly. all local food. the one in the w village is very very VERY tiny and there’s always a wait but it’s totally worth it. also love cafe cluny in the w village for brunch and i see someone else recommended ‘ino and inoteca and i’m in complete agreement. the food at the spotted pig is good….but i think it’s terribly overrated. it’s sort of a “see and be seen” place and i don’t honestly think the food is up to the hype but that’s just me….
have an AMAZING time, take lots of pictures and fill us in on everything! :)
One miss Sadie Stein recommended I go to Prune when I was in NYC and it was amazing. She advised to get there before the first seating to get in line, because it is tiny and otherwise you’re sort of out of luck. Have a great trip!!
Ok, since I’m one of the two who insisted on Boqueria, I won’t vote for that one (although I still insist :P). But I definitely vote for Le Bernardin. It’s a lovely place and they have great oysters (oysters are one of my weaknesses). And I have a crush on Eric Ripert too! He’s hot and I kinda love him since I saw him in an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s show.
Jean Georges is definitely a must, and one of those impeccable places where everything is top notch. I would recommend it for dinner.
And while I’ve never been there, I’ve heard nothing but great things about The Spotted Pig.
So many options, so little time!!!
based on what you rounded up, i’d vote for le bernardin, eleven madison park or jean georges for a top-notch dinner — i’d also take cru off that list (went there for my birthday dinner two years ago; it was nothing memorable and i found it stuffy). i’ll throw gramercy tavern into the ring, as that was quite memorable and ranks as the best dinner i’ve had in the city (just order the seasonal tasting menu, you will not be disappointed).
i agree with the spotted pig recommendation for drinks rather than dinner — definitely go, but you’re better off enjoying a place known for its food during your visit!
and if you want a cupcake, go to sweet revenge on carmine st. they do happy hour with wine/beer pairings for their cupcakes, which are the best in the city (no joke, my sister had a blind taste-test party for a half-dozen cupcake places — magnolia, crumbs, billy’s, sugar sweet sunshine, buttercup and sweet revenge. s.r. was hands-down the winner!)
p.s. i think we are all making this MORE difficult to choose. bottom line, wherever you end up going is going to be fantastic.
Jean Georges would be my top choice. I’ve been a few times to all their locations and the prix fixe is VERY reasonable and the food is amazing. I like Jojo’s a lot, that’s on the UES, and feels about “cozier” than the UWS locations.
Oh, and also (I’m being a weirdo stalker now), David Burke Townhouse. They have a good prix fixe, and the food is really good. They have some cool deserts. My favorite is the pretzel crusted crab cakes and the mustard tuna thing. Very good. Also UES.
I don’t have extensive NYC experience, but I have heard many good things about Shake Shack. Please visit and report back as to whether it was worth all the hype!
Shake Shack is overrated — try Big Nick’s or Royale if you have a burger and fries craving!