L’Artusi can officially go on our list of favorite restaurants in this town. A few things stand out as qualifications for such an honor – outstanding and consistent food, great service, good music, and some ancillary entertainment since we can’t sit still. Let’s address each individually. L’Artusi is the sister restaurant to Dell’anima, and it’s the larger, louder sister for sure. The cuisine is Italian, and it’s the kind of Italian cooking that’s not afraid to go heavy on big flavors like garlic, lemon, olives, chiles, and fat to win your favor. Not that it’s unrefined – these are some of the most well thought out and beautiful plates we’ve had the pleasure of eating at an indecent pace. The service is fantastic, from the hosts to the bartenders to the guy getting crazy at the cheese counter. Music get’s an A+ with Santogold and Kid Cudi in the mix on current and upbeat playlists. As for entertainment, that comes in the form of excellent people watching. There is always a good mix of dates in various stages of progression, generally hot people, and a celebrity here and there to pretend you don’t notice. Not to mention one night when some dude spent three minutes violently pounding on the bathroom door that he couldn’t push his way out of, despite the massive “pull please” directly in front of his face. Yes, L’Artusi gets a ridiculously high rating, but we stand by it. It hits all the Immaculate Infatuation erogenous zones, and the roasted mushroom dish alone is worth a boatload of points.
The more I read about Mas, the more it became clear – Mas needed to be my next fine dining destination. So to celebrate my 29 years on this earth, Mas got the call. After witnessing what appeared to be an ecstasy induced seizure by a fellow food freak at the mere mention of Mas, I knew this was the right move. Literally she was foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling into the back of her head, and nearly falling out of her chair as she attempted to recall her glorious meal. It was one of those “holy s–t, I immediately need to see you do that again” moments.
With high hopes and empty stomachs we rolled up seven deep and sat at Mas’ lone big table. My only complaint about the table was that we were in direct line with the air conditioning which was pumping right on our faces the whole time. Not the most comfortable way to spend a meal. The design is one that can only be described as modern rustic. A seamless blend of wood, stone, and mirrors produces a subtle elegance. The service was superb and our waiter was laid back and informative. Quite impressive and accommodating is the fact that, for their four-course $68 price fix tasting menu (one app, two mains, one dessert), you can pick anything from the menu. We sampled just about everything on the menu and the result was one of the better meals I’ve had in a long time. Let’s get down to business.
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
Upon entering Commerce the urge to start drinking immediately fell over me. Probably because the last time I was in this space it was the legendary NYC watering hole Grange Hall. Plus, maneuvering through the labyrinth of these West Village streets will drive even those blessed with a keen sense of direction to head straight for the bar. Commerce was warm and welcoming; we were seated within ten minutes and found the service to be spot on. The dark walnut tables, cozy throwback booths, and murals decorating the walls work to restore this classic venue. Upscale American comfort food plays very well off the decor and prompts an obvious comparison to a less hip, more authentic, west side Freemans.
Move over people, the champ is here. Joe’s is the best slice in Manhattan. It’s been like that forever and will remain that way for eternity. If you can make a case for any other slice on the island of Manhattan, please let us know. The menu is simple and usually there are three options: plain, fresh mozzarella and Sicilian (sometimes you can catch a Pepperoni pie too). If you’re ordering by the pie then there’s the additional toppings option, but why mess with perfection? The kitchen operation is a well oiled machine and keeps hot pies blazing out of the oven one after the other. Unlike a place like Artichoke, which makes lining up to vote look like fun, the line at Joe’s is the epitome of efficiency. You can be backed up 15 deep on the sidewalk and still be in and out with your slices in 10 minutes, easy. Bonus points to Joe’s for owning one of the best fountain cokes around, with just the right balance of syrup, carbonation, and water.
