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Lauren Asks:
“Looking for a quick sit down place in Chelsea with good all American food that isn’t TOO pricey. Any suggestions?”
I’m not positive I’ll be on the mark here, but for ‘American’ food in Chelsea my favorite places tend to be local food-oriented places serving great food. My first suggestion would be The Green Table at the Cleaver Co. in Chelsea market (Cleaver Company & The Green Table). It’s a tiny but beautiful space - I think there’s one large table that they sometimes seat communally, another large table in the corridors of the market, and then 2 or 3 small tables. The food is all local and fresh versions of some classics… theres a delicious grilled cheese with apples and bread from Amy’s (also in the market), a great pot pie, and a few other good things. It’s also very vegetarian-friendly.
For something a little more casual, you can also check out Amy’s Bread, who like I said, has a storefront a few spots down from Cleaver Co. in Chelsea Market (amysbread.com). They bake all of their own bread right in the market that they sell all over the city and it’s fantastic. At the storefront they sell coffee, pastries, and some very nice sandwiches. It’s not waiter service, but it’s a cute space with seating. It can get a little loud at times..
My last suggestion is a little on the pricier side, but is also great, local food. Cookshop, on 10th Ave. and 20th St., is one of my favorite lunch spots in the area (Cookshop website here..). It’s casual but still has a really nice, refreshing atmosphere. If it’s for lunch, most of the sandwiches and salads are around $15-$18 but are worth it. The burger is great and so is the fried egg sandwich. The dinner entrées get a little pricer but look very nice too.. most stay under $30.
Hope I was of some help… let me know how it goes!
Yony Asks:
“I have a family dinner for my and my mom’s birthday and we are trying to go to a nice japanese restaurant that has a good selection of fish for my father who is kosher. Usually on family dinners we like to go to nice restaurants that have a lot of people but we are big on having good service and try not to get too pricey. For example last year we went to Tavern on the Green and found that to be overpriced for the quality. Last birthday dinner for my sister we went to Tao and really enjoyed it, so we would like a Japanese place this time but my family also consists of 6 people so we usually like to feel like we aren’t the only ones at the restaurant. Please let me know what places in the city you think would best fit this occasion.”
One interesting idea is Matsugen on Church and Worth, owned by Jean-Georges. I was there very early into their opening and was very impressed. It is on the pricier side, but I found it to be a really great mix between a larger, lively place that still managed to have nice and personal service. The emphasis isn’t really on sushi - although the sushi that we tasted was great. Instead the focus is on soba and authentic Japanese noodles, all made in-house. If you stick with the noodles and such, the price stays a lot more reasonable.
Koi on 40th, between 5th and 6th Ave. is probably worth considering, too. Although it might be a little TOO loud and busy, the food actually manages to stand up to the space. It might be a hair less expensive than Matsugen - the service might also be a little less attentive though. On the other hand, there’s some really nice fish and some interesting dishes - you do have to try their two big signature dishes… the crispy rice with spicy tuna and the tuna tartare on crispy wontons. They really are very good.
I think I mentioned this in one of our last emails, but check out EN Japanese Brasserie also has a feel kind of similar to Matsugen in its service. A nice, larger space with nicely attentive service. There’s usually a nice buzz around the restaurant, with a good amount of people getting drinks or sushi at the bar. The other nice thing is that there are a lot of really nice tofu and vegetarian dishes in addition to very nice sushi - which would work well for your father. Prices are pretty reasonable for the space and service, too.
Arthur Asks:
“My parents are coming into the city between Thanksgiving and Christmas… We are looking for a great restaurant that isn’t too touristy… Price isn’t a huge issue, just looking for a place with great great food and comfortable surroundings. Some of their favorite restaurants are Il Mulino (for the food not the extreme darkness), Babbo, Scalinaterra, Cafe Des Artist, Ilios, etc.”
If you’re willing to take a small trek out to Brooklyn (it’s 4 blocks from the C train) then you should definitely try Locanda vini e Olii (129 Gates Ave). It’s probably one of the most authentically Florentine restaurants in New York City - notably for their preparation of a Florentine staple, papa al pomodoro. It’s a really thick tomato and bread soup that I’ve rarely even seen on menus here and even more rarely have seen it prepared to such perfection as it is there. The rest of the food is similarly authentic and fantastic - from the pastas to the simply prepared white beans in extra virgin olive oil. The space is gorgeous, built in an old apothecary that they’ve left largely intact and the service is warm and friendly.
If sushi is a consideration, Sushi Azabu (Greenwich and Laight) I think would work out very well. It’s one of the most intimate and personable sushi places that I’ve found in the city and also seems to be very authentic (although I’ll admin I know far less about ‘authentic’ Japanese than I do Italian…). The whole restaurant seats about 25 people at a time - three round tables and a sushi bar - and is actually located IN the basement of their associated restaurant, the Greenwich Grill. The fish is some of the freshest I’ve had and although the it’s very traditional, never feels boring or unoriginal. I strongly recommend one of the Omakase (chef’s choice) of either just sushi or full kitchen. In a recent trip trying the Omakase Nigiri I was excited by dishes such as a seared salmon - kissed with a blowtorch in front of my eyes - and a pairing of salmon roe - one that was the “regular” roe (what you get at almost every sushi place… frozen from North America) and the other that was imported from Japan, never frozen and marinated in-house; the point basically being to show how phenomenal their roe actually is.
My last suggestion is my favorite Greek place in NYC - Pylos on 7th st. near Ave. A. While the tables up front can be a little tight and loud, I wouldn’t let it dissuade you. Request one of the larger tables towards the back of the restaurant with the couches and you should do great. In terms of Greek food, theirs is second only to a handful of places that I tried in Santorini. From their satisfyingly simply mezes and perfect pita to the perfectly browned moussaka - I haven’t had a dish I haven’t loved. Get some affordable Greek wines to enjoy under their ceiling made of Greek pottery and I think you’ll have a great time.
There ya go — enjoy and please let me know where you end up by leaving comments below!
Allie Asks:
“I’m looking for a reasonably-priced, lively and authentic Italian restaurant (less than $20 per person) located in the mid-town or Times Square area that can seat twenty people or less for a birthday event.”
I’ve been thinking pretty intensely about your question and you might have actually stumped me — which might mean that there’s not necessarily a real answer to your question. There are a few things that seem to be at odds with each other: midtown / Times Square, ‘authentic’, and reasonably-priced. Putting aside every other aspect of your question, I can’t really think of a coherent answer to any question using all of those terms at the same time…
In my best attempt to get you a reasonable answer, I’m going to go ahead and give you a few options that will cover 2 of those 3 variables… hopefully it will help a little. I mean think about it this way… entrees at Olive Garden (admittedly an establishment I haven’t actually been to…) are going to be hovering around $20 - and I don’t think it would qualify as ‘authentic’. Or edible.
I’ve mentioned it on this blog before, but my favorite go-to Italian spot is Bar Pitti on 6th Ave near Bleecker St. It’s close to my heart because they serve authentically Florentine dishes — many of which I can’t find anywhere else in the city. Their pastas are fresh and delicious and run slightly over $10. The best things are really the daily specials though — they’re put on a blackboard in italian every day… check out the melanzane parmagiana (eggplant parmesan) - it’s unbelievable. They probably have the room… but seating 20 won’t be easy.
If you happen to stumble on a huge pile of cash between now and this birthday, check out one of my favorite Mario Batali restaurants, Esca on 43rd and 9th Ave. The Southern Italian, mostly seafood menu is fantastically authentic - from the fish-heavy pastas to the whole roasted fish, everything is simply prepared, clean Italian flavors. Like I said, it’s not cheap… probably around $50-$60 / person.
OK well I guess authentic is a relative term. For this part, I’m going to go ahead and give you a sit-down pizza place that makes some really solid brick-oven pies. John’s Pizzeria has an outpost on 44th between Broadway and 8th Ave. and while it’s not my absolute favorite pizza in the city, they do know their stuff. The space is pretty big and they should be able to handle a large party. It will definitely stay within your price range, maybe with some cash to spend on some table wine.
I hope this post didn’t come off as too mean… I really just can’t think of something that satisfies all of those terms at the same time. I hope one of these solutions will work out for you and let me know if you have another question!
Eileen Asks:
“I am meeting one of my oldest friends who just moved to tribeca for dinner. He lives close to chambers & church, which isn’t the greatest part of the city for food at all. Do you have any suggestions for a restaurant in the area that is walking distance? I think the most important thing I’m looking for is a warm ambiance and a classic NY vibe.”
I’ll give you a few of my favorite options, not knowing what cuisine/price point you’re looking for…
My favorite ‘neighborhood’ place in the area is Max on Duane, near Greenwich. It’s great Italian food that’s really laid back yet warm and inviting. Kind of Tuscany meets downtown Manhattan… The pastas are great and there are usually some very good specials (look for the ravioli…mmm). The prices are surprisingly low for the area and quality.
Another great TriBeCa gem is Blaue Gans on Duane, near W. Broadway. I love the space - a lot more sleek and modern than Max. The food is German… great house-made sausage and also some really great, more inventive dishes on the menu. They should be doing some fun things for Oktoberfest, too!
My last suggestion feels like an old New York classic (even though it hasn’t been around all that long…). City Hall - actually right next to Blaue Gans on Duane. The food is very good… a fantastic raw bar and some good, straightforward steak and the like. There are certainly some better steakhouses in the city, but their space is quite stunning. It just oozes of old downtown NY and the tables are luxuriously far apart from each other. They have a great wine list, too… but it’s certainly not a steal.
I didn’t even plan on it but I ended up with three suggestions all on Duane st. I think they would all fit the bill… depending on what kind of NY vibe you’re looking for… City Hall is really classic, Blaue Gans is sleek and fun, and Max is very warm and friendly. Thanks for the question and please let me know what you choose and what you thought!
