If the day ever comes when I leave this city – voluntarily, by court order, or otherwise – my last meal in town might very well be a few margaritas, an order of plantains, and 1/4 kilo of pork tacos at Mercadito Cantina. The newest outpost of the Mercadito NY restaurants is all about tacos, and though the fish tacos have been the main focus of raves and praise for Mercadito Cantina, the pork offerings are not to be missed. Most everything on the menu is simple, well executed, and gives you that special kind of gratification you get from eating street food, yet the dishes are anything but pedestrian. The space has the feel of the Momofuku dining room … wood paneled, lively, and has a very similar seating layout. I have always had good luck getting a table on busy nights, and the staff is welcoming. Bring friends and come hungry … ordering the tacos by weight is definitely the way to go.
I live in a world of go-to’s: go-to shirt, go-to playlist, go-to bar, go-to frozen-fruit flavor (banana and cream), go-to cereal (Honey Bunches of Oats). As far as restaurants are concerned, The Smith qualifies as just that. Its versatility is invaluable. It’s the kind of place you can go with your girlfriend, first date, parents, buddies, or boss and have an enjoyable meal. The food is consistent. There’s always a scene. It’s priced relatively well (I wish everything was five dollars cheaper, but that happens a lot). There’s a spacious and lively bar to hang at while you wait for your table and they don’t try and get too cute with the music. Phoenix into Bloc Party into The Bravery is fine by me at a more mainstream East Village eatery. Plus, any spot with a photo booth (downstairs near the bathrooms) knows what’s up. Note to all single guys: this place is always packed with wide-eyed chicks. It’s like they’re giving away Chanel bags with every glass of wine or something.
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.
Head spinning after a long day of getting dragged around Soho with the female? Find salvation in a crisp Blue Point Toasted Lager draft and steak frites at Jane. It’ll help restore the equilibrium. The predecessor to fratty East Village favorite The Smith, Jane is its slightly more sophisticated older sister. Holdin’ it down in a prime location just above Soho, Jane is the epitome of utility neighborhood staple. A warm, friendly ambiance and diverse menu of relatively simple, but flavorful dishes make it perfect for Early In The Game Dates, Dinner With The Parents, Groups of 4-6 and Chronic Brunch. Jane has long been an Infatuation standby, and that’s not changing anytime soon. Next time you’re looking for a low-key, reasonably priced meal, hit up our girl Jane.
Sorella has been near the top of our hit list for a while now. Subconsciously, I think it was chef Emma Hearst winning Eater’s “Hottest Chef” award for 2009 that finally pushed us over the edge. The Infatuation can’t lie…we dig a hot female in the kitchen. Another thing we dig? A good soundtrack while we eat. Wine bars usually aren’t known for their quality tunes, so we were pleasantly surprised by the sweet mix of Ol’ Dirty Bastard “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” into Stevie Wonder “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. This could very well have been our own iPod that we were rocking, but this one belonged to Emma herself. So not only is she smoking hot – with cooking skills – but she’s also down with some Wu Tang? That’s our kind of girl.
Feature: Infatuation TV: P.O.S.
