A few things to note before we get into it. First, this is a review of the Boqueria on 19th St., not of the newer SoHo location, and not of both. Boqueria Soho has a different dynamic and clientele. Second, let us preface this by saying that we’ve been coming to Boqueria for a while now, and we generally enjoy the place. The only problem we have is that it’s slowly becoming to Spanish food what Sushi Samba is to Japanese. What does that mean exactly? It means that it’s on the short list of venues for Girls Night Out, and that the food is hit or miss. Don’t get us wrong, we’re absolutely fine with going to a restaurant loaded with girls, but consistency is what we crave and Boqueria seems to be all over the map these days. The best bets on the menu tend to be the more simple items like Brussels sprouts, pan con tomate, and anything with chorizo. The wine list is good and reasonably priced (plenty of bottles priced under forty dollars), and the churros are pretty excellent. Maybe even better than the ones that dude sells on the L train platform. At the end of the day, the good at Boqueria is definitely good, and if you stick to the right things, you’ll probably walk away happy. Then again, when we’re craving some Spanish food we’re probably headed to Bar Carerra, Mercat, or Casa Mono instead. For the purposes of this food rundown, we’re going to stick (mostly) to the stuff we liked.
When we heard about The Mermaid Inn opening an “Oyster Bar” in the Village, we were fired up like burnouts scrambling for tickets to the Phish shows at MSG. We’ve been frequenting the East Village location for years now, and the uptown outpost is just as good. They both serve up great fish and a nice lobster roll, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a safer bet for an “Early In the Game Date.” I also just recently had an incredible meal at Neptune Oyster in Boston and it’s been on the brain ever since. So naturally, we went in to the new Mermaid optimistic and ready to throw down some bivalves. Now, the place has all of the same appealing qualities as it’s predecessors and the food is good, but an oyster bar? I guess fifteen or so varieties qualify you, but we were hoping for a deeper raw bar and a little more excitement. Where’s the oyster inspiration? How about an oyster stew, maybe a po’ boy? The menu is standard Mermaid Inn fare, which is fine, but we had hopes for something a little more inventive. What it comes down to is that the Oyster Bar is perfect for mid-day beers and a dozen on ice, but it’s really just another Mermaid Inn. Hit up Flex Mussels if you’re looking for some inspired variations on a theme.
Wilfie & Nell is a cozy little bar situated right on the edge of that part of the West Village that you might also know as “the vortex”. We’ve lived in New York City for almost eight years and even with Google Maps, Hopstop and a few orienteering courses, we still get turned around down here. Luckily, there are plenty of good reasons to find yourself lost in the neighborhood, and this place is one of them.
Seeing as how we’re writing about it on this site, you would be right to assume that Wilfie & Nell is a restaurant – they serve not only dinner but now brunch, and the menu was originally curated by Momofuku alumni and Brooklyn Star owner Joaquin Baca. But it is first and foremost a place you come to drink, rather than a place you come to eat. Consider it an added bonus that the bar food you’ll likely be eating while standing near a tiny ledge is pretty good. Tables fill up quickly, as do the bar seats, and thirty people can make the place feel crowded thanks to low cielings and strange layout. Nonetheless, it’s a vibey bar that will get you cool points on a date, or maybe even land you one for later in the week. Just try not to spill mustard on your pants while you eat in the corner.
Brought to you by the proprietor of Balthazaar and Pastis, Schiller’s is the cheaper, louder little brother in this family of stylish brasseries. What Schiller’s brings to the table that the others don’t is its youthful personality. This is the kind of place that you hit when you are looking to kick off a big night. The bar scene is a good one, though usually a few people deep, and the food is simple and consistently great. A perfect spot to bring a date who likes to have a little fun, or a bunch of friends before you head out in the neighborhood and wait in line outside Fat Baby (you know who you are). Schiller’s is full of energy and will make you want to suck back drinks and soak up the steak frites with a forkful of fries. Also, this place gets points in my book for my most recent visit. I had a reservation for three and rolled in with (literally) twelve people. The manager actually rearranged a few diners and happily seated our party within ten minutes. Nice.
While the East Village currently thrives on next level pork and ramen noodles, the West Village has become the epicenter for downtown NYC’s New American explosion. It feels like every week a new spot opens to rave reviews and an immediately packed house. 10 Downing is the latest of well received restaurants in this hood, and is conveniently situated on a diagonal corner just south of the melting pot that is West 4th St. The space that houses 10 Downing is fantastic, and features an open, triangular dining room with a separate bar area, plus a solid fifteen tables for outdoor seating. The walls are completely covered in fun, colorful artwork and lined with black and white PR shots of random celebrities, including some well known fictional characters (shout to Paddington Bear). Overall, the vibe is great and the restaurant has a nice downtown feel to it. In addition to dinner, it’s the kind of place I’d come to just hang out and have a drink. We rolled in on a Thursday evening without a reservation and were seated within 10 minutes, even with people lined up two deep at the bar. I feel that. The service was great, but overall, the food was a little underwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my meal very much, I just didn’t think the food we ordered met the great expectations I had going in. That being said, I really liked the space, the scene, and the vibe at 10 Downing, and will definitely be going back again. Hopefully they have the short rib on the menu next time because I’ve heard it’s RIDICULOUS.
