Food Adventuring Around NYC
In a year of major fried chicken openings, Root & Bone (helmed by two previous Top Chef contestants) took best in show with an unusual brine of sweet tea and a dusting of cayenne and lemon powder that both sweetens and brightens the already succulent meat. Tabasco honey and bourbon maple syrup are provided on …
Bar Primi is a hip, affordable house for great pasta, but don’t ignore their sandwich. In classic Italian-style, house roasted beef is sliced thin and piled high on seeded bun with Italian peppers, melted provolone cheese, and a garden of arugula. It’s a worthy alternative to their excellent pastas. Price: $16 BAR PRIMI 325 Bowery (at …
Lamb is the thing to get at Keur Sokhna, especially the grilled lamb chops served at dinner. Loaded with expertly seasoned, charred meat and topped with sweet mustard-laced onions, the dibi are a must have. And I can’t resist the plantain sides, fried in red palm oil. Price: $12 KEUR SOKHNA 2249 Adam Clayton Powell Junior …
SADLY, APRÉS IS NOW CLOSED. After Apiary closed this year, the owners re-invented the space as a vegetable-driven Aprés. Chef Mazen Mustafa’s dishes were a little too experimental for the neighborhood and it shuttered too soon. But since I was employed there, I did get to tasted his fascinating crudite. A miso custard and mushroom …
Making vegetable dishes that exceed expectations, John Fraser puts an unexpected twist on beets. Crisp and sweet, the beets are enhanced by creamed horseradish and lots of bright flavors like apples and pickled cucumbers. Price: $15 NARCISSA 21 Cooper Square (corner of 5th Street and Bowery), Inside The Standard Hotel East Village (212) 228-3344 narcissarestaurant.com
The Long Island City coffee roaster makes big, bold flavors and their cold brew is no exception. Even better, they serve it with coffee ice cubes. Price: $3.25/$3.75 COFFEED 37-18 Northern Boulevard (at 37th Avenue), Long Island City, Queens coffeednyc.com
Required on all steakhouse menus, M. Wells flips the tyipcal wedge salad on its head. The iceberg lettuce is slightly grilled, topped with the usual blue cheese along with buttermilk dressing and ketchup chips. Wowza! Price: $12 M. WELLS STEAKHOUSE 43-15 Crescent Street (at 43rd Avenue), Long Island City, Queens (718) 786-9060 magasinwells.com
A classic Vietnamese dish taken to the next level way out in Queens. Flounder strips are dusted with turmeric and spices, fried until crisp and placed on a bed of vermicelli, dill and garnished with peanuts. Price: $17 BÚN-KER VIETNAMESE 46-63 Metropolita Avenue (between Woodward Avenue and Onderdonk Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens (718) 386-4282 bunkervietnamese.com
Only available as a lunch-time special, this classic Senegalese dish features cubes of gamey, tender lamb in a rich, distinct peanut butter stew with potatoes, carrots, and onions. Price: $11 KEUR SOKHNA 2249 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard (between West 132nd and West 133rd Street), West Harlem (212) 368-5005 keursokhnaplus.com
A luscious plate of chicken liver mousse studded with balsamic-soaked raisins, capers, and walnuts. One of the best plates of offal I’ve ever tasted! Price: $15 CHARLIE BIRD 5 King Street (at Sixth Avenue), Soho (212) 235-7133 charliebirdnyc.com