photos: Adam Hurwitz
What are your favorite local joints for dinner, lunch, takeout, brunch, late night snacks, street pizza?
What are the worst neighborhood restaurants? Where did the takeout with the unwelcome six legged guest come from? Which places almost killed you?
We want to know.
We really love El Cocotero, a Venezuelan place on 18th street between 7th and 8th aves. It's a small restaurant, so call ahead or be prepared for a possible wait on busy weekend nights.
ReplyDeleteLe Granne Café (formerly Le Petit Gamin) on 21st and 9th is another international charmer, assuming you are not in a rush (on the plus side, they won't rush you either, even during the crush of weekend brunch). Aside from their excellent long-standing offerings like french onion soup, and ratatouille, the french toast and oeuf maison are tasty and relatively recent options.
And, while I could happily substitute a cupcake from local Billy's over the more distant Magnolia's...I can't say the same for Grand Sichuan (24th and 9th) over more flavorful establishments in Chinatown or even Flushing. Yes, it's true. I would rather go to Queens than subject myself to another meal at Grand Sichuan. I know it has gotten good press, but I can't imagine why the praise has been so feverish. Having been to two outlets in the over-hyped, over-priced Grand Sichuan chain, I recommend giving it a pass. If somebody manages to drag you there, avoid the sad, gummy soup dumplings and order the DanDan noodles (which are more or less inoffensive). I will say that the cuts of meat that they use (assuming that you can even find the meager amount put in the inexplicably popular pepper Chon Qing) seem to be of a higher quality than the average Mott St. establishment, so it might be an ok spot to bring a squeamish out of towner. Basically, don't believe everything you read in NY Magazine.
To end on a positive note, the spicy chicken quesadilla from the taco truck on 14th and 8th is tasty and available until the wee hours of the morning.
Thanks for the great suggestions!
ReplyDeleteI second the praise on Le Granne Café. The Croque Madame is the quintessential comfort food.
Grand Sichuan has been a good bet for a cheap dinner for a group though you have to put up with long waits for a table and the surly wait staff. My wife did find some sort of invertebrate life on the take-out soup dumplings but that hasn't stopped me from going back. If you could recommend better soup dumplings in the area, I will check em out!
This is a great question! I end up at Maroon's on 16th & The Half King on 23rd way too much, I love the salmon crab cake burger at Half King and the Catfish with grits and string beans is great too (although i'd avoid it in delivery, it's a bit of a let down).
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that of all the restaurants on 8th avenue I can't say I've enjoyed any of them... Then there's a few good looking places around that seem totally over priced :(
I hope more people will respond with their hidden gems. I can't wait to try El Cocotero...
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ReplyDeleteThanks for weighing in, Mrs. Ticki. Outside of Spice, I can't say I have tried too many of the 8th Ave. eateries. I get the sense that they pretty mediocre by and large -- I miss Bright Food Shop.
ReplyDeleteSpice on 8th between 20th and 21st is the best Thai I've had in the neighborhood (there are tons of options) though the take out can be hit or miss.
Veloce is my favorite for late night snack -- try the bruschetta with prosciutto and pine nuts
Rub is great for ribs, not so much on the pulled pork sandwich.
Decent sushi at Hana but hate the TV with the crap reception. Better sushi at the place that used to be Meriken on the corner of 21st and 7th.
That's all I can think of at the moment . . .
Veloce: 176 7th Ave, betw 20th and 21st
ReplyDeleteRub: 208 W. 23rd St, betw 7th and 8th Aves
Hana Sushi: 211 7th Ave, betw 22nd & 23rd Street (try the dragonfly roll!)
Thanks 21.
ReplyDeleteI went to El Cocotero last night it was so delicious! Yay, success on the new blog!
I too miss Bright Food. Otherwise 8th ave. hasn't offered much inspiration. But lots of good places to recommend:
ReplyDeleteZia 7th between 21st/20th
Bombay Talkie 9th 21st/22nd
Cafe Grumpy 20th between 7av/8th av
also recommend the japanese place on corner of 21st/7th avenue. Would avoid the one between Bar Veloce and Zia. Easily overlooked is Naka Naka good small japanese on 17th between 9/10th avenue.
Thanks for all your suggestions, Tree N! I think you mean
ReplyDeleteLe Zie, the Italian place, on 7th -- I especially like the new attached lounge on 20th street. Head upstairs if the main dining room is too loud.
Liked Bombay Talkie
Café Grumpy, what can I say, phenomenal. Best cappuccino I've had in NYC.
I would also like to add Klee on 9th betw/ 22nd and 23rd. A little pricey but interesting menu and beautiful decor.
Naka Naka gets a great review from the times. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteSad to say, Maroon is gone. Le Zie never lets us down. Miss Bright Food desperately! Champignon does a really decent dinner, good wines. Restivo also dependable, good margherita, bartender used to work at Salsa y salsa.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pamela! Sorry to hear about Maroon.
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT BELIEVE MAROON'S IS GONE!!! That makes me soooo sad, I loved their manchester drinks and watched the election there! I'm going to go cry now. :(
ReplyDeleteSecond the Klee rec.
ReplyDeleteTía Pol - tapas place on 10th between 23rd/22nd is also good. There's been a lot of buzz about the tapas place on 24th, near Grand Sichuan. We went there once, couldn't deal with the crazy scene.
Speaking of scenes: We've been to John Dory (10th avenue, across Street frm Chelsea Market) twice. Great food. Casual but expensive
AVOID: BETTER BURGER ON 8TH AVENUE!
ReplyDeleteThe chicken burger made my wife ill.
Went to Naka Naka and it was charming and small but much more expensive than I expected. Also a working knowledge of Japanese helps in deciphering the menu. Food was decent but not phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you tried El Cocotero and enjoyed it! I gazed at it wistfully when I went to go mail my taxes today.
ReplyDeleteWe went to dinner at Cookshop and it was a really worthwhile splurge. The Simple Kitchen(17th and 9th) was also a nice quiet stop for a tasty/healthy meal. Other local treats: ordering the off-menu mochi as a topping at Pinkberry, chasing down the waffle truck (last seen regularly on 22nd and 6th ave), the purple cow shake at Shake Shack, garden seating at East of Eighth...
Next on our list to try: (please advise, if you have already been!)
Omai (on 9th ave, no sign)
French/Senegalese bistro on 22nd/7th
Barocco (17th/9th)
Oh! and I almost forgot...
ReplyDeleteI want to try the takeout counter at Spoon...
Omai - It's been a while since I've been there but I remember liking it. Definitely worth a try!
ReplyDeleteFrench/Senegalese joint - Not impressed. Got kind of a weird sandwich to go with the french fries in the sandwich (if I remember correctly). Disappointed.
We love 'The New French' 522 Hudson St. at W.10th, as it happens the cuisine is not so French, just delicious turns on many different cuisines.
ReplyDeletesimple precise plates of good food that put a moderate tug on your pocketbook.
Had dinner at Crema on 17th street, between 6th and 7th Ave recently. It was excellent, sort of Mexican meets French. A bit pricey but the portions were generous and the guocamole was worth writing home about!
ReplyDelete