January, 2012

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Momoya-Oh Boya (Chelsea)

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Light wood and white like a lot of Japanese places, but with tables fairly close to create a nice buzz; huge garage doors open in the summer
  • sip: Sake, wine beer
  • savor: spicy tuna on crunchy rice; shumai; black dynamite roll; sushi pieces
  • sit: With the friends; with a date you are not embarrassed to be seen with; post-work dinner with co-worker
  • spend: $$
  • address: 185 Seventh Avenue (21st Street)
  • phone number: 212-989-4466
  • website: www.themomoya.com
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Francisco’s Centro Vasco-Lalalalalala Lobster

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: This place is a funny throwback; the walls are covered with an old if not pleasant mural of sunny seaside Spain; giant 20lb lobster claws dangle from the wall randomly, in case you forgot what the main attraction of this place is
  • sip: Red Sangria, aka Happy Juice
  • savor: Baked clams oreganato; lobster; shrimp with green sauce
  • sit: Bring anyone who can appreciate the novelty of this place, or wants a big lobster; definitely not a first date place, because you need to get down and dirty with some lobster and garlic to really understand what this place is about
  • spend: $$
  • address: 159 West 23rd Street (between 6th and 7th)
  • phone number: 212-645-6224
  • website: www.franciscoscentrovasco.com
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La Promenade des Anglais-Pants in France

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Aims to be like a spot on the Rivieria, but the references are more literal than they should be; large open room with a small bar
  • sip: Rose by the quartino
  • savor: Soup de poisson; trofie with tuna; croque monsieur
  • sit: With anyone really- a large group of ladies for lunch; on a double date; with parents
  • spend: $$$
  • address: 461 West 23rd Street
  • phone number: (212) 255-7400
  • website: www.lapromenadenyc.com
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Indochine- Ab Fab

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: I'm too sexy for my food
  • sip: Speciality cocktails- mojito, lychee saketini, etc
  • savor: A taco from La Esquina before your meal
  • sit: With your fabulous friends; with your anorexic friends
  • spend: $$$
  • address: 430 Lafayette Street (between Astor and 4th Street)
  • phone number: 212-505-5111
  • website: www.indochinenyc.com
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Degustation- Foodie Fun

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: it is all about the food here; all seats are situated on a wood bar around an open kitchen so that you can watch the chefs do their thang
  • sip: Spanish wines; cava
  • savor: croquettas; egg with pork belly
  • sit: I recommend going with only one other person, because unless you get corner seats, you sitting side by side, so it would be hard to chat with a group; this place is for serious foodies, so don't bring your picky or allergic friend
  • spend: $$$
  • address: 239 East 5th Street (off 2nd Ave)
  • phone number: 212-979-1012
  • website: www.degustationnyc.com
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Blaue Gans-We’re Fans

Pants at a Glance
  • scene: Charming neighborhood vibe with colorful movie posters on the walls; not much of a nod to anything Austrian, it look like a cute Euro bistro
  • sip: Austrian wines, beers
  • savor: Shnitzel of any kind
  • sit: With friends; with a date for a low-key night; alone...the menu actually offers a good mix of non-scary sounding dishes if people get freaked by schnitzel and sausage, so just about anyone should be able to find something to eat
  • spend: $$
  • address: 139 Duane Street (between Church and West Broadway)
  • phone number: 212-571-8880
  • website: www.kg-ny.com