Our somewhat unhealthy obsession with Momofuku and Ippudo might lead one to believe that’s the only Japanese ramen game in town. As any hardcore ramen enthusiast will surely tell you, that’s not the case. Although not as sexy or exciting as the aforementioned Infatuation staples, Setagaya serves a purpose as the best of the rest – a cheaper, quicker noodle alternative. Instead of long waits, steep prices and pork buns, Setagaya counters with a low key and authentic ramen experience. Like Ippudo, Setagaya is a New York outpost of a popular Japanese ramen chain. We’re not sure if the Japanese noodle slurping championships show on the ramen house TVs in Tokyo, but it’s awesome either way.
We have reviewed plenty of restaurants on the Lower East side for this site, but Bacaro is really low and really east – in a part of town that’s too dirty even for most of the cool kids (which means it’s cool). Though the food at Bacaro is pretty good, it’s the kind of place you come to for the atmosphere. There is a small upstairs bar with tables, but under no circumstances should you pass up an opportunity to eat in the downstairs basement, or what I like to call the “Dungeon of Romance”. Exposed brick, crystal chandeliers, one large white candle on each table … if you can actually manage to get a date to come to this part of Manhattan, at least know you’re probably going to close the deal. The menu is technically small plate Italian, but the plates aren’t really all that small. About four dishes for a table of two is a good approach. Anything with a vegetable is a solid choice, but the pastas are hit and miss. It’s also worth noting that Bacaro doesn’t take reservations, which can make it a risky destination for an early in the game date. If the wait is long, you can hang at the upstairs bar and have a drink, but it’s small. Then again, you can always go take a walk. Nothing says love like watching a guy in Chinatown skin a chicken.
If you’ve ever been to the Maritime Hotel for drinks on the patio, you basically know the drill when it comes to La Bottega – everybody is way too cool, ultra Euro, and nobody seems to have a job, including the wait staff. The Maritime patio is always crazy in the summer months, and its proximity to Meatpacking and Highline action ensure that even in colder weather, La Bottega could be slinging Totino’s Pizza Rolls and still turn out a nice dinner business. There are a lot of reasons to expect mediocre food out of a place like La Bottega, but surprisingly, this Italian restaurant is far better than it needs to be. The tagliatelle bolognese is incredibly good as are the rest of their homemade pastas, and the pizzas are also a nice size and tasty. A respectable wine and beer selection makes the environment a little more tolerable, but let’s be honest – you’ll have to take La Bottega as it comes. You might as well embrace it and throw on a really tight t-shirt, some silver Pumas, and one of those Gucci fanny pack things … you know you kind of want one of those anyway.
On a recent trip to the West Village we were stopped dead in our tracks. Whoa. What on God’s green earth do we have here? The bar standing in front of us was truly immaculate. We couldn’t look away. There was some kind of Daniel Faraday/Lost island style frequency sucking us inside even though our lives were supposed to go down a different path that night. We couldn’t resist it. We bailed on our plans and hit the Highlands.
As we suspected, Highlands is an Infatuation kind of joint. Rows of whiskey and bourbon line the exposed brick walls behind the bar. A packed house of put together, good looking locals sip on dark drinks, specialty cocktails and international beers with high alcohol content. Everyone is feelin’ it and having a grand ol’ time. Although we haven’t been on the weekend, we hear it’s slammed shoulder to shoulder, Spotted Pig style.
Writing this review made me realize we need to call out restaurants that are greatly enhanced by a nice view of the surroundings. Join us in welcoming Eats with a View as the newest “Perfect For” tag. With a backdrop of the NYC skyline and both the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges, this bi-level brunchplex/event space is home to one of the dopest views in town. You’re so close to the water you might even be able to trick Four Square into unlocking the “I’m On A Boat” badge.
I was working in Dumbo some six years ago when Bubby’s docked near Water Street. It’s arrival couldn’t have come soon enough. Back then, Dumbo was a complete wasteland in terms of food. With the exception of Grimaldi’s, it was slim pickins for eats – it was either Front Street Pizza, Peas & Pickles, a sushi spot that’s probably closed now or the dirtiest DIY salad place you’ve ever seen. Midtown lunchers have no idea how good they have it. I would have killed for a Cafe Metro. But thanks to the arrival of Bubby’s, I finally had a lunch routine worth looking forward to. My gangster move was a soup/sandwich combo and then a drive by at Jacques Torres around the corner for dessert.
If you live in Dumbo or Brooklyn Heights, Bubby’s is your go-to Chronic Brunch spot. The two restaurants are nearly identical, sans the constant Celebrity Sighting at the Tribeca location. The best you’ll do around these parts is Mos Def, who lives in the building next door.
Feature: Infatuation TV: P.O.S.
