scene: Beautifully lit, and full of the most gorgeous floral arrangements, the place oozes "special occasion", but nicely lacks any extreme stuffiness or opulence
scene: cozy and vibrant at the same time; dark walls with contrasting white bar seating that literally highlights the food show; quite noisy, nosey, so don't creep your neighbors' convo
sip: White Lambrusco; huge, slightly intimidatingly sized wine list, but plenty of delicious offerings for decent prices; staff is knowledgable and happy to assist with a selection;
savor: mushrooms with fried egg; spaghetti with chiles, ramps, and breadcrumbs; brussel sprouts; olive oil cake
sit: with someone who likes to share food; a date; not recommended for anyone who will dishing up a side of gossip, the tables are pretty close together
spend: $$
address: 228 West 10th Street (between Bleecker and Hudson)
scene: Hmmm...large open dining room and smaller rooms in the back and off the main entrance; lightly colored walls showcase sepia tinged family photographs
sip: Full bar available
savor: Pan fried pork dumplings; hot and sour soup; spare ribs; shredded garlic chicken; Grand Marnier Shrimp; soft-shell crabs when in season
sit: With family; with your friend who doesn't buy into fancy Chinese food; anyone who wants Chinese on a Sunday night
spend: $$
address: 216 East 49th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Aves)
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: $$
address: 159 West 23rd Street (between 6th and 7th)
scene: it is all about the food here; all seats are situated on a wood bar around an open kitchen so that you can watch the chefs do their thang
sip: Spanish wines; cava
savor: croquettas; egg with pork belly
sit: I recommend going with only one other person, because unless you get corner seats, you sitting side by side, so it would be hard to chat with a group; this place is for serious foodies, so don't bring your picky or allergic friend
scene: Charming neighborhood vibe with colorful movie posters on the walls; not much of a nod to anything Austrian, it look like a cute Euro bistro
sip: Austrian wines, beers
savor: Shnitzel of any kind
sit: With friends; with a date for a low-key night; alone...the menu actually offers a good mix of non-scary sounding dishes if people get freaked by schnitzel and sausage, so just about anyone should be able to find something to eat
spend: $$
address: 139 Duane Street (between Church and West Broadway)
scene: This is the big leagues. Everything here is done in a slick uptown way, with generous details and a refined palette (atmosphere and food). The main dining room is nowhere as ornate as it used to be, which makes it a little less daunting. There is also a more casual front room option.
sip: I mean, do I have to spell it out? Fancy wines, champers, anything you would like
savor: Anything you eat is going to be fucking amazing, it is DANIEL; madeleines
sit: Hmmm...Daniel is a special occasion place for sure, but don't be intimidated! Without saying, this a place for your foodie friend from out of town, a nice place for your parents' anniversary, your anniversary, or just a place to treat yourself to a very memorable meal
spend: $$$$
address: 60 East 65th Street (between Madison and Park)
Pants at a Glance
