Only the hip and stylish need apply to eat and be seen at this week's pick, Delicatessen. Opening on the corner of Prince and Lafayette, Delicatessen will have service from breakfast straight through to late-night and dish up interesting menu items such as cheeseburger spring rolls and wonton-wrapped halibut tacos with kimchee sour cream, alongside standard deli standbys like matzo ball soup and pastrami.
The staff uniforms were designed by Charlotte Ronson and the interior features two bars as well as retractable stainless-steel garage doors opening onto the street. There will also be a "Macbar" in the fall that will offer 12 different varieties of mac and cheese.
Something tells us no one is going to actually be caught dead here for a real breakfast, but that late-night scene should be a rousing success.
What you see is what you get at Noble Food and Wine in Nolita. Opened in late August, it's already doing well thanks to a sturdy wine list offering over 100 bottles at reasonable prices.
The decor's nothing special with dark woods and chandeliers in the back room, but the New American menu offers items like rib eye with onion marmalade and a very fresh salmon tartare. Another bonus: ingredients are locally sourced, keeping them seasonal and exciting. In an already packed neighborhood, Noble Food and Wine seems to be living up to its name, becoming a reliable spot for those looking for something to sip and snack on when taking a break from the busy streets.
One last tip for you: the bathroom's unmarked and just behind a frosted glass door above the stairs to the dining room--easy to miss after a bottle or two.
We're not sure whether to love or loathe La Esquina, a dingy but pretentious restaurant in NoLiTa. On one hand, we crave desayuno tipico, the Latin American brunch of tortilla, plantains, black beans, and eggs. We hear La Esquina's brunch combo deserves its hype.
On the other hand, the place embodies all the reasons why we avoid any restaurant that employs out-of-work models. La Esquina is notorious for treating its customers like crap. According to one New York magazine reader review:
This is a place I would definitely return if it weren't for the terrible attitude shown by all the staff at the place. Starting off with the "dying to be cool" French bouncer, going to the bad attitude bar man and including the "I'm pretty, but inarticulate" waitress. Don't get me wrong, the place is amazingly original, the food is not bad and the experience has great potential, but if I'm going to get this much attitude [I] might as well go to a place that will be worth the wait.
So, is the food worth braving the service? If they can get Nicole Ritchie to eat the grub, it must be.
Though you'll probably have to wait an hour or more for a table, the deliciousness makes the thumb twirling worthwhile. Five Points Restaurant, on the quiet Great Jones Street in Manhattan's NoHo, delivers the quintessential white tablecloth NYC brunch. Chef Marc Meyer's menu is creative without being pretentious. And for City standards, the prices can't be beat. Here's a sample of the brunch menu:
Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes, $9; Honey Sweetened Soft Polenta, $8; Dulce De Leche French Toast, $9; Ricotta Fritters with Carmlized Apples, $8
For the less experimental brunchers with a penchant for the savory, Five Points also serves a variety of omelets, burgers, fish, and sandwiches.
This week's pizza pick is a bit on the touristy side, we admit it, but only because it tastes so good. Lombardi's was America's first pizzeria, established in 1905. Step inside and you'll smell it before you see it, perfectly cheesy fresh crusts with tangy tomato sauce and a plethora of delicious toppings, from mushrooms to clams. Beware of the wait on spring and fall weekends, you'll have to brave the suburban crowds, but once you get inside cozied up with a fresh pie, you'll forget they're even there. Bring cash (they don't take cards), but Lombardi's is a perfect late night snack, open till midnight on the weekends.
Know a can't miss pizza place in New York City we should check out? Hit us on the tipline.
Looking for the latest in Italian in NY? Might want to try Caffe Falai, which should be re-opened in SoHo, (there was power failure earlier this month) by chef Iacopo Falai, owner of Falai and bakery Falai Panetteria. Be sure to be careful with your red sauce though, this entire joint is white on white on white, even the open-air kitchen.
Interesting menu items include buckwheat papardelle and branzino filets, or new takes on standby's -like fresh beets paired with fried mozzarella. Oh, and leave your black Amex at home, Caffe Falai's cash only. The vibe is casual, and they don't take reservations, so dinner is a better bet for a non-wait than brunch or lunch.
They say that dogs tend to look like their owners. "They" also say hotels look like their guests.
If the latter is true, Soho's lofty Mercer Hotel has a lot of 'splainin to do.
Recently Christina Aguilera, her husband, and her posse of dogs stayed at the Mercer. As you can see she made sure to wear a disguise so no one would recognize her as she exited the property.
If you're dreaming of warm summer days by the New England seashore, yet stuck in frigid NYC, months from balmy breezes, don't despair. Ed's Lobster Bar is officially open.
With a menu that screams for madras and Nantucket, Ed's is the place to head for fresh seafood downtown. Take your pick from oysters, little neck clams, the infamous lobster roll, lobster pot pie, fried Ipswich clams, steamers, scallops...you get the idea. The lobster's no joke either: it's flown in fresh every day from Maine and they serve it until they run out.
Be prepared to squeeze in, but you'll cozy up to the long bar where you'll rub elbows with fellow crustacean-lovers, as you gaze at the ocean scenes on the walls. Prices are very reasonable too, with the most expensive dish topping out at $20. So, get a jump on summer, or just head to Ed's to escape the snow and enjoy the jumbo shrimp on ice.
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by sedona
