Here's where we take a bite out of The Big Apple for you! Navigating the dining and drinking scene in New York City can be daunting. Take some tips from us and try some of these of-the-moment openings and time-honored trusted spots...
Del Posto
85 Tenth Avenue (15th and 16th), 212/497.8090.
www.delposto.com
It’s a Batali-Bastianich project, so you know it will be a well-oiled machine as restaurants go. But it’s also the crown jewel in their restaurant empire, as is obvious from the upscale service, well-spaced tables, and soaring ceilings with expensive fabrics and flooring all around. And the food, of course. It starts with the homemade lardo spread (a cured, seasoned pig fat ‘butter,’ if you will) with the bread basket, and continues on through antipasti like the lobster salad, tasty and elegant. The pastas are always a good measure of an Italian restaurant’s capacity in the cucina, and here Del Posto excels, with fluffy puffs of gnocchi and toothsome orecchiette with lamb neck sausage. Main courses tend to be for two (veal chops, dover sole, etc.) and over-the-top, complete with tableside presentation -- and a smattering come as individual plates, like the lip-smackingly good cacciucco, a Tuscan fish stew. Desserts include another tableside stunner in berries with freshly handmade zabaglione. A great wine list and impeccable service make this one of the city’s top authentic Italian spots.
Public
210 Elizabeth Street (Prince and Spring), 212/343.7011.
www.public-nyc.com
We adore this place, this space, this neighborhood – everything about it makes us smile. Some have questioned the “interesting” menu, or fear its unusual proteins, but really people, it’s not so outrageous. And everything is executed so well, the payoff for trying something new is immense. So. Sidle up to the bar in the beautiful AvroKO-designed industrial space, and try a signature cocktail while you wait for your table. Here, Executive Chef Brad Farmerie uses a lot of imagination and great flavor pairings in dishes like sardines with quinoa “meatballs”, and is heavily inspired by Down Under – ingredients sourced from Australia and New Zealand figure prominently on his menu. So play along and try, say, the kangaroo main course. Or stick with our vegetarian-friendly favorite with the lentil salad: nuanced and balanced perfection. It's great for a boozy brunch as well. Michelin has awarded them a star, so we’re not the only ones who think they’re turning great things out of this sleek kitchen.
