Immaculate Infatuation

Sitting in Il Buco on a recent Tuesday night, one wouldn’t think our country was currently experiencing severe economic turmoil. The place is packed to the gills with people eating and drinking without a care in the world. Even some of the hottest restaurants have empty tables on “off” nights, but the fact that Il Buco is routinely slammed is a testament to the quality of the food and the unique character of the space. You won’t find another place in town quite like it. The restaurant’s rustic country vibe is as authentic as it gets. Originally opened as an antique store in the mid-90’s, the owners quickly realized their meal ticket wasn’t in the form of selling antique ceramic pots, it was the kitchen.

Il Buco has been a hotspot for a while now, attracting an older, celeb heavy crowd. Our girl Christina Hendricks (Joan on Mad Men) and her Infatuation approved ass got married here recently. The menu has become famous for its seasonal Mediterranean tapas and daily selection of homemade pastas, local poultry and fish entrees. We’d suggest focusing on the tapas and the pasta. Better yet, get a big group together and take advantage of Il Buco’s chef’s table or private dining room in the downstairs cellar.

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Extra Virgin is an Immaculate Infatuation approved establishment for two main reasons. First, this place kills when it comes to fish. Extra Virgin subtly and brilliantly incorporates Mediterranean flavors into many of their dishes resulting in unique approaches to typical snooze fests like salmon and halibut. Second, it’s the world’s greatest date spot. If you’re that dude that takes every girl you meet to Tao for dinner followed by a VIP tour of your favorite bars in Murray Hill, it’s time to switch up your approach and get Extra Virgin into rotation. Aforementioned fish entrees, prime West Village location, and an upbeat but intimate room make it the perfect place to go for conversation over a great bottle of wine. The unique nuances of the menu can provide some talking points once you run out of fantasy football stats to impress her with. No reservations are taken, which is actually a good thing – the bar is great and waits usually aren’t crazy. Two tips: if it’s a warm night, try and snag one of the few but fantastic sidewalk tables, and anytime you see a fish entree that incorporates falafel on the menu – order it. No dates? Not to worry, Extra Virgin is a great place for dinner no matter who you’re with. That said, maybe it’s time we started a “singles” section of the website. Stay tuned.

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When Gail Simmons hit us with her Friday Fives, she listed August as her Chronic Brunch pick. Smart woman. She made us realize that even though August has long been a staple in our lives, a review seems to have slipped through the cracks. It’s time to rectify this situation right now.

Everyone loves August. It’s impossible not to. The same way I’m always down to watch those movies that are endlessly on TV like Any Given Sunday or Empire Records, I’m also always down for brunch at August. This little European bistro is perfectly located in the heart of all the good West Village action. The friendly space smells of firewood and has an awesome glass enclosed garden that gets tons of sun. August is really a better brunch/lunch spot than it is a dinner spot. The dinner entrees are never as exciting as the eggs, sandwiches and pizza you get during the daytime hours. Plus, the prices on the dinner menu are a little steep. One dinner option we do like, however, is the Sunday night “Pizza & Peronis” meal: one pizza and four Peronis for $25. Not necessarily the Gray’s Papaya recession special, but we back the idea and the pizza is really good. Speaking of pizza and beer, dudes, listen up – August is a great First/Early In The Game Date spot. Considering that her and her friends already love it, you’ll score extra points right off the bat by taking her to the location of her last Book Club meeting. Trust me; it’s a better option than the new Dos Caminos in the Meat Packing district.

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We’re not usually crazy about wine bars. There are a few on this site that we can get behind, but generally we stay away. Why? Well first of all, there aren’t many that serve good food, and it’s rare that we’re heading out to drink without some serious eating on the agenda as well. Second, wine bar crowds are usually a room full of awkward first dates, and that girl who turns bright red after two glasses and spends an hour telling her friend and everyone else within thirty feet how ugly Becky’s bridesmaid dresses were. Inside voices please.

So it’s not often that a wine bar comes with an enthusiastic Infatuation Approval, but Terroir’s new outpost in Tribeca most certainly does. Yes, we love it because the food is awesome, but we also love it because owners Paul Grieco and Marco Canora clearly don’t take themselves too seriously. Just watch this video. These guys are enjoying themselves, and so are the people that come to their establishments. We found no sign of the typical wine bar crowd, but rather a full house of happy people tearing into some food and drinking (a lot). That’s more our speed. The menu has all the snacks and charcuterie that you might expect to find, but there are also some gems like the meatball sandwich and pretty much anything with the word “balls” in it. Check the Food Rundown for our favorites, and also take a look at this wine menu next time you have a few hours to kill. That sh*t is crazy.

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The Smile is a relatively new “cafe and mixed use concept store” on Bond St. What does that mean? Well, it’s a rustic space that serves food and also sells housewares and nick-nacks to the coolest people you have ever seen. Essentially, it’s hipster Cracker Barrel.

Though The Smile has been open for close to a year now, we’re betting you haven’t heard much about it. Situated a few steps below the sidewalk, it’s a place that you have to be looking for to see, and other than the models and musicians that fill it for brunch, it remains relatively under the radar. Yes, brunch is popular, but it’s not yet overrun by the hoardes in this city that treat the meal like a sport. People eat and linger, everyone seems to know each other, and everyone looks really good – even with dirty hair and last night’s clothes on. Dinner service began only a few weeks ago, and like the breakfast and brunch menu, the food is surprisingly good. Imagine Freemans without the two hour wait. Things here feel laid back and matter-of-fact, as if those running the place have no interest in the hustle that can come along with making a New York City restaurant successful. Maybe they are simply confident that word will spread and people will come. Or maybe they just don’t want them to.

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