New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [199]
Mermaid Oyster Bar.
$$ | SEAFOOD | If you’re craving a great raw bar, lobster roll, or soft-shell crab sandwich (in season), this place gives nearby classics Mary’s Fish Camp and Pearl Oyster Bar a run for their money. But Chef Lawrence Edelman (who also helms the city’s two Mermaid Inn locations) goes beyond the comfort-food classic to offer an alluring menu of sophisticated dinner choice. Almost every dish is a winner here, but try the lobster bisque laced with Manzanilla sherry and toasted pumpkin seeds, blackened striped bass with roasted squash and Swiss chard, and a spicy seafood bucatini fra diavolo. From the bar, try something from the list of perfect-pitch cocktails, like a Dark and Stormy, made with black rum and ginger beer, or a Pimm’s cooler with refreshing pieces of fresh cucumber. | 79 MacDougal St., at W. Houston St., Greenwich Village | NY | 10012 | 212/260–0100 | www.themermaidnyc.com | AE, D, MC, V | No lunch | Subway: 1 to Houston St., A, C, E to Spring St.
Moustache.
¢ | MIDDLE EASTERN | There’s typically a crowd waiting outside for one of the copper-top tables at this appealing Middle Eastern neighborhood restaurant. The focal point is the perfect pita that accompanies tasty salads like lemony chickpea and spinach, and hearty lentil and bulgur. Also delicious is lahambajin, spicy ground lamb on a crispy flat crust. For entrées, try the leg of lamb or merguez sausage sandwiches. Service is slow but friendly. | 90 Bedford St., between Barrow and Grove Sts., Greenwich Village | 10014-3764 | 212/229–2220 | Reservations not accepted | No credit cards | Subway: 1 to Christopher St./Sheridan Sq.
The Spotted Pig.
$$$ | ENGLISH | Part cozy English pub, part laid-back neighborhood hangout, part gastronome’s lure, the Spotted Pig showcases the impeccable food of Londoner April Bloomfield (Mario Batali and partners consulted). Pair the tang of radishes in a salad with plenty of Parmesan and arugula, or smoked haddock–and-corn chowder with homemade crackers for studies in contrasts in texture and flavor. Shoestring potatoes accompany their Roquefort cheeseburger. Chase it with a glass of foam-dripping Old Speckled Hen. | 314 W. 11th St, at Greenwich St., Greenwich Village | 10014 | 212/620–0393 | www.thespottedpig.com | Reservations not accepted | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: A, C, E to 14th St.; L to 8th Ave.
Wallsé.
$$$ | AUSTRIAN | Kurt Gutenbrunner’s modern Austrian menu at this neighborhood restaurant with a quasi–Wiener Werkstätte look is soulful and satisfying, with a strong emphasis on Austrian tradition and urban New York attitude. It’s hard to argue with such dishes as Wiener schnitzel with potato-cucumber salad and lingonberries or venison goulash with spaetzle and Brussels sprouts. Desserts do Vienna proud: apple-walnut strudel is served with apple sorbet. | 344 W. 11th St., at Washington St., Greenwich Village | 10014-2391 | 212/352–2300 | www.wallse.com | Reservations essential | AE, DC, MC, V | No lunch weekdays | Subway: 1 to Christopher St./Sheridan Sq.; A, C, E to 14th St.; L to 8th Ave.
MEATPACKING DISTRICT
For a glitzy scene, head to the Meatpacking District, which has transformed in recent years from a gritty commercial warehouse area to the celebrity-chef–driven epicenter of the city’s dining scene. The vibe is flashy, favored by Europeans, actors, models, and their suitors.
Del Posto.
$$$$ | ITALIAN | Mario Batali’s high-profile stab at four-star immortality helped kick off the big-box restaurant boom in the Meatpacking District. Much more formal than his still hugely popular Babbo, the restaurant initially struck many