egg is nestled in the heart of Williamsburg between an Indian restaurant and a house. On your first visit there, you might miss it. Only a glass front displays the name, and it’s put away in nice weather. But the inside is hardly a hole-in-the-wall: light bounces off the brilliant white walls, and the wooden chairs and tables seem appropriate for an English garden. On a nice morning, the glass front is removed, and the restaurant is open to the breeze. It feels like sitting in a garden.
The décor makes a surprisingly successful contrast with the food, which is sophisticated and Southern. egg strikes a perfect balance between the urban lifestyle and Southern breakfast food, which is heavy and delicious. While they serve what could be called comfort food, the geniuses at egg have located the best of each ingredient and put it into an approachable and artful form.
Walk long enough in the meatpacking district and you will inevitably drown in a sea of ultra posh surroundings—even the local convenience stand has an avant-garde flair. As I passed the strip of tantalizingly chic restaurants, I was whelmed by a modest all white townhouse that made up Scarpetta, whose simplistic beauty made for a pleasant contrast amongst its extravagant environment. Once inside this serene pocket of minimalism, I realized the elegance of subtly, as expressed through its fluid layout: a mood-lit entrance lounge and casual bar lead into a spacious dining room decorated with rustic wood and covered by a retractable roof that offers skylight radiance. Read the complete post »
A dessert bar that doesn’t leave you feeling like you just packed on the pounds? Yes, please. Although a late-night tofu stop in Hell’s Kitchen isn’t the best pitch for your friends, those who venture to Kyotofu will be rewarded with desserts worthy of a four-star restaurant. Whether you’re looking for a refreshingly healthy small dish and cocktail or a full-on meal for a party of six, this Japanese restaurant will leave you satisfied.
My meal started off with a stimulating chilled edamame soup ($8). It was flavorful enough to keep me dipping my spoon, yet light enough to be the perfect follow up to a main entrée. Many of Kyotofu’s dishes are slight variations of the mainstream Japanese staple diet, however, I could taste the justification with each nibble and chew. Moving onto the main course, I sat up particularly straight and attentive for the savory tofu slider with cucumber. I then realized that “refreshing” is the perfect word for every dish – they all walk the line between sweet and salty, light and heavy, visually bright and subdued, and other such opposites. Although some of the dishes were hard to eat with the provided utensils, I kind of liked the effort it took to get the perfect bite onto my chopsticks or small wooden spoon. It was almost like peeling an orange – all the work to unveil the edible interior just makes the end product that much sweeter. Read the complete post »
ANAMANAGUCHI @ BROOKLYN BOWL The chiptune punk band from New York Cityperforms at Brooklyn Bowl this Saturday. Like other chiptune bands, Anamanaguchi creates music using synthesizers, although unconventional ones: namely a hacked Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. However, to add that original twist, the band also jams out on a live electric guitar, bass, and drum set to create a unique fusion of digital and traditional sounds.
WHEN: Saturday, August 14 @ 9pm
WHERE: 61 Wythe Ave between 11th and 12th Streets
PRICE: FREE w/ RSVP @ http://newyork.going.com/anamanaguchixxx Read the complete post »
Technical difficulties aside, Central Park was the place to be on August 1st. SummerStage had lined up three astounding female singer-songwriters—St Vincent headlining, Basia Bulat and tUne-yArDs opening. The evening game plan involved listening to enjoyable live music and rocking out—but no, waiting was going to be our, the audience’s, primary activity of the day. Monstrous lines along with an undeniable friction amongst the stage crew—resulting in delays—extended the already lengthy wait; the tension only escalated with the gloomy clouds, hanging heavy with water and threatening to end the show.
But the show went on. Canadian folk singer Basia Bulat was the first opener. Read the complete post »
“No Bud, No Ketchup, No Reservation, No Zagat,” declares the sign just inside the beaded doorway of Zucco. It’s a fitting message, considering the racks of wine overhead, the simple dishes, and laidback atmosphere. Zucco is like what you would imagine a French diner to be (which is obvious from Zucco’s subtitle, “Le French Diner”).
The pleasant songs of Pink Martini play in the background, and the two fans by the window offer a welcome reprieve from the heat. Vintage posters of French advertisements and cartoons line one wall and dated Polaroids the other. The room is very small, with three tables, but there are also a few outside. All of the patrons seem to be couples. Most of them are young, not much older than thirty, and groups of more than two seem to be the exception.
The rooftop bar at Brass Monkey is clearly the place to be on a warm summer evening for an after work drink. At 7pm on Tuesday night the place was packed with trendy business folk, young creative types, and locals looking to watch a great sunset. Along the back wall, a bench area with several tables and bar stools provides the perfect space for twosomes wanting to catch up or for random strangers looking to mingle over some drinks. The glass bar island in the middle of the rooftop overlooks the edge of Manhattan and is the ideal space to congregate with a larger group of friends.
If you are in search of Ukrainian cooking from the babushka you never had, look no further than Veselka. This 24 hour East Village diner, that is infamous for feeding the drunken downtown masses, is more than just a place to ward off a hangover with pancakes and coffee, it is a place to get authentic and unbelievably delicious Eastern European food.
It comes as no surprise that Veselka has been serving the neighborhood for 55 years. It feels like a real neighborhood place — relaxed with a nice buzz of conversation and patrons spanning all ages. Read the complete post »
FOOD TRUCK BAZAAR @ HELL’S KITCHEN FLEA MARKET Half the annoyance of food trucks is, shockingly, they just won’t stay in one spot. This Sunday, come to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market where five of the best will congregate – Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, The Krave, Bistro Truck, Go Burger, and Big Gay Ice Cream Truck are all in the lineup. The crowds that usually chase these drivers will pool at 39th and Ninth Ave, too, so outrace them and get there early. Racks of vintage clothing, as always, will be on sale at the market.
WHEN: Sun, August 8th @ 11am – 4pm
WHERE: W 39th St between Ninth and Tenth Avenues
PRICE: Free admission Read the complete post »
I am officially endorsing this restaurant as a fantastic brunch destination. I can’t say much for their lunch or dinner, but if they are at all similar, then they will yield an excitingly friendly, cozy atmosphere in which your appetite will surely be eased. I went to Nolita House on a Saturday morning whim with some friends and was treated to live bluegrass music and complimentary sangria—served with every entrée order. To add to the festivities, it was another patron’s birthday and, thus, all out dancing ensued for one upbeat song, followed by many happy birthday wishes. Seemingly uncommon revelry, aside, Nolita House was excellent when it came to its main specialty: comfort food.
I had the Brunch Plate ($12), which included two eggs any style, home-cut fries, served with toast or an English muffin and salad. If you are looking for a classic breakfast with the bacon and eggs your mom used to make, this is the place. There are no sophisticated delicacies making you feel like you need to sit up straight or little hairs in your butter causing you to feel like you’re in a Waffle House. Nolita provides a comfortable environment for no more than a four-person party—anymore could get a little crowded. A friend got the Eggs, Biscuits & Gravy ($12)—divine buttermilk biscuits smothered with sausage gravy served with your choice of eggs. Although I found the biscuits a bit dry to stand alone, the sausage gravy pairing made for a great balance.
Order your copy of our 2010 version now! Inside New York 2010 features 500 new reviews of restaurants, clubs, and bars.
We live on the Upper East Side. It's not hard to find a great restaurant on 2nd Avenue but when we want to go a little farther for a nice dinner, we trust Inside New York to lead us to the right place. — Dr. Erika Gehrie, Adam Gehrie, attorney, Dechart, LLP
sea of ultra posh surroundings—even the local convenience stand has an avant-garde flair. As I passed the strip of tantalizingly chic restaurants, I was whelmed by a modest all white townhouse that made up Scarpetta, whose simplistic beauty made for a pleasant contrast amongst its extravagant environment. Once inside this serene pocket of minimalism, I realized the elegance of subtly, as expressed through its fluid layout: a mood-lit entrance lounge and casual bar lead into a spacious dining room decorated with rustic wood and covered by a retractable roof that offers skylight radiance. 
four-star restaurant. Whether you’re looking for a refreshingly healthy small dish and cocktail or a full-on meal for a party of six, this Japanese restaurant will leave you satisfied.
performs at Brooklyn Bowl this Saturday. Like other chiptune bands, Anamanaguchi creates music using synthesizers, although unconventional ones: namely a hacked Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. However, to add that original twist, the band also jams out on a live electric guitar, bass, and drum set to create a unique fusion of digital and traditional sounds.
out—but no, waiting was going to be our, the audience’s, primary activity of the day. Monstrous lines along with an undeniable friction amongst the stage crew—resulting in delays—extended the already lengthy wait; the tension only escalated with the gloomy clouds, hanging heavy with water and threatening to end the show.
several tables and bar stools provides the perfect space for twosomes wanting to catch up or for random strangers looking to mingle over some drinks. The glass bar island in the middle of the rooftop overlooks the edge of Manhattan and is the ideal space to congregate with a larger group of friends.
than Veselka. This 24 hour East Village diner, that is infamous for feeding the drunken downtown masses, is more than just a place to ward off a hangover with pancakes and coffee, it is a place to get authentic and unbelievably delicious Eastern European food.
is, shockingly, they just won’t stay in one spot. This Sunday, come to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market where five of the best will congregate – Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, The Krave, Bistro Truck, Go Burger, and Big Gay Ice Cream Truck are all in the lineup. The crowds that usually chase these drivers will pool at 39th and Ninth Ave, too, so outrace them and get there early. Racks of vintage clothing, as always, will be on sale at the market.
