NYC Restaurant Roundup

Traveling always sends my eating schedule into a whirlwind. So when I recently found myself in Manhattan for a business trip, the time change (which I swear makes me eat more because my body is so confused) and the need to order room service because I was crunched for time (trust me room service sounds way more glamorous than it actually is….I mean 30 dollars for mediocre eggs with out-of-season asparagus scrambled in them? Really?) pushed my in-season eating to the sidelines. And even worse, when I do have to throw my Pollanesque rules out the window I’m still usually left eating crappy out-of-season food since I don’t know which restaurants to turn to – yes, I’m one of the few still living in the Dark Ages without an iPhone offering Urban Spoon. So I thought I’d throw together a list of some of restaurants I ate at during this last trip that are worth trying if you ever find yourself in the Big Apple. Take note, all of these restaurants are downtown as a work event kept me trapped in that neighborhood, and I was on a business trip so most of the restaurants are a bit pricier than I would pay for an every day meal on my own dime. But if you are on a romantic getaway, business trip or a wild girls weekend and want to splurge a bit, here are a few suggestions. And please, by all means, let me know what other restaurants I need to try!!

Breakfast/Brunch

Pastis (9 9th Avenue at West 12th St): Come here to capture a glimpse of the famed NYC brunch scene and check out some of the city’s hippest patrons (apparently Sex in the City did some filming here which lends to its fame), while feasting on great food and a delish latte. The omelets are fluffy and well-seasoned and they serve shoestring fries with a lot of their breakfast offerings, which is a nice addition if you’ve had one too many glasses of vino the night before! I subbed mine for fruit and asked for egg whites in my omelet, both things they were willing to do…for a pretty penny. And while the place was packed and there was a wait, we came with no reservation and they seated us shortly (about 20 minutes). Expect to pay about $25 a person for breakfast; they are satisfying portions so a brunch here can keep you full for a while!

Lunch

Fig and Olive (several locations throughout NYC): This restaurant transports you back to Napa and was a haven for the simple, local foods I tend to seek when eating out. They proclaim that “each dish is prepared with a selected extra virgin olive oil (instead of butter) and their menu is centered around local, seasonal and imported Mediterranean ingredients”. It’s a great place to go for a lighter lunch. I went with a colleague and we each had soup, I had bell pepper tomato and she had mushroom and truffle – both were yummy and none of their soups are cream based, which is always an added plus for me – and split a rotisserie chicken salad. The soup was served with a delicious mushroom crostini and we munched on an assortment of olives while we waited for our food. Nothing here blew me away and I wouldn’t cross town to get here, but I would go back if I walked by – or was within a few blocks – and was hungry. Everything had really good flavors, the ambiance was very inviting (clean lines, white walls, and high ceilings) and you can find a healthy, satisfying meal for a reasonable price (it was about $30 for two of us, but that’s NYC for ya!)

Dinner

Commerce (50 Commerce Street): A lovely restaurant tucked down a gem-of-a-street in the West Village. Just walking there is enough to make you want to love this place. The quaint restaurant features a restored, 1941 Brunswick bar that runs almost the length of the restaurant and is set against white subway tiles, lending itself to a speak-easy vibe. The place was packed when I walked in and remained that way the whole time so definitely snag a reservation and be prepared to talk loud because this place is noisy! They feature a “contemporary American” menu and all the food I ate was wonderful – I ordered all seafood but they have an extensive menu with everything from red meat to vegetarian options too – but don’t go there looking to eat seasonal food. When I asked where my Turbot (grilled fish) came from the waitress looked at me with a blank stare. Friendly, just not super knowledgeable! This is definitely not a weekday meal type of place as you could drop beaucoup bucks (especially if drinking several cocktails or wine with your meal) but I would highly recommend it for a special occasion date night.

Buddakan (75 9th Ave, between 15th and 16th Street): Ok, I didn’t want to love this place. This place has been seriously hyped up and the decor is too trendy for its own good (even the website will give you a headache). Plus, you have to make a reservation ages in advance to get in…or be like me and eat at midnight because you are working until then, then no reservation needed! But wow, the food is insanely good. It’s Asian fusion at its best. We started with hoisin glazed pork belly served with spicy shallots, cabbage and sticky buns and then moved onto glazed Alaskan black cod and some Mao Poe Tofu (pork and tofu in chili sauce) and rounded it out with some stir-fried veggies, all recommended by the waiter. Couldn’t find room for dessert but did manage to squeeze in a scrumptious drink called Tranquility that combined citrus vodka and lemongrass-infused oolong tea. Really, all I can say is yum. Expect to sit next to models wearing skin-tight jeans and listen to slightly obnoxious house music while eating under ultra-dim lighting, but ignore all that and focus on the food. It lives up to the hype! Oh, and apparently its another staple on the Sex in the City set, I promise I’m not seeking these places out!

Enjoy

*Image courtesy of MarkDM on Flickr.

Tagged as: Buddakan, Commerce, Fig and Olive, New York, Pastis, restaurant