After Boston, I took the all too familiar Fung Wah bus to the big Apple for a tasty weekend with friends. I’m just one of the many who love New York, but I often wonder if the reality of Manhattan is far less appealing than the romanticized version I get to visit every other month…(outside the winter months that is). After all, my time in NY usually consists of eating, walking, eating and more eating. That’s the nice thing about visiting – you actually have time to enjoy the city the way you’d like to.
It was a Saturday, springtime, and all the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. As I stepped out onto the sidewalk in Tribeca, I wondered, where to start? My friend desperately wanted his coffee, and I’ve never been good with decisions – especially before breakfast. So we started walking…
NEW YORK
One of the biggest food capitols of the world, New York is both exciting and overwhelming in its multitude of choices. If we’re just talking food, there’s a bizillion tasty (and inexpensive) options in Manhattan alone, not to mention all the other boroughs of the city – from falafel shops to deli’s to those damn addictive Halal carts with their chicken and rice platters. But, since this is an Eat at the Bar blog (and I’m trying to keep this thing relatively short), I’ll just recap where we ended up that Saturday in our explorations. As always with eat at the bar, we were spontaneous and never made reservations.
As we walked around the corner, we found ourselves at LOCANDA VERDE. Fun, casual, modern Italian. Great service, spectacular food. Getting seats at the bar was quick and simple. If you’re in the Tribeca area on a Saturday, go for brunch. You’ll love it so much you’ll want to go back for dinner.
- Locanda Verde
- Latte with Frangelico
- Uovo Modenese with cottechino hash, spinach and tomato hollandaise
- Artichoke Ravioli with black trumpet mushrooms and pleasant ridge reserve
- Almond Coconut Semifreddo shaved pineapple, mango, mango pineapple sorbetto
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
On a nice day in the city, High Line Park has become a popular destination since it’s opening last year. I mean, it’s an ‘eco’ park! In the sky!! Built on an old railroad track!!! What’s not to like? The southernmost part of the park is located in the Meatpacking District, and the only thing I love more than a stroll through the park and the exhibitionism at the Standard Hotel…is the STANDARD GRILL.
On a nice day, the large windows behind the bar open out onto the patio. I love the charcuterie, and the burgers are fantastic, but after trying just about everything on the menu, I’d say it’s all good, so you can’t wrong. I haven’t been there for dinner, but hope to soon…I heard they roasted an entire pig one time for a Friday night special? Wow.
- Standard Bartender
- A Fruity Gin Concoction of Some Kind
- Standard Grill Charcuterie
- Best (and only) Baked Alaska I’ve Ever Had
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
Despite it being a “hotel restaurant,” Scott Conant’s FAUSTINA in the Cooper Square Hotel does have what New York Times calls the best pork chop in the city. Not that I’ve eaten every pork chop in the Tri-State region, but this one was pretty amazing, perfectly seasoned and prepared, with the bone in (I always like my meat with the bone in!) It was so good, in fact, that I forgot to take a picture. We also had the tuna belly with sea urchin. That may have been what was on one of these plates before we ate it…
- I forgot to take the photo before we ate…Oops, blame the bottle of Amarone.
- A tasting of dessert wines…because, as usual, I couldn’t decide.
It was the perfect New York day. I’m sure having nothing to do all day but eat had something to do with it…There was sun, there were friends, there was love in the air, there was food and lots of wine. Somehow, I even managed to squeeze a nap in before dinner! I usually feel guilty just saying the word ‘nap!’ We went where we wanted, when we wanted…with no reservation hassle.
As a very smart man I know always says, “there are worse places to be.” So appreciate, and enjoy. Eat at the bar.
