Pappardelle with pork ragu, cheese plate, Nero d'Avola. Super affordable. Get some get some.
Gets the job done when it comes to inexpensive drinks and tacos/burritos. Go for brunch and check out the crazy vinyl collection in the basement of the thrift shop next door.
Fideos negros, steak for 2, fried Brussels sprouts with Meyer lemon yogurt, rice pudding with membrillo. The black fig infused bourbon is exceptional, too (and 100 proof - yowza).
The best kept secret on the LES in the bar department. It's like drinking cocktails in your friend's living room. Order the seasonal punch or a whiskey drink and snag a seat by the window.
Pizza with prosciutto and salsa verde, frutti di mare, sweetbreads, cured sable. Hit the tiki disco parties every other Sunday during the summer, too.
The best pancakes in all the land are served here. Get a Bloody Mary to go with and you will be ruined forever for brunch.
Start with the Howard Hughes, and food-wise, it's hard to go wrong. a footnote: Thistle is a great place to stop after dinner at Talde.
If the duck ragu with foie gras is on the menu, build your meal around that. Guinea hen is lovely - and (sorry) there's foie in that, too.
First of all: yes, you want fermented black crab on the papaya salad. pork laap, pork neck, pork belly/shoulder curry, broken crepe, cha ca la vong are my choice orders. And don't forget a jelly beer!
Go for a drink before or after dinner. If you stay and dine, go oceanic: fruits de mer platter is the most beautiful one I've seen, and follow up with the king crab tagliatelle.
Meatballs are killer. Kale Caesar/Seasonal crostini are, too (late summer is the best - peach, burrata, and puntarelle). The bar makes a fine Bluecoat negroni served over a very large ice cube.
You want a Slippery Slope. Chat up Phil and John, and don't miss the porky melt and loaded tots.
The pickle plate is awe-inspiring with a few great cocktails. Any drink with bols Genever (the Bols Deep, for example) is a great choice if you like gin and whisky.
The salads here are thoughtfully put together and tasty...and I usually don't like salads.
Coconut sugar brined rotisserie chicken and the young coconut pad Thai are my weapons of choice at this pre-industrial eatery.
At brunch, the salmon & latke Benedict is unfair good. Order kielbasa with your pancakes, because it's a Ukrainian joint and therefore the law.
Go late or early. Spicy Pork balls, classic red sauce. The sangria is good, but a PBR feels right. If there areginger cookies and chocolate ice cream, put them together and thank me later.
Say yes to bacon-wrapped dates, pan con tomate topped with Iberico ham, and a third glass of sangria.
It's known for brunch, but definitely hit Five Leaves for dinner, or some classy pre-Brooklyn Bowl cocktails and oysters. If any iteration of duck is on the menu, do it.
If there's Concord Grape Pie on the menu, order it. Also, lamb belly. Because it's good for you.
Start at the bar; let John Bush take care of you. Pretzel Dumplings, Kale Salad, Spare Ribs, Fried Chicken, Pad Thai, and any special. Halo-Halo. End the way you started: at the bar for a nightcap.
Very good cocktails, nice bartenders. Wren Old-Fashioned is what you need to order. Crowd is different each night of the week-I like Mon/Tues. If you're not into the bro scene, don't go on a Friday.
Some of my favorite coffee in the city. The Black Olive Shortbread and Olive Oil Cake keep me coming back.
