Immaculate Infatuation

In the music biz, we believe that good music will eventually prevail. If you keep putting out great records, your time in the spotlight will come. Take long time Infatuation favorite Phoenix for example. They spent the better part of the last decade flying under the mainstream radar, releasing perfect indie-pop albums that anyone who actually paid attention to, fell in love with. They finally got what’s been coming to them this past year in the form of a breakout single, “1901” and the Grammy for “Best Alternative Album.” The same philosophy can be applied in the kitchen. When you’re consistently cookin’ up the chronic, you can’t hide for long. Hell, even if you’re illegally preparing the perfect lobster roll and selling them through your mail slot in Brooklyn, someone in this town will get wind of it.

We’ve long considered Yerba Buena home to one of the more criminally underrated menus around. It was one of the first rave reviews we ever posted on this site, and for good reason. The food is tremendous. Famous for their cocktails, YB doesn’t receive the kind of culinary critical love it damn well deserves. Possibly because the original East Village location is slightly out of place – a more upscale, expensive restaurant in an area that caters to the exact opposite. While Yerba Buena EV will remain their less well known flagship, it’s their new West Village spot, Yerba Buena Perry, that’s set to catch fire like Bluth’s Frozen Banana Stand and blow their cover. … read more

Believe it or not, it’s possible for Immaculate Infatuation to love a place even when the food isn’t the main attraction. It’s rare, but it’s possible, and Esperanto is the perfect example. A local Infatuation mainstay, Esperanto’s got that little something special that keeps it in heavy rotation despite average food. It’s consistently packed with people looking to hang out and have a good time. The vibe is contagious, especially after a couple six dollar Caipiroskas (vodka, lime, sugar) to the dome. Going out on the town on a Friday or Saturday night? Esperanto is the perfect choice for your pre-game food and drink, especially when it’s nice out, with the windows open and the outdoors in full effect. The price is right too; all entrees are under twenty dollars. Just beware, there’s almost always a wait during primetime but they move pretty fast. Big group? Make a reservation.

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A reliable place for a low key brunch, lunch, or dinner in Nolita, visit this little South American cafe for its eclectic crowd, cultural flavors, and communal feel. Although the tables are scrunched together and a bit uneven (assorted chairs and space at a minimum), it works. On weekday mornings, patrons sit solo with their paper and cup of coffee. On weekends, the place is packed with downtown brunchers and usually comes with a short and painless wait. 45 minute long jam-up at Habana? This is your backup plan. My one complaint, as usual, is that the menu is about $5 more expensive than it should be.

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Looking for a unique spot to impress on a First/Early In The Game date? If she likes wine and raw fish, Desnuda is your jam. This dark, South American inspired wine and ceviche bar has just eighteen seats, all at the bar. It’s intimate and low key, and the fish is fresh and priced right. There is no kitchen, which means you’ll have a front row seat as your food is prepared by a man who will also double as your bartender. Hopefully audience participation is something you’re comfortable with, as you may be called on to help your chef/bartender as he practices his “ghetto molecular gastronomy”. Ever seen someone smoke an oyster with a gravity bong made from a Sprite bottle? Didn’t think so. We’ll bet your date hasn’t either. This block of 7th St. is home to a lot of hot spots (see Porchetta, Luke’s Lobster, Caracas, Pylos), so let’s agree to keep Desnuda as it is – slightly under the radar, and your new secret weapon date spot.

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A recent road trip to Citrus reminded me why I don’t ever go to the UWS to eat. Of course there are better restaurants on the UWS than Citrus, but it’s a perfect representation of everything that’s wrong with restaurants in this area. Citrus has been a neighborhood staple for years now; the place is overflowing with people 24/7. The space is huge, loud and as cheesy as it gets. Fluorescent lights illuminate the walls while the room comes fully equipped with a stone waterfall and enough plants to pass for a Rainforest Cafe. There is nothing NYC about this place; you might as well be eating in Texas. While the food isn’t terrible, their Latin meets Asian menu is just too far-fetched. If they tried this downtown, the restaurant wouldn’t last more than a year. Do you really want chips and salsa before your sushi? That’s just strange. Also, if I’m paying $15 for a margarita, I expect that drink to be labor intensive, not just some tequila tossed in with a pre-made mixture.

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