141 First Avenue between St. Mark’s Place and 9th Street 212/529.2740 about $30 each for three, with sake, with tip ♥ What shoyu, or soy sauce, ramen is to Rai Rai Ken is shio to Setagaya. Shio, or salt, ramen is the only type available at Setagaya, so you better like it more than you ...
108 East 4th Street between First and Second Avenues 212/228.4885 about $170 for two tasting menus with wine pairings, without tip ♥ ♥ ♥ It’s almost unheard of in New York City to pay $45 for a six-course tasting menu. At Knife + Fork, chef and owner Damien Brassel pulls it off without sacrificing taste ...
45 Bond Street between Lafayette and Bowery 212/529.8600 $120 for two, with 3 drinks, with tip ♥ ♥ It was a Monday night and Mercat has only been open for three days, yet the decibel level made it seem like it was a Thursday night. The place is packed; the white tiles immediately reminded me ...
47 Bond Street between Lafayette and Bowery 212/533.1932 $180 for four people with a bottle of wine, without tip ♥ We wanted to eat at Il Buco ever since we walked by one night and took a peek inside. Candles were lit that made the ambiance romantic and rustic at the same time. We just ...
21 Saint Marks Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenues 212/529.4805 $25 each for three, with three beers, with tip ♥ ♥ ♥ The Chipotle opened along St. Marks opened first and then the vending-machine store BAM! made headlines. When I saw the Grand Sichuan open, I only thought, Great, I don’t have to go to ...