October 1st, 2009
Wow! Fall is here and the city is exploding with new restaurants. As the weather turns brisk, comfort food seems to be the theme whether it be heaping bowls of noodles, mac ‘n’ cheese or chicken and waffles. If you’ve visited any of these newcomers, leave a comment and fill me in!
Onya
When it comes to noodles, I like a hearty texture. Angel hair and vermicelli are for wimps! I prefer something chewy, dense and thick. Which is why udon noodles are so lovable and why Onya, the udon-only restaurant in Midtown East is exciting. They offer various hot and cold flavors of the stuff, all under $10. The midtown lunch crowd is already drawing lines that snake out the door.
143 East 47th Street (Between Lexington and 3rd)
Why You Should Care: The owners are the same folks as Beard Papa, those luscious little cream puffs.
Cantina Latina
A “Mexican/Cuban” themed East Village newcomer with a ridiculous name and a bright, inviting decor. Specialties include tacos, ropa vieja and grilled whole fish, plus flowing mojitos, margaritas, sangria and tequila.
243 E 14th Street 212-253-5708
Why You Should Care: It probably beats eating the free pizza from Crocodile Lounge, down the block.
Macbar
Just as its name and shape suggests, Macbar is devoted to all things mac ‘n’ cheese, serving 12 flavors from lobster to duck confit to beef stroganoff and more. It’s a sister restaurant to Delicatessen, which I’ve heard few positive things about. Let’s hope they’re better at mac than matzoh ball soup.
54 Prince Street, 212-226-8877
Why You Should Care: It’s tough to complain when eating mac ‘n’ cheese.
Ed’s Chowder House
Jeffrey Chodorow has been chasing restaurant trends long before any of us knew about kobe beef and overpriced vegetable rolls. But his latest venture, Ed’s Chowder House (in the old Center Cut Space) is as basic as its name. Here you’ll find “sea shack” cuisine, featuring a raw bar, chowders, and simply prepared local seafood. I’ve had fun ragging on Chodorow’s spectacles in the past, but Ed’s actually sounds good! Plus, the “Ed” in the name is Chef Ed Brown, who has a Michelin star under his belt. My question: how does the long-established Ed’s Lobster Bar in Soho feel about the opening?
44 W63rd Street at Broadway in the Empire Hotel, 212-956-1288
Why You Should Care: You won’t have to shell out $150 for a meal here, entrees start at just $18.
Gansevoort 69
Comfort food in the Meatpacking district may sound like an oxymoron, but with meatloaf, BLTS, spaghettios and pancakes on the menu, that’s exactly what Gansevoort 69 is serving.
69 Gansevoort Street, 212-691-0069
Why You Should Care: They’re open almost 24 hours a day, so if you find yourself in the meatpacking district and need a comforting reprieve from the watered down $16 drinks somewhere nearby, find it here.
Motorino
The Manhattan location of a Williamsburg thin-crust pizza shrine.
349 East 12th Street, 212-777-2644
Why You Should Care: A wait at Co. is guaranteed any night of the week, but Motorino is so new that crowds have yet to descend upon it. Plus, they have brussel sprouts pizza! Yay! No? Just me?
Blue Elm
You’ve probably never heard of now-closed Nolia, a French/Asian fusion nook, formely on Avenue C. Well, the food was inventive and the prices were dirt cheap. So cheap, that I suppose they couldn’t survive. Blue Elm is the Nolia chef’s latest venture, a French/Asian/African fusion restaurant with dishes like African-spiced halibut with pumpkin bisquits in a tomato saffron broth or yucca-crusted salmon with asparagus.
198 Orchard Street, Between Houston and Stanton, 212-777-7733
Why You Should Care: It’s so weird, it just might be good!
Travertine
Former Top Chef contestant Manuel Trevino (remember him? me neither) opens this long-awaited Mediterranean restaurant. The owners had to fight with the community board to get it open, so it has been delayed many months. It just opened yesterday, so reports are slim, but yummy sounding dishes include grilled quail with oyster mushrooms, polenta and onion fig compote or fagottini filled with spinach, truffled sheep milk ricotta and cauliflower puree.
19 Kenmare Street
Why You Should Care: When an owner fights for over a year for a location, you know they’ve got some heart in the venture.
Los Feliz
The guys who brought you LES gastropub, Spitzer’s Corner open this taqueria/night club in the space that was once tri-level tapas restaurant, Suba. They’re serving little tacos like crispy Mahi Mahi with cucumber-ginger relish, aioli and avocado. Some food is more successful than others, but I’m betting most people will be there for the scene. (especially when the salsa comes out of squeeze bottles!)
109 Ludlow, 212-228-8383
Why You Should Care: The city needs a “hipster 3 level Tequila mansion”, right?
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