Tagged: Keith Mcnally

January 17, 2013

Top New York City Restaurants For Valentines Day

While it may seem that 2013 has just begun, Valentines Day is less than a month away. This may seem like more than enough time to plan the perfect romantic night out but unless you’re spending the night at home, we suggest making reservations at least three weeks in advance. When picking a romantic restaurant, especially on Valentines Day, we suggest finding something with a more relaxed, quite and intimate atmosphere that serves consistently good food. Also, we don’t suggest spending your night at popular restaurants that do not accept reservations, such as Rosemary’s or Frankie’s 475. While they may be excellent date night spots, waiting up to two hours for a table for two during prime time hours doesn’t sound like the perfect Valentine’s Day to us. With that, we bring you the top New York City restaurants for Valentines Day! Note that we will be leaving out some already well known options such as One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Waverly Inn and La Grenouille so we can include some restaurants that are more off the map. [Photo via]

#1. Daniel - This Upper East Side restaurant brought to us by Daniel Boulud is one of the few restaurants in New York City that is absolutely perfect. From the stunning decor to the well thought out cocktail program to the perfectly designed and executed tasting menus, Daniel is nothing short of perfection. While this level of excellence will be costly, tasting menus start at $116, if you’re looking for a splurge worthy evening that will be sure to impress anyone, Daniel is the place to do it.

60 E 58th St. New York, NY
(212) 288-0033

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#2. Bohemian - A date night at Bohemian will impress your special someone for two reasons. One, it’s kind of impossible to hate the simple yet charming decor of this tiny 25 seat restaurant and two, your date will be impressed that you could find the number none the less score a reservation. Bohemian does not publish a phone number and the only way to get it is through a friend or colleague that has been to the restaurant before. This way, it ensures that the restaurant operates similarly to a private club. While getting into Bohemian may seem pretentious, all the attitude is lost once you walk past the Butcher Shop and through the glass door.

57 Great Jones St. New York, NY

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#3. River Deli – This Brooklyn Heights Italian restaurant is one of the better unknown date spots in NYC. The rustic decor is perfect for a first date or Valentines Day. The menu consists of traditional, well prepared Italian dishes such as Pappardelle Ai Funghi and an excellent Burrata. What makes River Deli even better is all the pasta dishes are generously portioned and none are above $15 while the meat and fish dishes never rise above the $25 mark. This makes River Deli the best date night spot in NYC for those on a budget. Also, the corner of Joralomon St. and Clinton St. absolutely charming and adorable.

32 Joralomon St. Brooklyn, NY
(718) 254-9200

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#4. Tiny’s – This intimate Tribeca restaurant is perfect for those looking for a quiet dinner and a more lively bar scene afterwards. The main level of Tiny’s, brought to us by Matt Abramcyk of the late Beatrice Inn, is a cozy, dimly lit space and even comes complete with a working fireplace. The upstairs does have similar design features that would make it perfect for a date, but the bar does create a much louder and hectic atmosphere than the subtle downstairs. The simple American fare is also great if your date is a less than adventurous (i.e. picky) eater.

135 West Broadway New York, NY
(212) 374-1135

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#5. Sushi Seki – If you and your date love sushi, there’s no better place than Sushi Seki. This Upper East Side restaurant has a laid back decor, but also has the best Omakase menu we’ve tasted in New York City. This is the perfect spot for sushi lovers who are more about the quality of their food rather than being blown away by stunning decor. We suggest grabbing a seat at the bar and ordering the chef’s Omakase. While this piece by piece menu won’t come cheap, you and your date will be having some of the most unique and top quality sushi that New York has to offer.

1143 1st Avenue New York, NY
(212) 371-0238

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#6. Minetta Tavern – This West Village steakhouse is for all those couples looking for a good steak on Valentines Day. It may seem a bit out there but we see nothing wrong with sharing a massive porterhouse for two on a date (though your doctor might when they check your cholesterol). Keith McNally brings us the revamped Minetta Tavern which is home to the famous $30 Black Label burger and the $90 Cote de Boeuf. That Black Label burger is worth every penny as are the top quality steaks. The atmosphere is also more reserved and a bit more charming than the other well known chophouse Peter Luger making Minetta Tavern the best steakhouse for Valentines Day.

113 MacDougal Street New York, NY
(212) 475-3850

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#7. Sfoglia – This Nantucket import serves easily the best pasta we have had in New York City. Yep you heard us, the best pasta in New York City. All the pasta is homemade in the kitchen and Sfoglia is probably the only restaurant where we would order a pasta dish for both our appetizer and entree. The restaurant itself is also quaint and suitable for any date night. The mismatched furniture help give Sfoglia a more low-key vibe to off set the complex Italian cooking. Since the restaurant is small we recommend making reservations sooner rather than later.

1402 Lexington Avenue New York, NY
(212) 831-1402

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#8. The Good Fork – After Hurricane Sandy, we weren’t sure if our favorite Red Hook restaurant would reopen again. Sure enough after the new year The Good Fork opened it’s doors again for service. The quirky Asian/American goes perfectly with the, again, quirky nautical theme of the restaurant. There is also an outdoor garden in the back just in case you enjoy the excellent food so much that you wish to return for, perhaps another date, in the warmer months. If you do happen to head over to The Good Fork, make sure to get the handmade pork dumplings.

391 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, New York
(718) 643-6636

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Tamarind Tribeca

#9. Tamarind – Since Indian food is usually a popular option with date nights, we had to include Tamarind. This over the top Indian restaurant is an excellent choice when looking for a date night in Tribeca. The menu consists of more refined versions of traditional Indian dishes and the decor matches the upscale cooking. This opulent restaurant may be expensive, but it’s definitely one of the best options in NYC for Valentines Day.

99 Hudson Street New York, NY
(718) 643-6636

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#10. Lincoln – We’ll be honest by saying this: finding a date night restaurant on the Upper West Side was no easy task. The minute we thought of the Italian restaurant, Lincoln, we had to include it in our round-up. The restaurant is enclosed with floor to ceiling glass windows that allows Lincoln Center to act as the back drop of your dinner. And if you thought Lincoln couldn’t get any better, the cooking is just as stellar as the decor.

145 West 65th Street New York, NY
(212) 359-6500

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September 10, 2012

Pastis

Keith McNally‘s Meatpacking staple, Pastis, is a favorite amongst New York’s socialites and tourists a like but often gets written off as a loud restaurant that’s only good for people watching. During dinner service there is a bouncer outside regulating the traffic in and out of the restaurant however lunch service is much more subdue. The interior consits of McNally’s signature tin roof ceiling, subway tiles, and dark leather booths. In the warmer weather a table in the outdoor patio is easily one of the most coveted seats in the Meatpacking District if not in downtown New York as most people really come to Pastis to see and be seen. The noise levels at Pastis can range from a quiet dinner to a full on party depending on the night and time that you go and brunch is pretty much an all out party (minus the house music that you would find at Day and Night or Bagatelle).

While people go to Pastis mainly for the people watching, that is often a signal that the food may be mediocre. While we tend to steer away from the appetizers that mainly consist of salads and sandwiches (a $19 sandwich, no thanks) but the entrees are actually very good. The Skate au Beurre Noir was a very simple dish but the fish was cooked well and the Bar Steak was shockingly tender and flavorful. But our favorite dish here is easily the Roasted Poussin (now changed to Roasted Chicken). The portion size was quite generous and the Poussin was cooked perfectly. Also for brunch, the Eggs Benedict is a fantastic choice. Pastis does use peanut oil but the staff and manager does do everything they can to ensure that there will be no contamination of any kind.

While some may think that Pastis is a pretentious eatery only good for its people watching, we urge you to give it a shot. While yes much of the crowd is pretentious the food is actually very good. Pastis is perfect for bringing out of town friends or grabbing a quick drink at the bar. Reservations can be hard to come by (especially for brunch) so we suggest calling at least a week to two weeks in advance.

Pastis

Ambiance: 8

Food: 8

Service: 8

Overall: 8

Verdict: Oasis

9 9th Ave

New York, NY 10014

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December 2, 2010

Pravda

After my not so spectacular visit to Le Souk I walked a few blocks down to Keith McNally‘s other Soho restaurant Pravda. In reality Pravda isn’t a restaurant but its a vodka bar and lounge with a food menu. The unmarked restaurant is hidden behind a gate and stairs leading down into a basement. Through the wooden door is a Pastis look a like (shocking for Keith McNally right?) lounge with tables towards the back and lounge chairs and small tables in the front. The restaurant isn’t too big so getting their early could ensure that you get a table. Don’t worry about a doorman or not being able to get in, Pravda isn’t like those pretentious restaurant/lounges in the area (Kenmare & La Esquina) so don’t worry about not looking up to par with the rest of the people inside to gain entry. The menu mostly consists of vodka based drinks and other cocktails but there is a small Russian themed menu for those not looking for Pravda’s $50 vodka flight. The food is mainly bar food (Ham & Cheese croquettes, Rib-Eye Steak Sandwich, Mini Burgers) and its not too bad nor is it overly expensive. Pravda is a good place to go with friends after work or late at night when you don’t feel like going to a club but still want a fun atmosphere.

Ambiance: 7

Food: 6

Service: 6

Overall: 6

Verdict: Mirage

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March 28, 2010

Pulino’s

Keith McNally‘s second attempt at an Italian restaurant just opened up in the Bowery across the street from DBGB. McNally teamed up with famed Nate Appleman to enter the battlefield of New York Pizza. With contenders such as Co., Motorino and Keste Pizza & Vino does New York City really need another upscale Pizzeria? Well the answer to that question is no, but Pulino’s can certainly take Motorino’s spot amongst the best Pizzerias in New York. Pulino’s looks extraordinarily similar to Pastis and Schiller’s Liquor Bar except with a pizza oven in the back. The subway tiles, checkered floor and liquor bottles lining the walls are all apart of McNally’s recipe for success. Its a casual place for regular New Yorkers and trendy enough for Manhattan’s socialites. Its not a big place but that also makes it appear crowded, so crowded that navigating to your table can be a bit of a hassle. There’s a communal table by the bar, several booths and a sea of two to four person tables so Pulino’s really packs patrons in there. Like all of McNally’s restaurants the tables are so close together you often unintentionally eavesdrop on everyone’s conversations and the service is a bit overwhelmed at times. The lunch menu is very simple, it consists of about 7 different pizzas and a variety of simple appetizers ranging from salumi to soups. The pizzas aren’t too pricey as well. The average pie costs around $15 which is slightly cheaper than its competition. In all honesty the pies don’t look too appetizing when they come out. They appear to be very oily as a thick orange layer of oil sits atop of the pie. Also, the pie is cut with a square in the middle and six smaller slices along the crust which makes the pizza a bit cumbersome to eat. But once you taste the pie it makes up for the presentation flaws. The pizza’s crust isn’t too thin nor overly doughy but just right. The sauce is smooth and complements the cheese of the pizza as both aren’t over baring. Of course most will venture to Pulino’s for the scene and the hype that surrounds the restaurant but at least they will be pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food!

Ambiance: 7

Food: 6

Service: 6

Overall: 6

Verdict: Mirage

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February 21, 2010

Minetta Tavern

Finally, the Minetta Tavern! Well I couldn’t get a reservation for dinner, I’ve tried twice now and have failed, so I did the next best thing…got a brunch reservation! Minetta Tavern has been having weekend brunch service for about 5 weeks now so its brand new. The brunch menu consists of their dinner menu’s hits (Blacklabel Burger, Pasta Za Za & the Roasted Prime Rib a Jus) as well as some new brunch items such as Slow Baked Ham in Hay and Shirred Eggs and Black Truffles. Walking into the restaurant I realized why its so difficult to get a reservation: the Minetta Tavern is really tiny, like maybe half the size of Pastis. Oh speaking of Pastis, this is another one of Keith McNally‘s goldmine restaurants (the others being Balthazar, Pastis, Schiller’s, Morandi, Lucky Strike and the Soho vodka bar Pravda). The cramped spaces make eating very claustrophobic but bearable, if you’re used to dining in Manhattan that is. Keith McNally took the old circa-1937 Minetta Tavern and kept it exactly the same, checkered floor and all. The result is a classy yet rugged speakeasy that caters to the Village type and Manhattan’s socialites. But with that said Minetta Tavern isn’t a pretentious place at all. The service is super friendly, if not a bit pushy (its nothing compared to Nello or Mr. Chow don’t worry), and is more than willing to point out the best dishes on the menu. By Michelin giving the place a star, that already set my expectations very high though I did have a slight feeling that the place was going to be a bit overrated. I ordered the famous Blacklabel Burger and the Pots De Creme for Dessert. The Blacklabel Burger has gotten so much hype since Minetta’s opening that I think there was anyway for it to live up to its reputation. But it did. The patty itself was very juicy and flavorful and the bun was actually perfect for the patty. It absorbed the juices of the patty but not to the point where it became soggy, it kept its texture throughout the meal. I’d say it beats the Shake Shack, Primehouse, J.G. Melon & the Burger Joint hands down and the Blacklabel Burger is worth the $26 price tag. Unfortunately I couldn’t try the fries since Minetta Tavern does fry in peanut oil, but my friend who had brunch with me said they were pretty good. The Pots de Creme was one of the two desserts I could eat on the menu due to my peanut allergy (it was that or a fruit platter from Balthazar). The Potts de Creme was three flavors (coffee, chocolate and vanilla) of custard pudding, almost like a mousse. The dessert was rich in flavor and was actually a bit better than I had expected, so basically a bit better than average. Overall the Minetta Tavern was an excellent experience. Go for brunch since getting a dinner reservation is impossible. The brunch menu has the best of the dinner menu so you can still try out the best of what Minetta Tavern has to offer in addition to some new brunch dishes. The place is full of energy and the food is pretty good too.

Ambiance: 8

Food: 8

Service: 8

Overall: 8

Verdict: Oasis

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Follow Oasis or Mirage