Immaculate Infatuation

Finally, a place at the top of our hit-list that actually lives up to the hype. Convivio is legit…who cares if it feels a little like eating in the lobby of an ultra-modern hotel? On first look, this doesn’t seem like an obvious Infatuation favorite. First of all, it’s in Tudor City, and second, this isn’t exactly our kind of crowd. I was definitely the only one in there rocking jeans and sneakers. But the after-work suits all seemed to be enjoying themselves, creating a nice buzz in a restaurant that we assumed would be a bit on the stuffy side.

As for the food, the $62, four course tasting menu is a steal. This is first class dining at an affordable price. While the antipasta and main courses are solid, the pasta is the main event, and the reason you need to immediately make a reservation. We’re talkin’ next level shit. It’s so good that we would like to formally petition for a full pasta tasting menu a la Convivio’s sister restaurant Marea.

Service is low key, but incredibly informative. Our waiter knew every dish inside and out, and was pleasant but not overbearing. Almost everything we ate met or exceeded expectation, and we had a good time. We will say though, those Tudor City suits must be on a tight leash. The place was completely empty by 10pm. So while Convivio does have an excellent Outdoor/Patio Situation, perfect for a Special Occasion, don’t expect things to get too wild.

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I’ve got some kind of crazy karma going with ápizz. Every time I go, it’s amazing. The perfect table seems to magically appear without reservations and the food is always spot on. On top of that, there is an X factor that exists within the walls of ápizz that can take an average night and turn it into the start of something memorable, perhaps even legendary. The staff is friendly and if you have to wait, there’s a small bar area away from the tables to hang out. It’s not a raucous place, but for an intimate setting there’s definitely a tangible vibe that’s positive and humming with satisfaction. If you’re making a reservation for 4-6, definitely ask about getting one of the two downstairs tables.

ápizz is the kind of place that you have to know about to go to, mostly due to the fact that it’s hidden on a residential block west of Ludlow’s overcrowded and oversaturated LES headquarters. There ápizz sits patiently, hangin’ out by itself on Eldridge, waiting for your discovery.

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Much like other recent openings (see Minetta Tavern, DBGB), Locanda Verde has been a hot topic among food critics and writers of late. Those who faithfully read these reviews will surely come away able to tell their friends all about how Robert DeNiro is still involved, as is an up and coming New York chef, Andrew Carmellini. And they will surely let everyone know how much better Locanda Verde is than Ago was, even though the Ago in LA is fantastic. How nice for them.

Luckily, you come to this site for the real deal (and also because you are awesome), so here it is. Locanda Verde is a very good restaurant, and it is so because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. What does that mean exactly? The space is nice, but you’re not going to be sending your friends pics from your blackberry. The wait staff is pleasant and well versed in the menu, but they aren’t going to make you want to drop a thirty percent tip. The wine list is nice, though ordering by the glass seems to be the way to go. Most importantly, the majority of the food on the menu is very good on its own, but if you order correctly, the entire meal will be a fantastic experience and you will need a forklift to get your fat ass out of there. Take each individual aspect, add it together, and you have a pretty great dining experience, one that is actually quite deserving of the recent praise. Kudos to Bobby D.

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Georgia is so hot right now, and we’re not talking about Real Housewives of Atlanta, we’re talking about BBQ. A couple of years ago when BBQ was all the rage in NYC, a tiny goldmine unceremoniously opened its doors on the Lower East Side. If you haven’t heard about Georgia’s already, it’s time to take notice.

Georgia’s Eastside BBQ has the best ribs in town, hands down. You heard that correct. They’re in a different league than Dinosaur BBQ. They take RUB to town. They destroy Hill Country, and even surpass Blue Smoke and perennial favorite Daisy May’s. The best part about the whole situation – it’s cheap. Everything on the menu is under $20. You can get a nice helping of St. Louis style pork ribs with two sides for $19. That’s good stuff. Their sandwiches are all less than $10 a pop, while beers are all $5 and under. Hell, this is cheaper than Texas. A few things to be aware of before you go – Georgia’s is cash only, so come prepared. Also, they don’t have their own bathroom. Luckily, The Sixth Ward across the street gladly offers up use of their facilities.

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Five Points should have been one of the first reviews up on Immaculate Infatuation. The fact that it had to wait until slot #126 is completely our bad. It’s one of the most reliable and universally likeable restaurants we’ve been to, coming through in the clutch time after time. Need the ultimate place to take your mom when she comes into town? This is it. How about a centrally located spot for a business dinner downtown? Check. Date night? Absolutely. Better yet, make a day of it. Play hooky from work with your current love interest, get a massage at Great Jones Spa next door and follow that up with lunch. Now that’s the start to a quality day. Although it’s not in the food rundown below, brunch at Five Points is top notch.

Not only is their menu updated seasonally, the entire restaurant goes through a transformation. Everything from their drink menu to the decor changes with the seasons. Personally, autumn is my favorite time to come here with their leaf filled branches, strategically placed pumpkins and gourds, apple cider drinks, pork chops, sweet potato mash and pumpkin desserts.

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