Page 26 - Forbes - USA (December 2019)

2019 Restaurant Review Cont.

SPECIAL

abcV with Jean-Georges—In vogue with vegans, vegetar- evocative of a lodge, the other a night club) restaurant at
ians and everyone else who craves creative, appetizing Saks is infinitely more than a place to grab a bite while
plant-based meals. shopping. The menu is filled with such enticements as a
24 Al Vaporetto—Venetian fare that will have you floating on luscious lobster pasta and a spicy Thai beef filet with a sa-
a sea of satisfaction. vory ginger-sesame dipping sauce.
BEAUTIFUL BURGERS: Au Cheval / BK Jani / Café Le Jardinier—
T
N Altro Paradiso / Corner Bistro / 4 Charles Prime Rib Wayla: Pork meatballs Steeped in the luxu-
E in crispy noodles
M / The Happiest Hour / Jeepney / J.G. Melon / Minetta ry food traditions of
M Tavern / Shake Shack. France and Japan,
O BEST BBQ: Fette Sau / Hill Country / Hometown Bar- chef Alain Verzero-
C
B-Que / John Brown Smokehouse / Mighty Quinn’s. li’s offerings are al-
&

T Bistrot Leo—Close your eyes and the fantastic food will luring. The desserts
C have you thinking you’re in Paris. are sensational.
F A Brasserie Cognac East—Classic French brasserie serving Llama San—Pe-
sublime traditional fare, with 50-plus cognacs to choose ruvian-Japanese
from. Vive la France! is definitely a new
Café Centro—Ideal category for us, and, happily, this fusion fare is fabulous.
Midtown locale for a Marc Forgione—Tribeca’s dimly lit, hearty commissary
fine breakfast. for connoisseurs with big wallets. Worth a visit just for the
Canal Street Oys- lobster festooned with chili sauce served over Texas toast.
ters—The fresh oys- Milk Bar—Be prepared to wait on long lines to enter this
ters (13 or so varieties huge haven on Broadway for heavenly desserts that you
on offer) deliver on can precisely personalize.
their plump, briny PIZZA PERFECTION: Bleecker Street Pizza / Di Fara
promise, and the Cote: Korean BBQ / Emily / Joe’s / John’s of Bleecker Street / Kesté /
wine list is a wine- Lions & Tigers &
Hudson Yards Grill:
lover’s delight. Hasselback potatoes Squares / Nu-
Cote—A “scene” restaurant in the Flatiron district, this mero 28 Pizzeria /
Korean steak house offers all kinds of steak, from hanger to Prince Street Pizza
110-day-plus aged cuts, cooked for you at your table’s grill. / Roberta’s / Rubi-
E.A.T.—Thank heavens this excellent old-world deli never rosa / San Matteo
changes. / Scarr’s Pizza.
The Fulton—Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s first seafood The Polo Bar—Fine
restaurant, occupying two glass-enclosed floors on the tip setting for first-class
of the pier at the new South Street Seaport development, is food and drink.
a real catch. Uncle Boons—Get a culinary high on this version of Thai
GupShup—“Hip” and “cool” are not usually associated fare in a supercool, seductive setting.
with Indian eateries, nor are bold-toned, multicolored Wayla—This way cool Lower East Side eatery serves up
walls. Best of all is the creative menu offering a delightful, delicious, self-described “Homestyle Thai Food” in a casual
delicious evening. yet stylish setting.
Lamalo—Fans love the $25 Daily Spread, which starts HUDSON YARDS:
with a colossal piece of laffa, a blistery Middle Eastern flat- Hudson Yards Grill—Perfect American brasserie in the
bread strewn with savory spices, and is followed by many midst of Hudson Yards’ recently opened, dizzying 20 new
small, sensational dishes from a rotating menu. All of these restaurants and food shops. Michael Lomonaco’s entry has
keep coming until you tell them to stop. something for everyone, all at reasonable prices.
L’Amico—Created by the world-renowned Laurent Tou- Mercado Little Spain—Famed chef José Andrés’ panoram-
rondel, this eatery offers uniquely prepared Italian fare, ic tribute to the multifaceted glories of Spanish cuisine. Go
especially impeccable pizzas. and sample!
La Vara—A cross-pollination of Moorish, Jewish and Span- Momofuku Kāwi—Located in the Yard’s farthest inner
ish cuisines may sound like the end result of a culinary reaches, Kāwi goes all the way on Korean influences, espe-
shotgun wedding, but this hot spot puts out an arresting cially the kimbap.
array of unfussy comfort food with a Mediterranean twist. Wild ink—The setting is sleek and modern, the menu stim-
L’Avenue—This new, eye-popping, two-story (one floor ulating. The perfect finish: pineapple upside-down cake.

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