Immaculate Infatuation

Sitting in Il Buco on a recent Tuesday night, one wouldn’t think our country was currently experiencing severe economic turmoil. The place is packed to the gills with people eating and drinking without a care in the world. Even some of the hottest restaurants have empty tables on “off” nights, but the fact that Il Buco is routinely slammed is a testament to the quality of the food and the unique character of the space. You won’t find another place in town quite like it. The restaurant’s rustic country vibe is as authentic as it gets. Originally opened as an antique store in the mid-90′s, the owners quickly realized their meal ticket wasn’t in the form of selling antique ceramic pots, it was the kitchen.

Il Buco has been a hotspot for a while now, attracting an older, celeb heavy crowd. Our girl Christina Hendricks (Joan on Mad Men) and her Infatuation approved ass got married here recently. The menu has become famous for its seasonal Mediterranean tapas and daily selection of homemade pastas, local poultry and fish entrees. We’d suggest focusing on the tapas and the pasta. Better yet, get a big group together and take advantage of Il Buco’s chef’s table or private dining room in the downstairs cellar.

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Pleasantly surprising…that’s how I’d describe our recent visit to Apiary. Who would have thought that this little boutiquey restaurant next door to Village Barf House on 3rd Ave. turned out such high quality food? Thanks to the recent addition of new chef Scott Bryan (Le Bernardin, Bouley, Gotham Bar & Grill), Apiary has received some good buzz lately, and rightfully so. Apiary is not only a solid local East Village option; it’s a restaurant that should be on everyone’s radar. The food that’s coming out of that kitchen is excellent – top tier quality and at an affordable price. The flavor and texture combinations, presentation and all around attention to detail on each dish really wowed us. You can eat very well here, and even have a drink, for $50 a person. Definitely take advantage of the Sun-Thurs $35 three course tasting menu, that’s a damn good deal. Another plus, Monday is “no corkage” night.

While it is indeed a comfortable place to hang and eat, the one strike against Apiary is the décor. It’s trying a little too hard to be sleek and contemporary. The combination of what looks like glowing flamingo statues in the front window, big flower arrangements in the back and a half-assed play on silhouettes and shadows throughout makes it feel like you’re eating at CB2 showroom on Collins Street in Miami Beach.

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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.

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On a beautiful day when Frank is on full blast it’s like the East Village’s see and be seen answer to Pastis. Everyone at Frank is feelin’ it; “it” being life. The vibe is contagious, and you really can’t escape it. That is, if you can handle people in your personal space. Frank packs ‘em in like the L Train at 8:30am on a work day. What’s that? You don’t like my elbow in your spaghetti? Sorry about that, but there’s no other place for me to put it. I promise I showered this morning.

It’s not like the East Village blew up into this crazy culinary hotspot overnight. Where leaders succeed, others follow. Frank Prisinzano opened Frank in 1998 and quickly became a leader in the E.V. food movement, blazing the tastemaker trail and building an Italian empire along the way (Lil’ Frankies, Supper). Frank has been serving hungry hipsters in this hood for years now and doing it with their own DIY “we do it our way” attitude. The food is consistently solid, though a little underwhelming at times, but you come back regardless because it’s places like this that make the East Village one of the dopest neighborhoods in the entire world.

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We’re not alone in loving Strip House. The New York Times just dropped two stars on it, and the review was mostly on-point…but it just didn’t really get to the heart of why we like the place so much. The steaks are definitely great, and sides like goose fat potatoes and black truffle creamed spinach make us very happy as they slowly narrow the path of blood to our heart. But we also like the place for the simple fact that it’s just about the only steakhouse town that isn’t either full of grandpas, dudes wearing blackberry holsters, or rude made-for-TV Italian waiters. Strip House is a vibey downtown bordello of goodness, and is the antithesis to the things we hate about a place like Sparks or The Palm (AKA upscale Applebee’s). When you’re in need of a Damn Good Steak, but want something a little sexier than Luger’s, Strip House should be your stop. You might wait a little while, even with a reservation, but it’s worth it. This is one of the best steaks in town.

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