Eating Out

Chef Ignacio Mattos Flexes His Creativity at Estela

Tips and NYC Restaurant Picks From Soulayphet "Phet" Schwader

Part one of my interview with Soulayphet "Phet" Schwader ran yesterday, and the Khe-Yo chef talked about his philosophy in the kitchen, his background, and his thoughts on the New York restaurant industry at large. Here in part two, Schwader gets specific divulging restaurants he frequents and lays ... More >>

Lan Zhou's Beef Noodle Soup, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 20: Beef noodle soup from Lan Zhou A sparse shop on the LES-Chinatown border turns out soul-fortifying beef noodle soup.

The 10 Best Thai Restaurants in NYC

A decade ago, the average New Yorker would be hard-pressed to name 10 destination-worthy Thai restaurants, but as the city's collective palate has expanded, so too have the options for regional cuisines from Southeast Asia; fiery, sour Northeastern Isaan flavors seem to be in particular abundance th ... More >>

Toro's Espardeñas, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 21: Espardeñas from Toro Don't be put off by the price tag or the presentation here--if you can spare the cash, you'll be thinking about the sea cucumber for days.

Khe-Yo's Soulayphet "Phet" Schwader: "Opening a Restaurant Is Challenging, but It's a Simple Formula. We Overthink Things."

Soulayphet "Phet" Schwader may have grown up in the midwest--Wichita, Kansas, to be precise--but his upbringing centered on preserving traditions from Laos, his homeland. A Laotian community thrived in Wichita, he explains, and so in addition to traveling around the country with his Laotian soccer t ... More >>

Cover Applies Uber Technology to Paying Your Restaurant Check

Remember our 10 worst people in NYC restaurants? Three of them were beasts unleashed when time comes to pay the check. So we're eagerly watching Cover, a brand new app that's built to fix the irritating process of taking care of your tab.

Cafe Ghia's Biscuits and Gravy, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 22: Biscuits and gravy from Cafe Ghia Cafe Ghia offers an impressive roster of brunch fare, but you'll want to eat this version of a classic southern staple until you're about to be sick.

Marc Forgione's American Cut Hits NYC (INTERVIEW)

When Iron Chef Marc Forgione and LDV Hospitality first unveiled American Cut in Atlantic City a couple of years back, "it was like a first date," says Forgione. "We wanted to see if there would be others. I think the first date went really well. Once that happened, conversation started to be, 'What ... More >>

The 10 Best Restaurants on the Lower East Side

Gentrification has been pretty thorough in the traditional immigrant stronghold of the Lower East Side, and for proof, you need only to look at the restaurants--trendy spots usurp long-held leases here all the time. But despite all the turnover that's happened in the last decade or so, several old j ... More >>

Cafe Cluny's Meatballs Alsatian, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 22: Meatballs Alsatian from Cafe Cluny Phillip Kirschen-Clark channels northeastern France for this refined take on a hearty, homestyle European classic.

Millesime's Brunch Packs a (Bottomless) Punch (PHOTOS)

It may be inconspicuously tucked within the Carlton Hotel, but the French Brasserie known as Millesime has recently been packing a mighty punch at brunch--and a bottomless one at that.

An Early Look at Toro and a Chat With the Owners

Notched into a cavernous space in the building at 85 10th Avenue, just-opened Toro shares an address with destination dining spots Del Posto and Colicchio & Sons, and it's considerably more difficult to find than its neighbors--to enter, you'll need to head west on 15th Street to a red staircase tha ... More >>

Hospoda's Fried California Cherries, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 24: Fried California cherries from Hospoda One of the best dishes on chef Rene Stein's beer-centric menu is also one of the most straightforward.

Jones Wood Foundry's Jason Hicks Lays Out Tips, Tricks, and Favorite NYC Restaurant

Part one of my interview with Jones Wood Foundry's Jason Hicks covers the chef's history, vision, and philosophy. Here in part two, he divulges tips for home cooks, reveals some of his favorite cooking tools, and names some of his favorite restaurants in the city.

The Mermaid Inn's Brunch Bread Basket, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 25: Bread basket from The Mermaid Inn The hybrid bread combines sweet and savory for the perfect brunch accoutrement. Best of all? It's free.

Jones Wood Foundry's Jason Hicks Presides Over a Neighborhood Pub

Pop into the Jones Wood Foundry on any given afternoon or evening, and you might find a pair of neighborhood residents shuffling in for their regular table, a woman celebrating a promotion from the same perch she holds four nights a week, or a wine distributor putting away his portfolio so that he c ... More >>

Arancini Bros' Nutella Arancini, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 28: Nutella arancini from Arancini Bros. Of all the experimental balls at Arancini Bros., it's the Nutella version that keeps us coming back.

Boqueria's Marc Vidal Divulges Tips, Tricks, and Favorite Restaurants

Part one of my interview with Boqueria chef Marc Vidal ran yesterday. Here in part two, the Spanish native divulges favorite ingredients, cooking tips, and a few of his favorite NYC restaurants.

Cheap Drinks at Nita Nita, Manhattan Proper, Josie Woods Pub, and Reif's Tavern

Looking for something to do after work other than watching your DVR'ed collection of season premieres? How about a little cheap drinking?Here's where to head this week.

Marc Vidal Brings Spain Stateside via a Growing Boqueria Empire

The first time I met Marc Vidal, he was sipping wine on a West Village patio while he casually grilled a packet of green onion-like calçots over a charcoal flame, explaining in a lilting Spanish accent the Calçotada festival, a tradition from his native Barcelona that he holds dear for its dedicat ... More >>

Land of Plenty's Szechuan Pork Dumplings, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 30: Szechuan pork dumplings from Land of Plenty A lake of chili oil and the addictive mouth-numbing heat of Szechuan peppercorns make these dumplings--along with the rest of the dishes at Land of Plenty--worth a trip to Midtown East.

What to Do This Weekend: Mexican Independence Day, Sake Tasting, Sweet Tea City BBQ

It's Friday, and the start of the weekend is in sight. So ditch the suit and tie or pencil skirt, and head out to one of these events.

Pok Pok NY's Papaya Pok Pok, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 31: Papaya pok pok from Pok Pok NY The simple papaya salad is a good measuring stick for the quality of a Thai restaurant--and at Pok Pok NY, the dish is a standout on the menu.

At Milkflower's New Brunch, Don't Skip the Toast

How do you prefer your toast? We prefer ours by way of Milkflower, a three-month-old Astoria pizzeria at 3412 31st Avenue that's quickly becoming a compelling member of the neighborhood. When Jersey brothers Pete and Danny Aggelatos opened this spot, it blossomed on the dining scene as a brick oven ... More >>

Williamsburg Says Aloha to New Hawaiian Joint Onomea

Though an illuminated outline of the 50th state features prominently on its back wall, no map is necessary to guide you to the understanding that the food at this restaurant, Onomea, is from a distant land, unfamiliar even in New York City, where you can find most anything.

Northern Spy's Hadley Schmitt: "The Best Advertising and Buzz Is Word of Mouth"

Part one of my interview with Northern Spy Food Co.'s Hadley Schmitt ran yesterday. Here in part two, the chef talks about keeping his head clear amid the media buzz, why he'd like to see more cooks with grit, and the healthy food he'd happily eat every day.

Drink Cheaply at The Third Man, The Brooklyn Star, and Num Pang

The harvest is peaking, but cheap drinks are always in season. Here's a look at a few places around town to get drinks for a steal this week.

Northern Spy Food Co.'s Hadley Schmitt: "I'd Rather Be the Disciplined Guy Than the Inspired Guy"

Step into Northern Spy Food Co., and you'll likely spot Hadley Schmitt quietly and methodically working in his sliver of an open kitchen near the back of the space. Though he looks quite young, his demeanor is outs him as a seasoned pro, the product of a long career that began when his sister landed ... More >>

The 10 Best Sports Bars in NYC

Football has returned, and it's again time to break out your favorite jersey and huddle around your favorite flat screen. While there's no place quite like home to watch a game, sometimes it's nice to get out of the house. Using a complex game plan based on metrics like drink specials, food, attire ... More >>

Hawker Bar Owners Debuting Manhattan Cricket Club on the Heels of Burke & Wills

When the Upper West Side and Prospect Heights outposts of Australian-themed Sunburnt Calf--satellites of East Village staple Sunburnt Cow and now-defunct LES bar Bondi Road--shuttered back in May, Aussies Tim Harris and Matilda Boland, who'd met doing time at the restaurants, jumped at the chance to ... More >>

Sampling The Butterfly's Brand New Brunch

The Butterfly made its brunch debut on Saturday, and given its location in a neighborhood famous for a near-lethal combination of stroller-pushing brunchers and mediocre daytime options, our first inclination was that we might need to steel ourselves for an insane crowd.

Picnic Opens in the East Village Tonight

Chef Nicholas Nostadt may have trained in classic technique via the French Culinary Institute, but when the doors open at Picnic at 117 Second Avenue in the East Village tonight, you'll find that he's mostly paying homage to his midwestern roots.

Fritzl's Lunch Box's Burger, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 36: Burger from Fritzl's Lunch Box

Perfect Fall Reds From Austria--and Where to Drink Them in NYC

It's frightening that we are already one week deep into September and are marching towards shorter, cooler days. For many, the change in weather means a welcome return to red wine. But what do you drink when the humidity abates yet temps still hover in the shorts and t-shirt zone?

The 10 Best Italian Restaurants in NYC

For decades, Italian cuisine in New York meant red sauce and lots of it. With the opening of Bamonte's in 1900 and Ferdinando's Focacceria four years later, tomato-heavy Neapolitan and Sicilian restaurants enjoyed a certain sustained verisimilitude, carrying the torch for their motherland while pavi ... More >>

JoeDoe Becomes Joe & Misses Doe; Joe Dobias Talks the Devolution of the Restaurant Industry

On the reputation of its gussied up gastropub fare and owner Joe Dobias' inclination toward provocation, JoeDoe firmly established itself in the East Village five years ago, and it's done a brisk business for brunch and dinner ever since. That is until it closed up shop a couple of weeks back to mak ... More >>

Circolo Reopens Tonight as Circolo45 With a New Chef On Board

It was just after New Year's Day when the team behind Tulum resort Posada Margherita first debuted a New York City Italian restaurant on Bond Street; Circolo opened with a Tuscan chef and menu, white-washed brick walls, and wooden tables. Just nine months later, though, the space took a short recess ... More >>

Drink Cheaply at This N' That, Tomi Jazz, and El Rio Grande

If you're shellshocked about having to put away the white shoes, a cheap drink is probably necessary. Here are a few places that'll keep some green in your pocket no matter what fashion statement you're making:

Katja's Sausage Sampler, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 39: Sausage sampler from Katja

Your Waiter Is Judging You: This Is Why

Here's some cold hard truth: Your waiter is judging you. And it's not because you scanned our restaurant's list of preachy, precious dishes made with esoteric (but local!) ingredients and then asked what celeriac or chimicurri are. Waiters don't care about that. Answering questions like that is thei ... More >>

Here's Your Exclusive Access to Dinner Lab, Which Launches in NYC on September 26

A couple of years ago, Brian Bordainick and his friends Drew Barrett, Francisco "Paco" Robert, Ravi Prakash, Bryson Aust, and Zach Kupperman lamented the lack of late-night dining options in New Orleans. "You can drink until the sun comes up," he says. "But the city has the worst late-night options ... More >>

Five Things to Do This Labor Day Weekend

Instead of frantically searching for last minute getaways--or taking a crash course in barbecuing 101--you should focus instead on these food-related reasons to stick around the city for the long weekend, none of which involve TSA pat downs or rush hour traffic.

Pearl & Ash's Patrick Cappiello: "I'm Just a Dude Pulling Corks Out of Wine Bottles, Not a Dictator"

This week, Fork in the Road featured a two-part interview with chef Richard Kuo of Pearl & Ash, who specified the importance of his partners, Brandon McRill and Patrick Cappiello, a number of times. That's because food is only part of the equation at this downtown dining destination, and while McRil ... More >>

Pane e Vino's Boozy Brunch Is a Steal at $14.95

If you happen to be on Smith Street in Cobble Hill on a weekend afternoon--and you're looking for sustenance that doesn't require you to shell out a significant portion of this week's paycheck--head over to Pane e Vino, where you'll get subtle Italian flare woven into brunch basics plus booze for $1 ... More >>

(UPDATED) The City Is Quiet This Weekend--So Here's Where to Eat While You Have Your Chance

A sizable part of this city's population has a high tolerance for wait lists, and the rest of us avoid lines at any cost--which means we've missed out on some of the restaurants other people rave about because we're simply unwilling to give up three hours to stand around. If you fall in the latter c ... More >>

The Harrison's Toasted Couscous and Farro Salad, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

No. 40: Toasted couscous and farro salad at The Harrison

Somtum Der Opens in the East Village Next Week

For the last two years, Thanaruek "Eh" Laoraowirodge has been feeding the people of Bangkok somtum der, a version of green papaya salad that's native to his hometown of Khon Kaen in the northeastern Isan region of Thailand. "Thai people like to eat this kind of food," he explains. "We focused on the ... More >>

Pearl & Ash's Richard Kuo's Future Plans Include a Bigger Kitchen

Part one of my interview with Pearl & Ash's Richard Kuo ran yesterday. Here in part two, the chef divulges his desert island food, names a top problem with the New York restaurant industry, and talks about his locksmithing hobby.

Reader: Chefs Who Don't Cater to Vegans' Needs Are Irritating

In my interview with Pearl & Ash's Richard Kuo, he noted that it irritates him to accommodate vegans because he doesn't feel like they're getting the full experience of a meal. "It would be like going to Marea and asking for a cheeseburger," he explains. "It's not relevant to what the restaurant is ... More >>